New ERA Energy & Digital, Inc S-3, filed Jan 23, 2026
New ERA Energy & Digital, Inc. (NUAI)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 22, 2026
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Nevada | 99-3749880 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
4501 Santa Rosa Dr.
Midland, Texas 79707
(432) 695-6997
(Addresses, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrants’ principal executive offices)
E. Will Gray II
Chief Executive Officer & Interim Chief Financial Officer
4501 Santa Rosa Dr.
Midland, Texas 79707
(432) 695-6997
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
Sarah K. Morgan
Katherine Terrell Frank
Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
845 Texas Avenue, Suite 4700
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 758-2222
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer | ☐ | Accelerated filer | ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer | ☒ | Smaller reporting company | ☒ |
| Emerging growth company | ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act 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.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement consists of two prospectuses, covering the registration of:
| ● | Shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, units and rights of New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.; and |
| ● | (a) Shares of common stock of New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. that may be (i) sold in one or more secondary offerings by the selling stockholders identified herein or (ii) issued upon the exercise of certain public warrants originally issued in the initial public offering of Roth CH Acquisition V Co., which became warrants of New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. following the Business Combination (as defined herein) and (b) private warrants originally issued in the initial public offering of Roth CH Acquisition V Co., which became warrants of New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. following the Business Combination. |
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 22, 2026
PROSPECTUS
New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.
$350,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
Rights
From time to time we may offer and sell shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“common stock”), preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“preferred stock”), debt securities, warrants, units and rights. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold by us under this prospectus will not exceed $350,000,000.
We may offer and sell these securities from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of our offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of these securities and the general manner in which we will offer the securities. Each time securities are offered, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbol “NUAI.” On January 21, 2026, the closing price of our common stock was $6.85.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this and future filings. See “Risk Factors” and “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company.”
You should read carefully this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 2 of this prospectus for information on certain risks related to the purchase of our securities.
We may sell the securities directly or to or through underwriters or dealers, and also to other purchasers or through agents. The names of any underwriters or agents that are included in a sale of securities to you, and any applicable commissions or discounts, will be stated in any accompanying prospectus supplement. In addition, the underwriters, if any, may over-allot a portion of the securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2026.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer and sell from time to time the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that are registered hereunder that may be offered by us. Each time we offer the securities, we will provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe, among other things, the specific amounts and prices of the securities being offered and the terms of the offering.
Any prospectus supplement may add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in any prospectus supplement. The information in this prospectus is accurate as of its date. Additional information, including our financial statements and the notes thereto, is incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our reports filed with the SEC. Therefore, before you invest in our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement relating to the securities offered to you together with the additional information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement (including the documents described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference” in both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement). This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or 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. Neither we nor anyone acting on our behalf is making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
On December 6, 2024, New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. (the “Company,” formerly known as New Era Helium Inc., Roth CH V Holdings, Inc. and Roth CH Acquisition V Co.), a Nevada corporation, completed its previously announced business combination (the “Business Combination”) with New Era Helium Corp., a Nevada corporation, pursuant to that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization dated as of January 3, 2024 (as amended on June 5, 2024, August 8, 2024, September 11, 2024, September 30, 2024 the “BCA”), by and among New Era Helium Corp., Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and Roth CH V Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roth CH Acquisition V Co.
Unless the context otherwise requires, throughout this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, the words “we,” “us,” the “registrant,” “the Company,” or “NUAI” refer to the consolidated operations of New Era Energy & Digital, Inc., formerly known as Roth CH V Holdings, Inc., and Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and New Era Helium Inc., and New Era Helium Corp.
ii
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), that registers the offer and sale of the securities covered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the exhibits attached thereto and incorporated by reference therein, contains additional relevant information about us. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
We make available free of charge on or through our website, www.newerainfra.ai, our filings with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. We make our website content available for information purposes only. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, will automatically update information previously filed with the SEC, and may update or replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding information deemed to be furnished and not filed with the SEC), after the date on which the registration statement was initially filed with the SEC (including all such documents that we may file with the SEC after the date the registration statement was initially filed and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement) until all offerings under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part are completed or terminated:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as updated by our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed on November 21, 2025; |
| ● | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025; |
| ● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2025, February 21, 2025, March 7, 2025, April 25, 2025, May 6, 2025, May 16, 2025, May 29, 2025, June 2, 2025, June 26, 2025, July 9, 2025, July 10, 2025, July 18, 2025, July 29, 2025, September 5, 2025, October 6, 2025, October 10, 2025, October 20, 2025, October 28, 2025, November 12, 2025, November 24, 2025, December 9, 2025, December 22, 2025, December 29, 2025 (as amended by our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on December 29, 2025), and January 20, 2026; and |
| ● | the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on June 28, 2024, including any amendments thereto or reports that we may file in the future for the purpose of updating such description. |
These reports contain important information about us, our financial condition and our results of operations.
You may obtain copies of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including exhibits to those documents specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus), at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:
New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.
Attention: Investor Relations
4501 Santa Rosa Dr.
Midland, Texas 79707
(432) 695-6997
iii
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents to which the Company refers you to in this prospectus, as well as oral statements made or to be made by the Company, include certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws with respect to the businesses, strategies and plans of the Company and its expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance. Statements included in this prospectus that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements about the beliefs and expectations of the management of the Company. Words such as “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “potential,” “predict”, “should,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would” or the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.
Any forward-looking statements in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and each prospectus supplement reflect our current views with respect to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, each prospectus supplement, and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and each prospectus supplement. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. The Company is not under any obligation, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
iv
ABOUT NEW ERA ENERGY & DIGITAL, INC.
New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. was initially incorporated in the State of Delaware on November 5, 2020 under the name Roth CH Acquisition V Co., which was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more target businesses. Roth CH Acquisition V Co. consummated an initial public offering, after which its securities began trading on the Nasdaq on December 1, 2021. In December 2024, Roth CH Acquisition V Co. merged with and into Roth CH V Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Roth CH Acquisition V Co., formed on June 24, 2024, for the sole purpose of reincorporating Roth CH Acquisition V Co. into the State of Nevada, with Roth CH V Holdings, Inc. surviving such merger. The Company subsequently changed its name to “New Era Helium Inc.” and later to “New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.”
We are a vertically-integrated developer and operator of next-generation digital infrastructure and integrated power assets accelerating speed-to-power for advanced AI hyperscalers. In the second half of 2025, we executed a strategic pivot from our legacy natural gas operations to focus exclusively on developing data center campuses where power, land, and connectivity can be assembled and delivered on accelerated timelines. Our mission is to deliver speed-to-power by converging behind-the-meter power flexibility with data center development capabilities. Our primary strategy is to aggregate and entitle “Powered Land” and to develop “Powered Shells” and build-to-suit assets in power-advantaged markets, beginning with the Permian Basin, which benefits from energy abundance, regulatory clarity, and fiber connectivity.
We are initially focused on our flagship project, Texas Critical Data Centers LLC, a 438-acre campus in Ector County, Texas, designed to support over 1 gigawatt of potential compute capacity through phased development, with projected power delivery beginning as early as the end of 2027. We believe our proximity to major natural gas pipelines, fiber networks and CO2 pipelines will provide us with the ability to serve our customers lower transmission costs and best-in-class uptime for purposes of reliably generating AI compute to capitalize on the AI revolution. We intend to execute through partnering across engineering, construction, procurement, power generation and sustainability with a world-class developer partner to provide our hyperscaler tenants with certainty of execution and speed-to-power.
Our principal executive offices are located at 4501 Santa Rosa Dr., Midland, TX 79707, and our phone number is (432) 695-6997. Our website is www.newerainfra.ai. Information found on or accessible through our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and should not be considered part of this prospectus.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act enacted in April 2012. As a result, we may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies, including delaying auditor attestation of internal control over financial reporting, providing only two years of audited financial statements and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, reducing executive compensation disclosures, not complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information, and not holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our common stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under applicable SEC rules.
We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings. Additionally, we are subject to an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than what you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.
We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined under the Securities Act and Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies until the fiscal year following the determination that (i) the market value of shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million as measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or (ii) our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million as measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter. As a smaller reporting company, we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation, and, if we are a smaller reporting company under the requirements of (ii) above, we would not be required to obtain an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm.
1
An investment in our securities involves a significant degree of risk. Before you invest in our securities, you should carefully consider those risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any subsequently filed Current Reports on Form 8-K, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and those risk factors that may be included in any applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference, in evaluating an investment in our securities. If any of these risks were actually to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations and financial condition. Please read “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
Unless otherwise specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities covered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, paying or refinancing all or a portion of our indebtedness at the time, and funding acquisitions, capital expenditures and working capital.
The actual application of the net proceeds from the sale of any particular offering of securities using this prospectus will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to such offering.
2
The following description of our common stock is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our common stock. This description is a summary of certain provisions contained in, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and our amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”).
Authorized Capital Stock
Under the Articles of Incorporation, our authorized capital stock consists of 245 million shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 5 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
Common Stock
Dividend Rights. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of our preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of any of our funds legally available when, as and if declared by our board of directors of the Company (the “Board”).
Voting Rights. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters on which stockholders are generally entitled to vote. The Articles of Incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Liquidation. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs, holders of our common stock are entitled to share proportionately in all assets available for distribution to stockholders, subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of our preferred stock.
Other Rights. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights and no rights to convert their common stock into any other securities, and our common stock is not subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Preferred Stock
Under the Articles of Incorporation and subject to the limitations prescribed by law, the Board may issue preferred stock in one or more series and may establish, from time to time, the number of shares to be included in such series and may fix the designation, the voting powers, if any, and preferences and relative participating, optional or other rights, if any, of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
When and if the Company issues any shares of preferred stock, the Board will establish the number of shares and designation of such series and the voting powers, if any, and preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, for the particular series of preferred stock.
Tradeable Warrants
As of January 21, 2026, 5,980,750 warrants to purchase shares of our common stock are outstanding, comprised of 5,750,000 public warrants (the “Public Tradeable Warrants”) and 230,750 private placement warrants (the “Private Tradeable Warrants,” collectively, the “Tradeable Warrants”). The Tradeable Warrants were originally issued in the initial public offering of Roth CH Acquisition V Co., and became warrants of the Company following the Business Combination. Except with respect to certain registration rights and transfer restrictions, the Public Tradeable Warrants and the Private Tradeable Warrants are identical. Each whole Tradeable Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing thirty (30) days after December 6, 2024. Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, dated November 30, 2021, by and between Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agreement”), a Tradeable Warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of common stock. This means that only a whole Tradeable Warrant may be exercised at any given time by a Tradeable Warrant holder. However, no Tradeable Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares of common stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants is not effective within 120 days from December 6, 2024, the Tradeable Warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise Tradeable Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the whole Tradeable Warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the “fair market value” and the exercise price of the Tradeable Warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported closing price of the shares of common stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise. The warrants will expire five years from December 6, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time.
3
We may call the outstanding Tradeable Warrants for redemption, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:
| ● | at any time after the Tradeable Warrants become exercisable; |
| ● | upon not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder, if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the shares of common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share, for any 20 trading days within a 30-day trading period; |
| ● | commencing after the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to Tradeable Warrant holders; and |
| ● | if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of common stock underlying such Tradeable Warrants at the time of redemption and for the entire 30-day trading period referred to above and continuing each day thereafter until the date of redemption. |
The right to exercise will be forfeited unless the warrants are exercised prior to the date specified in the notice of redemption. On and after the redemption date, a record holder of a Tradeable Warrant will have no further rights except to receive the redemption price for such holder’s warrant upon surrender of such Tradeable Warrant.
If we call the Tradeable Warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the Tradeable Warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the “fair market value” and the exercise price of the Tradeable Warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose shall mean the average reported closing price of the shares of common stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to holders of the Tradeable Warrants. Whether we will exercise our option to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis” will depend on a variety of factors including the price of our common shares at the time the warrants are called for redemption, our cash needs at such time and concerns regarding dilutive share issuances.
The Tradeable Warrants were issued in registered form under the Warrant Agreement. The Warrant Agreement for the Tradeable Warrants provides that the terms of the Tradeable Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval, by written consent or vote, of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Tradeable Warrants in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders.
The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of the Tradeable Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of common stock at a price below their respective exercise prices.
The Tradeable Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The Tradeable Warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of shares of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their Tradeable Warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
4
Except as described above, no Tradeable Warrants will be exercisable for cash and we will not be obligated to issue shares of common stock unless at the time a holder seeks to exercise such Tradeable Warrant, a prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is current and the shares of common stock have been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants. Under the terms of the Warrant Agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to meet these conditions and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants until the expiration of the Tradeable Warrants. If the prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants is not current or if the common stock is not qualified or exempt from qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the Tradeable Warrants reside, we will not be required to net cash settle or cash settle the Tradeable Warrant exercise, the Tradeable Warrants may have no value, the market for the Tradeable Warrants may be limited and the Tradeable Warrants may expire worthless.
Tradeable Warrant holders may elect to be subject to a restriction on the exercise of their Tradeable Warrants such that an electing warrant holder would not be able to exercise their warrants to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, such holder would beneficially own in excess of 9.9% of the shares of common stock outstanding.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of common stock to be issued to the Tradeable Warrant holder.
We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the Warrant Agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Investor Warrants
Pursuant to a securities purchase agreement, dated December 6, 2024, by and between us and ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC (together with the Form of First Tranche Warrant and Form of Second Tranche Warrant issued on December 6, 2024, the “Warrant Purchase Agreement”), we issued and sold to ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, comprised of two tranches (the “First Tranche Warrant” and “Second Tranche Warrant” and together, the “Investor Warrants”). The Warrant Purchase Agreement was amended by that certain Consent and Waiver, dated January 16, 2026, by and between us and ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC, pursuant to which, among other things, we agreed to reduce the exercise price of the First Tranche Warrant to $2.00 per share and include standard cashless exercise language to the First Tranche Warrant and Second Tranche Warrant. The Investor Warrants may be exercised on any day on or after December 6, 2024, in whole or in part at $2.00 per share for the First Tranche Warrant and $10.00 per share for the Second Tranche Warrant, subject to certain adjustments as provided in the applicable Warrant.
The number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the First Tranche Warrant is equal to the quotient of (i) the product of (x) $10 million minus any amounts previously paid to exercise the Investor Warrants and (y) multiplied by 110%, and (ii) divided by the exercise price then in effect. Currently, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the First Tranche Warrant is equal to 5,500,000, assuming an exercise price of $2.00. The number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Second Tranche Warrant is equal to 2,140,000, subject to certain adjustments.
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The First Tranche Warrant and Second Tranche Warrant will expire on the twenty (20)-month anniversary and the five (5) year anniversary, respectively, of the effective date of the registration statement registering the resale of the shares of common stock underlying the Investor Warrants. Subject to certain exceptions outlined in the Investor Warrants, including, but not limited to, equity issuances in connection with its equity incentive plan and certain strategic acquisitions, if the Company sells, enters into an agreement to sell, or grants any option to purchase, or sells, enters into an agreement to sell, or otherwise disposes of or issues (or announces any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition) any shares of common stock or any other securities that are at any time convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitle the holder thereof to acquire, common stock, or any warrant, option, subscription or purchase right with respect to any such convertible, exchangeable or other security, at an effective price per share less than the exercise price of the Investor Warrants then in effect, the exercise price of the Investor Warrants will be reduced to equal the effective price per share in such dilutive issuance. Further, the exercise price of the Investor Warrants is subject to the Warrant Floor Price (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement). On each Warrant Floor Price Reset Date (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement), the Warrant Floor Price will be reduced to 20% of the average VWAP during the five (5) trading days immediately prior to such Warrant Floor Price Reset Date. Additionally, we may reduce the Warrant Floor Price to any amount set forth in a written notice to ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC, provided that any such reduction will be irrevocable and will not be subject to increase thereafter.
Further, until the later of the date on which (i) no Investor Warrants are outstanding and (ii) the Company is eligible to register the offer and sale of its securities on Form S-3, the Company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any Subsequent Placement (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement) involving a Variable Rate Transaction. A “Variable Rate Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company or any subsidiary (a) issues or sells any Convertible Securities (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement) either (x) at a conversion, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of common stock at any time after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities, or (y) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the common stock, other than pursuant to a customary “weighted average” anti-dilution provision or (b) enters into any agreement (including, without limitation, an equity line of credit or an “at-the-market” offering) whereby the Company or any subsidiary may sell securities at a future determined price (other than standard and customary “preemptive” or “participation” rights).
Pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Purchase Agreement, the Company is required to cause the stockholders to approve (i) the issuance of all of the shares of common stock underlying the Investor Warrants in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq and (ii) an amendment to the articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock of the Company to 250,000,000. On January 2, 2025, a majority of the stockholders of the Company approved such resolutions.
ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC will not have the right to exercise any portion of the Investor Warrants to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC (together with certain related parties) would beneficially own in excess of the Ownership Limitation (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement) of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. The Ownership Limitation may be raised or lowered to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%, at the option of the holder, except that any increase will only be effective upon 61 days’ prior written notice to us.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Nevada Law
We are a Nevada corporation and are governed by the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”). The Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and NRS contain provisions that could have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company.
Authorized but Unissued Shares. The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the listing standards of the Nasdaq. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate finance transactions, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could make more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Combinations with Interested Stockholders. Nevada’s “combinations with interested stockholders” statutes, NRS 78.411 through 78.444, inclusive, prohibit specified types of business “combinations” between certain Nevada corporations and any person deemed to be an “interested stockholder” for two years after such person first becomes an “interested stockholder” unless the corporation’s board of directors approves the combination (or the transaction by which such person becomes an “interested stockholder”) in advance, or unless the combination is approved by the board of directors and 60 percent of the corporation’s voting power not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder, its affiliates and associates. However, these statutes do not apply to any combination of a corporation and an interested stockholder after the expiration of four years after the person first became an interested stockholder. For purposes of these statutes, an “interested stockholder” is any person who is (1) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10 percent or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, or (2) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within the two previous years was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10 percent or more of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of the corporation. The definition of “combination” is sufficiently broad to cover most significant transactions between a corporation and an “interested stockholder.” However, a Nevada corporation may elect in its articles of incorporation not to be governed by these particular laws, but if such election is not made in the corporation’s original articles of incorporation, the amendment (1) must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of stock representing a majority of the outstanding voting power of the corporation not beneficially owned by interested stockholders or their affiliates and associates, and (2) is not effective until 18 months after the vote approving the amendment and does not apply to any combination with a person who first became an interested stockholder on or before the effective date of the amendment. Our Articles of Incorporation do not include such an election to opt-out of these provisions.
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Acquisition of Controlling Interests. Nevada’s “acquisition of controlling interest” statutes, NRS 78.378 through 78.3793, inclusive, contain provisions governing the acquisition of a controlling interest in certain Nevada corporations. These “control share” laws provide generally that any person that acquires a “controlling interest” in certain Nevada corporations may be denied voting rights, unless a majority of the disinterested stockholders of the corporation elects to restore such voting rights. These laws provide that a person acquires a “controlling interest” whenever a person acquires shares of a subject corporation that, but for the application of these provisions of the NRS, would enable that person to exercise (1) one-fifth or more, but less than one-third, (2) one-third or more, but less than a majority or (3) a majority or more, of all of the voting power of the corporation in the election of directors. Once an acquirer crosses one of these thresholds, shares which it acquired in the transaction taking it over the threshold and within the 90 days immediately preceding the date when the acquiring person acquired or offered to acquire a controlling interest become “control shares” to which the voting restrictions described above apply.
Number of Directors; Filling Vacancies; Removal. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Company’s business and affairs will be managed by or under the direction of the Board. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Board will consist of not less than one member, with the exact number of directors to be fixed exclusively by the Board. In addition, the Bylaws provide that any Board vacancy, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors, may be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum of the Board, or by the sole remaining director, unless the Board determines by resolution that such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders. The Articles of Incorporation provide that any director, or the entire Board, may be removed from office at any time only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of more than 60 percent of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. These provisions may prevent stockholders from removing incumbent directors without cause and filling the resulting vacancies with their own nominees.
Special Meetings. The Bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by the Board, certain officers of the Company or holders of shares entitled to cast not less than 33.4 percent of votes at the special meeting.
Amendments to the Bylaws. The Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board has the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws provide that stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Company required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nomination and Proposals. Under the Bylaws, stockholders of record are able to nominate persons for election to the Board or bring other business constituting a proper matter for stockholder action at annual meetings only by providing proper notice to the Company secretary. Proper notice must be received not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year (or, in some cases, prior to the 10th day following the announcement of the meeting) and must include, among other information, the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice and the class and number of shares owned by such stockholder, certain information relating to each person whom such stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director and a brief description of any business such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting. Nothing in the Bylaws will be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. Contests for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals will be precluded if the proper procedures are not followed. Third parties may therefore be discouraged from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect their own slate of directors or to approve their own proposals.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “NUAI.” Our Public Tradeable Warrants are listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “NUAIW.”
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and any supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established in or pursuant to a board resolution, and set forth in an officer’s certificate, or established in one or more supplemental indentures. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
| ● | the title of the series of debt securities; |
| ● | any limit upon the aggregate principal amount that may be issued; |
| ● | the maturity date or dates; |
| ● | the form of the debt securities of the series; |
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| ● | the applicability of any guarantees; |
| ● | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
| ● | whether the debt securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination; |
| ● | if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such debt securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such debt securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined; |
| ● | the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
| ● | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
| ● | if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions; |
| ● | the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; |
| ● | the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
| ● | any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the debt securities of that series and any security for our obligations with respect to such debt securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of debt securities of that series; |
| ● | whether the debt securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a global security or securities; |
| ● | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such global security or securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual securities, and the depositary for such global security or securities; |
| ● | if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any debt securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at our option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange; |
| ● | if other than the full principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of debt securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
| ● | additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the particular debt securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant; |
| ● | additions to or changes in the events of default with respect to the securities and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such securities to be due and payable; |
| ● | additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance; |
| ● | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture; |
| ● | additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture; |
| ● | the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; |
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| ● | whether interest will be payable in cash or additional debt securities at our or the holders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made; |
| ● | any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the debt securities of the series; and |
| ● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of the indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the indenture will not contain any covenant that restricts our ability to merge or consolidate, or sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of our assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety. However, any successor to or acquirer of such assets (other than a subsidiary of ours) must assume all of our obligations under the indenture or the debt securities, as appropriate.
Events of Default under the Indenture
Unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, the following are events of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:
| ● | if we fail to pay any installment of interest on any series of debt securities, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by us in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose; |
| ● | if we fail to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on any series of debt securities as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to such series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such debt securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental thereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; |
| ● | if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant or agreement contained in the debt securities or the indenture, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 90 days after we receive written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such is a notice of default thereunder, from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and |
| ● | if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur. |
If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the trustee or the holders of at least 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the trustee or any holder.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.
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Subject to the terms of the indenture, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:
| ● | the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and |
| ● | subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act, the trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding. |
A holder of the debt securities of any series will have the right to institute a proceeding under the indenture or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies only if:
| ● | the holder has given written notice to the trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series; |
| ● | the holders of at least 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, |
| ● | such holders have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred by the trustee in compliance with the request; and |
| ● | the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 90 days after the notice, request and offer. |
These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.
We will periodically file statements with the trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indenture.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
We and the trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:
| ● | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture or in the debt securities of any series; |
| ● | to comply with the provisions described above under “— Consolidation, Merger or Sale;” |
| ● | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
| ● | to add to our covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of debt securities, to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default or to surrender any right or power conferred upon us in the indenture; |
| ● | to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of debt securities, as set forth in the indenture; |
| ● | to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of debt securities of any series in any material respect; |
| ● | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the debt securities of any series as provided above under “— General” to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of the indenture or any series of debt securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of debt securities; |
| ● | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under any indenture by a successor trustee; or |
| ● | to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the qualification of any indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. |
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In addition, under the indenture, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, unless we provide otherwise in the prospectus supplement applicable to a particular series of debt securities, we and the trustee may make the following changes only with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:
| ● | extending the fixed maturity of any debt securities of any series; |
| ● | reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any series of any debt securities; or |
| ● | reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver. |
Discharge
Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:
| ● | provide for payment; |
| ● | register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series; |
| ● | replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series; |
| ● | pay principal of and premium and interest on any debt securities of the series; |
| ● | maintain paying agencies; |
| ● | hold monies for payment in trust; |
| ● | recover excess money held by the trustee; |
| ● | compensate and indemnify the trustee; and |
| ● | appoint any successor trustee. |
In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indenture provides that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depositary named by us and identified in the applicable prospectus supplement with respect to that series. To the extent the debt securities of a series are issued in global form and as book-entry, a description of terms relating to any book entry securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.
Subject to the terms of the indenture and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so, required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will impose no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.
We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:
| ● | issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or |
| ● | register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part. |
Information Concerning the Trustee
The trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given it by the indenture at the request of any holder of debt securities unless it is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that it might incur.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
The Trustee
The issuer will name the trustee under the indenture in the prospectus supplement. The trustee will be qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act.
13
We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our common stock or shares of our preferred stock. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus. The particular terms of the warrants and the extent, if any, to which the general terms and provisions may apply to the warrants so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Warrants may be issued independently or together with other securities and may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. 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.
A copy of the forms of the warrant agreement and the warrant certificate, if any, relating to any particular issue of warrants will be filed with the SEC each time we issue warrants, and you should read those documents for provisions that may be important to you. For more information on how you can obtain copies of the forms of the warrant agreement and the related warrant certificate, if any, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Stock Warrants
The prospectus supplement relating to a particular issue of warrants to issue shares of our common stock or shares of our preferred stock will describe the terms of the common share warrants and preferred share warrants, including the following:
| ● | the title of the warrants; |
| ● | the offering price for the warrants, if any; |
| ● | the aggregate number of the warrants; |
| ● | the designation and terms of the shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of the warrants; |
| ● | the terms for changes or adjustments to the exercise price of the warrants; |
| ● | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities that the warrants are issued with and the number of warrants issued with each security; |
| ● | if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and any securities issued with the warrants will be separately transferable; |
| ● | the number of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock that may be purchased upon exercise of a warrant and the price at which the shares may be purchased upon exercise; |
| ● | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants commence and expire; |
| ● | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
| ● | the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations; |
| ● | anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any; |
| ● | redemption or call provisions, if any, applicable to the warrants; |
| ● | any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants; |
| ● | and any other information we think is important about the warrants. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder of the warrant to purchase, at the exercise price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the number of shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock being offered. Holders may exercise warrants at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants are void. Holders may exercise warrants as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants being offered.
Until a holder exercises the warrants to purchase our shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock, the holder will not have any rights as a holder of our shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock, as the case may be, by virtue of ownership of warrants.
14
We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement, if any, under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities comprising the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date. If applicable, we will file with the SEC as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, any unit agreement describing the terms and conditions of such units that we are offering before the issuance of such units.
The particular terms and provisions of units offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply thereto, will be described in the prospectus supplement filed in respect of such units. This description will include, where applicable:
| ● | the designation and aggregate number of units offered; |
| ● | the price at which the units will be offered, including provisions for changes to or adjustments in price at which units will be offered; |
| ● | the currency or currency unit in which the units are denominated; |
| ● | the amount of units outstanding; |
| ● | the terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately; |
| ● | the number of securities that may be purchased upon exercise of each unit and the price at which and currency or currency unit in which that amount of securities may be purchased upon exercise of each unit; |
| ● | any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units; and |
| ● | any other material terms, conditions and rights (or limitations on such rights) of the units. |
We reserve the right to set forth in a prospectus supplement specific terms of the units that are not within the options and parameters set forth in this prospectus. In addition, to the extent that any particular terms of the units described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, the description of such terms set forth in this prospectus shall be deemed to have been superseded by the description of such differing terms set forth in such prospectus supplement with respect to such units.
15
We may issue rights to our stockholders to purchase shares of our common stock or preferred stock. We may offer rights separately or together with one or more additional rights, preferred stock, common stock, or warrants, or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the rights. The particular terms of the rights and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agreement, or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable rights agreement and rights certificate for additional information before you decide whether to purchase any of our rights.
We will provide in a prospectus supplement the following terms of the rights being issued:
| ● | the date on which stockholders entitled to the rights distribution will be determined; |
| ● | the aggregate number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of the rights; |
| ● | the exercise price; |
| ● | the aggregate number of rights issued; |
| ● | the date, if any, on and after which the rights will be separately transferable; |
| ● | the date on which the ability to exercise the rights will commence, and the date on which such ability will expire; |
| ● | the conditions to the completion of the offering, if any; |
| ● | the withdrawal, termination, and cancellation rights, if any; |
| ● | any applicable material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
| ● | any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange, and exercise of the rights. |
Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase, for cash, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at the exercise price provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for the rights provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the rights certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of common stock or preferred stock, as applicable, purchasable upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
16
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:
| ● | to or through one or more underwriters, initial purchasers, brokers, or dealers; |
| ● | through agents to investors or the public; |
| ● | block transactions (which may involve crosses) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of the securities as agent but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| ● | in short or long transactions; |
| ● | through put or call option transactions relating to our common stock; |
| ● | directly to agents or other 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; |
| ● | though a combination of any such methods of sale; or |
| ● | through any other method described in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the terms of the offering and the method of distribution and will identify any firms acting as underwriters, initial purchasers, dealers, or agents in connection with the offering, including:
| ● | the terms of the offering; |
| ● | the names of any underwriters, dealers, or agents; |
| ● | the name or names of any managing underwriter or underwriters; |
| ● | the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds to us from the sale; |
| ● | any options (whether or not for over-allotments) under which the underwriters may purchase additional shares of common stock from us; |
| ● | any underwriting discounts, concessions, commissions, or agency fees and other items constituting compensation to underwriters, dealers, or agents; |
| ● | any delayed delivery arrangements; |
| ● | any public offering price; |
| ● | any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid by underwriters or dealers to other dealers; or |
| ● | any securities exchange or market on which the common stock offered in the prospectus supplement may be listed. |
If we use underwriters for a sale of securities, the underwriters will acquire the securities for their own account for resale to the public, either on a firm commitment basis or a best efforts basis. The underwriters may resell the securities in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. 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. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities hereunder, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for sale is reached. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions. We may change from time to time any public offering price and any discounts or concessions the underwriters allow or pay to dealers.
17
During and after an offering through underwriters, the underwriters may purchase and sell the securities in the open market. These transactions may include overallotment and stabilizing transactions and purchases to cover syndicate short positions created in connection with the offering. The underwriters may also impose a penalty bid, which means that selling concessions allowed to syndicate members or other broker-dealers for the offered securities sold for their account may be reclaimed by the syndicate if the offered securities are repurchased by the syndicate in stabilizing or covering transactions. These activities may stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the offered securities, which may be higher than the price that might otherwise prevail in the open market. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue these activities at any time.
Some or all of the securities that we offer though this prospectus may be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom we sell our securities for public offering and sale may make a market in those securities, but they will not be obligated to do so and they may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Accordingly, we cannot assure you of the liquidity of, or continued trading markets for, any securities that we offer.
If dealers are used for the sale of securities, we, or an underwriter, will sell the securities to them as principals. The dealers may then resell those securities to the public at varying prices determined by the dealers at the time of resale. We will include in the applicable prospectus supplement the names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction.
We may also sell the securities through agents designated from time to time. In the applicable prospectus supplement, we will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the offered securities, and we will describe any commissions payable to the agent. Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will agree to use its reasonable best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of its appointment.
We may sell the securities directly in transactions not involving underwriters, dealers, or agents.
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 securities. We will describe the terms of any such sales in the prospectus supplement.
Underwriters, dealers, and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be underwriters as defined in the applicable securities laws and any discounts or commissions they receive from us and any profit on their resale of the securities may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions under the applicable securities laws. We will identify in the applicable prospectus supplement any underwriters, dealers, or agents and will describe their compensation. We may have agreements with the underwriters, dealers, and agents to indemnify them against specified civil liabilities, including liabilities under the applicable securities laws.
Underwriters, dealers, and agents may engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of their businesses for which they may receive customary fees and reimbursement of expenses.
We may use underwriters with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe the nature of such relationship in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
We may enter into hedging
transactions with broker-dealers and the broker-dealers may engage in short sales of the securities in the course of hedging the positions
they assume with us, including, without limitation, in connection with distributions of the securities by those broker-dealers. We may
enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers that involve the delivery of the securities offered hereby to the broker-dealers,
who may then resell or otherwise transfer those securities. We may also loan or pledge the securities offered hereby to a broker-dealer
and the broker-dealer may sell the securities offered hereby so loaned or upon a default may sell or otherwise transfer the pledged securities
offered hereby.
Certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P., Houston, Texas. The validity of the issuance of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis, PLLC, West Palm Beach, Florida. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement related to that offering.
The consolidated financial statements of New Era Helium Inc. as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and for each of the years then ended, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, have been audited by Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P., an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Estimates of reserves incorporated by reference in this prospectus are derived from the Appraisal Report and reserves reports and estimates for the year ended December 31, 2024 prepared by MKM Engineering, an independent firm providing consulting services in the oil and gas industry, in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in petroleum engineering.
18
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 22, 2026
PROSPECTUS
New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.
19,267,595 Shares of Common Stock Offered by the Selling Stockholders
5,750,000 Shares of Common Stock Underlying the Public Tradeable Warrants
20,289 Private Tradeable Warrants
The securities to be issued, offered and sold, as applicable, using this prospectus include (i) 19,267,595 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (“common stock”), held by the selling stockholders described herein, including (a) 11,547,344 shares of common stock underlying the Note (as defined herein), (b) 5,500,000 shares of common stock underlying the First Tranche Warrant (as defined herein), (c) 2,140,000 shares of common stock underlying the Second Tranche Warrant (as defined herein), (d) 20,289 shares of common stock underlying the Private Tradeable Warrants (as defined herein) and (e) 59,962 shares of common stock held by certain of the selling stockholders herein, (ii) 5,750,000 shares of our common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of the 5,750,000 warrants issued in the initial public offering (the “IPO”) of Roth CH Acquisition V Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Public Tradeable Warrants”) which became warrants of the Company pursuant to the Business Combination (defined herein), and (iii) 20,289 warrants issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the IPO (the “Private Tradeable Warrants” and together with the Public Tradeable Warrants, the “Tradeable Warrants”) which became warrants of the Company pursuant to the Business Combination. These securities may be issued, offered and sold, as applicable, by us or the selling stockholders named in this prospectus or in any supplement to this prospectus from time to time in accordance with the provisions set forth under “Plan of Distribution.”
We are not selling any securities pursuant to this prospectus, and we will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares of our securities by the selling stockholders. We will, however, receive the net proceeds of any Tradeable Warrants exercised for cash. The selling stockholders may offer and sell the securities offered by this prospectus from time to time in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions and other factors at the time of any such offerings. The selling stockholders may sell the securities at prevailing market prices or at prices negotiated with buyers. The selling stockholders will be responsible for any underwriting commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, applicable taxes, underwriting marketing costs and other fees. We will be responsible for the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration of the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus provides you with a general description of these securities and the general manner in which the selling stockholders will offer the securities. Each time securities are offered by the selling stockholders, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. Any prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
We are registering 19,267,595 shares of common stock for sale by the selling stockholders named below pursuant to the (i) Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 6, 2024, by and among Roth CH V Holdings, Inc. and the investors listed thereto (the “Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement”), (ii) Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 6, 2024, by and between New Era Helium Inc. and ATW AI Infrastructure LLC (the “EPFA Registration Rights Agreement”), (iii) Registration Rights Agreement, dated December 6, 2024, by and between New Era Helium Inc. and ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC (the “Warrants Registration Rights Agreement” and together with the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement and the EPFA Registration Rights Agreement, the “Registration Rights Agreements”), and (iv) Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, dated January 16, 2026, by and between the Company and SharonAI, Inc. (the “SharonAI Purchase Agreement”) (such holders collectively, the “selling stockholders”). On January 16, 2026, we issued a senior secured promissory note (the “Note”) to SharonAI, Inc. for an aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000. The Note matures on June 30, 2026 (the “Maturity Date”) unless earlier redeemed by the Company and has an interest rate of 10% per annum payable on the Maturity Date in cash. On the Maturity Date, or if earlier redeemed at the Company’s option, SharonAI has the option to convert up to $10,000,000 of the Note into shares of common stock of the Company at a conversion rate based on the trailing 30-day volume weighted average price (“VWAP”) of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain customary conditions. Pursuant to the SharonAI Purchase Agreement, and upon the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Company agreed to register for resale the common stock underlying such Note as promptly as practicable following their issuance. Based on the floor price of $0.87 (the “Floor Price”) set forth in the Note (and assuming such shares are not subject to a 19.99% ownership cap and the Company has obtained an appropriate shareholder vote), the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable to SharonAI, Inc. pursuant to the Note is 11,547,344. Consequently, we are registering the maximum number of shares issuable under the Note at the Floor Price. See “Selling Stockholders – Registration Rights Agreements” and “Selling Stockholders – SharonAI Purchase Agreement.” We are registering 5,750,000 shares of common stock underlying our Public Tradeable Warrants and 20,289 Private Tradeable Warrants pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, dated November 30, 2021, by and between Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as warrant agent (the “Warrant Agreement”).
Our common stock and Public Tradeable Warrants are traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (the “Nasdaq”) under the symbol “NUAI.” On January 21, 2026, the closing price of our common stock was $6.85 and the closing price of our Public Tradeable Warrants was $1.88.
We are an “emerging growth company” and a “smaller reporting company” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws and, as such, may elect to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this and future filings. See “Risk Factors” and “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company.”
You should read carefully this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement before you invest. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 of this prospectus for information on certain risks related to the purchase of our securities.
The selling stockholders may sell the securities directly, or to or through underwriters or dealers, and also to other purchasers or through agents. The names of any underwriters or agents that are included in a sale of securities to you, and any applicable commissions or discounts, will be stated in any accompanying prospectus supplement. In addition, the underwriters, if any, may over-allot a portion of the securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2026.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we and the selling stockholders may issue, offer and sell, as applicable, from time to time the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that are registered hereunder that may be offered by the selling stockholders or issued by us. Each time the selling stockholders offer and sell the securities, the selling stockholders may provide you with a prospectus supplement that will describe, among other things, the specific amounts and prices of the securities being offered and the terms of the offering.
Any prospectus supplement may add, update, or change information contained in this prospectus. Any statement that we make in this prospectus will be modified or superseded by any inconsistent statement made by us in any prospectus supplement. The information in this prospectus is accurate as of its date. Additional information, including our financial statements and the notes thereto, is incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our reports filed with the SEC. Therefore, before you invest in our securities, you should carefully read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement relating to the securities offered to you together with the additional information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement (including the documents described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Documents Incorporated by Reference” in both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement). This prospectus incorporates by reference, and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may contain and incorporate by reference, market data and industry statistics and forecasts that are based on independent industry publications and other publicly available information. Although we believe these sources are reliable, we do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information and we have not independently verified this information. In addition, the market and industry data and forecasts that may be included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any applicable free writing prospectus may involve estimates, assumptions and other risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various factors, including those discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus, and under similar headings in other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on this information.
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. Neither we nor the selling stockholders have 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. Neither we, the selling stockholders nor anyone acting on our behalf is making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
Unless the context otherwise requires, throughout this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, the words “we,” “us,” the “registrant,” “the Company,” or “NUAI” refer to the consolidated operations of New Era Energy & Digital, Inc., formerly known as Roth CH V Holdings, Inc., and Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and New Era Helium Inc., and New Era Helium Corp.
ii
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), that registers the offer and sale of the securities covered by this prospectus. The registration statement, including the exhibits attached thereto and incorporated by reference therein, contains additional relevant information about us. In addition, we file annual, quarterly and other reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov.
We make available free of charge on or through our website, www.newerainfra.ai, our filings with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. We make our website content available for information purposes only. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and does not constitute a part of this prospectus.
DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we have filed with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you without actually including the specific information in this prospectus by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus. Information that we later provide to the SEC, and which is deemed to be “filed” with the SEC, will automatically update information previously filed with the SEC, and may update or replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (excluding information deemed to be furnished and not filed with the SEC), after the date on which the registration statement was initially filed with the SEC (including all such documents that we may file with the SEC after the date the registration statement was initially filed and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement) until all offerings under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part are completed or terminated:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024, as updated by our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, filed on November 21, 2025; |
| ● | our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2025, June 30, 2025 and September 30, 2025; |
| ● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 21, 2025, February 21, 2025, March 7, 2025, April 25, 2025, May 6, 2025, May 16, 2025, May 29, 2025, June 2, 2025, June 26, 2025, July 9, 2025, July 10, 2025, July 18, 2025, July 29, 2025, September 5, 2025, October 6, 2025, October 10, 2025, October 20, 2025, October 28, 2025, November 12, 2025, November 24, 2025, December 9, 2025, December 22, 2025, December 29, 2025 (as amended by our Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on December 29, 2025) and January 20, 2026; and |
| ● | the description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on June 28, 2024, including any amendments thereto or reports that we may file in the future for the purpose of updating such description. |
These reports contain important information about us, our financial condition and our results of operations.
You may obtain copies of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the SEC through the SEC’s website at the address provided above. You also may request a copy of any document incorporated by reference in this prospectus (including exhibits to those documents specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus), at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at:
New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.
Attention: Investor Relations
4501 Santa Rosa Dr.
Midland, Texas 79707
(432) 695-6997
iii
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents to which the Company refers you to in this prospectus, as well as oral statements made or to be made by the Company, include certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws with respect to the businesses, strategies and plans of the Company and its expectations relating to its future financial condition and performance. Statements included in this prospectus that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including statements about the beliefs and expectations of the management of the Company. Words such as “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “intends,” “estimate,” “forecast,” “project,” “potential,” “predict”, “should,” “may,” “might,” “will,” “would” or the negative thereof and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.
Any forward-looking statements in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement, and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and each prospectus supplement reflect our current views with respect to future events or to our future financial performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, those described under the heading “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC, as supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, each prospectus supplement, and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus and each prospectus supplement. Given these uncertainties, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.
All subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained or referred to in this section. The Company is not under any obligation, and the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, to update, alter, or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law.
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ABOUT NEW ERA ENERGY & DIGITAL, INC.
New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. was initially incorporated in the State of Delaware on November 5, 2020 under the name Roth CH Acquisition V Co., which was formed for the purpose of entering into a merger, share exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, recapitalization, reorganization or other similar business combination with one or more target businesses. Roth CH Acquisition V Co. consummated an initial public offering, after which its securities began trading on the Nasdaq on December 1, 2021. In December 2024, Roth CH Acquisition V Co. merged with and into Roth CH V Holdings, Inc., a Nevada corporation and a wholly owned subsidiary of Roth CH Acquisition V Co., formed on June 24, 2024, for the sole purpose of reincorporating Roth CH Acquisition V Co. into the State of Nevada, with Roth CH V Holdings, Inc. surviving such merger.
Immediately following the reincorporation, the Company completed its business combination (the “Business Combination”) with New Era Helium Corp., a Nevada corporation, pursuant to that certain Business Combination Agreement and Plan of Reorganization, dated as of January 3, 2024 (as amended on June 5, 2024, August 8, 2024, September 11, 2024, and September 30, 2024, the “BCA”), by and among New Era Helium Corp., Roth CH Acquisition V Co., Roth CH V Holdings, Inc., and Roth CH V Merger Sub Corp., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Roth CH Acquisition V Co. The Company subsequently changed its name to “New Era Helium Inc.” and later to “New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.”
As a result of the Business Combination, (i) each issued and outstanding share of common stock of Roth CH Acquisition V Co., par value $0.0001 per share (“ROCL Common Stock”) was exchanged for one share of Company common stock, and (B) each issued and outstanding tradeable warrant of Roth CH Acquisition V Co. to purchase one share of ROCL Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per whole share (subject to adjustment) (“ROCL Warrant”) was exchanged for one Company warrant to purchase one share of Company common stock at a price of $11.50 per whole share (subject to adjustment).
We are a vertically-integrated developer and operator of next-generation digital infrastructure and integrated power assets accelerating speed-to-power for advanced AI hyperscalers. In the second half of 2025, we executed a strategic pivot from our legacy natural gas operations to focus exclusively on developing data center campuses where power, land, and connectivity can be assembled and delivered on accelerated timelines. Our mission is to deliver speed-to-power by converging behind-the-meter power flexibility with data center development capabilities. Our primary strategy is to aggregate and entitle “Powered Land” and to develop “Powered Shells” and build-to-suit assets in power-advantaged markets, beginning with the Permian Basin, which benefits from energy abundance, regulatory clarity, and fiber connectivity.
We are initially focused on our flagship project, Texas Critical Data Centers (“TCDC”), a 438-acre campus in Ector County, Texas, designed to support over 1 gigawatt of potential compute capacity through phased development, with projected power delivery beginning as early as the end of 2027. We believe our proximity to major natural gas pipelines, fiber networks and CO2 pipelines will provide us with the ability to serve our customers lower transmission costs and best-in-class uptime for purposes of reliably generating AI compute to capitalize on the AI revolution. We intend to execute through partnering across engineering, construction, procurement, power generation and sustainability with a world-class developer partner to provide our hyperscaler tenants with certainty of execution and speed-to-power.
Our principal executive offices are located at 4501 Santa Rosa Dr., Midland, TX 79707, and our phone number is (432) 695-6997. Our website is www.newerainfra.ai. Information found on or accessible through our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus and should not be considered part of this prospectus.
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Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and Smaller Reporting Company
We are an “emerging growth company” as defined in the JOBS Act enacted in April 2012. As a result, we may take advantage of reduced reporting requirements that are otherwise applicable to public companies, including delaying auditor attestation of internal control over financial reporting, providing only two years of audited financial statements and related Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, reducing executive compensation disclosures, not complying with any requirement that may be adopted by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board regarding mandatory audit firm rotation or a supplement to the auditor’s report providing additional information, and not holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.
We will remain an emerging growth company until the earlier to occur of (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the first sale of our common stock pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act; (ii) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under applicable SEC rules.
We have elected to take advantage of certain of the reduced disclosure obligations in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and may elect to take advantage of other reduced reporting requirements in future filings. Additionally, we are subject to an extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. As a result, the information that we provide to our stockholders may be different than what you might receive from other public reporting companies in which you hold equity interests.
We are also a “smaller reporting company” as defined under the Securities Act and Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company even after we are no longer an emerging growth company. We may take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosures available to smaller reporting companies until the fiscal year following the determination that (i) the market value of shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million as measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter, or (ii) our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of shares of our common stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million as measured on the last business day of our second fiscal quarter. As a smaller reporting company, we may choose to present only the two most recent fiscal years of audited financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K and have reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation, and, if we are a smaller reporting company under the requirements of (ii) above, we would not be required to obtain an attestation report on internal control over financial reporting issued by our independent registered public accounting firm.
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An investment in our securities involves a significant degree of risk. Before you invest in our securities, you should carefully consider those risk factors included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any subsequently filed Current Reports on Form 8-K, each of which is incorporated herein by reference, and those risk factors that may be included in any applicable prospectus supplement, together with all of the other information included in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents we incorporate by reference, in evaluating an investment in our securities. If any of these risks were actually to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations and financial condition. Please read “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the common stock offered by the selling stockholders under this prospectus. Any proceeds from the sale of common stock under this prospectus will be received by the selling stockholders.
We will use the net proceeds we receive from the exercise of the Tradeable Warrants covered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, paying or refinancing all or a portion of our indebtedness at the time, and funding acquisitions, capital expenditures and working capital.
The Company may receive up to an aggregate of approximately $68.8 million from the exercise of the Tradeable Warrants covered by this prospectus, assuming the exercise in full of all of the Tradeable Warrants for cash. There is no assurance that the holders of the Tradeable Warrants will elect to exercise any or all of the Tradeable Warrants. To the extent that Tradeable Warrants are exercised on a “cashless basis,” the amount of cash we would receive from the exercise of the Tradeable Warrants will decrease, potentially to zero. On January 22, 2026, the exercise price per share of the Tradeable Warrants is $11.50.
The exercise price of the Tradeable Warrants is higher than the current market price of our common stock and accordingly, it is unlikely that Tradeable Warrant holders will exercise their Tradeable Warrants in the near future. Cash proceeds associated with the exercises of the Tradeable Warrants are dependent on our stock price and given the recent price volatility of our common stock, there is no certainty that Tradeable Warrant holders will exercise their warrants and, accordingly, we may not receive any cash proceeds in relation to our outstanding Tradeable Warrants. See “Description of Capital Stock” for additional information regarding the Tradeable Warrants.
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The following description of our common stock is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our common stock. This description is a summary of certain provisions contained in, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our amended and restated articles of incorporation, as amended (the “Articles of Incorporation”), and our amended and restated bylaws (the “Bylaws”).
Authorized Capital Stock
Under the Articles of Incorporation, our authorized capital stock consists of 245 million shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 5 million shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.
Common Stock
Dividend Rights. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of our preferred stock, holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of any of our funds legally available when, as and if declared by our board of directors of the Company (the “Board”).
Voting Rights. Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters on which stockholders are generally entitled to vote. The Articles of Incorporation do not provide for cumulative voting in the election of directors.
Liquidation. If we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs, holders of our common stock are entitled to share proportionately in all assets available for distribution to stockholders, subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of our preferred stock.
Other Rights. All of our outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The holders of our common stock have no preemptive rights and no rights to convert their common stock into any other securities, and our common stock is not subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Preferred Stock
Under the Articles of Incorporation and subject to the limitations prescribed by law, the Board may issue preferred stock in one or more series and may establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in such series and may fix the designation, the voting powers, if any, and preferences and relative participating, optional or other rights, if any, of the shares of each such series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.
When and if the Company issues any shares of preferred stock, the Board will establish the number of shares and designation of such series and the voting powers, if any, and preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, for the particular series of preferred stock.
Tradeable Warrants
As of January 21, 2026, 5,980,750 warrants to purchase shares of our common stock are outstanding, comprised of 5,750,000 Public Tradeable Warrants and 230,750 Private Tradeable Warrants (collectively, the “Tradeable Warrants”). The Tradeable Warrants were originally issued in the initial public offering of Roth CH Acquisition V Co., and became warrants of the Company following the Business Combination. Except with respect to certain registration rights and transfer restrictions, the Public Tradeable Warrants and the Private Tradeable Warrants are identical. Each whole Tradeable Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of our common stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below, at any time commencing thirty (30) days after December 6, 2024. Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement for the Tradeable Warrants, a Tradeable Warrant holder may exercise its warrants only for a whole number of shares of common stock. This means that only a whole Tradeable Warrant may be exercised at any given time by a Tradeable Warrant holder. However, no Tradeable Warrants will be exercisable for cash unless we have an effective and current registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants and a current prospectus relating to such shares of common stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if a registration statement covering the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants is not effective within 120 days from December 6, 2024, the Tradeable Warrant holders may, until such time as there is an effective registration statement and during any period when we shall have failed to maintain an effective registration statement, exercise Tradeable Warrants on a cashless basis pursuant to an available exemption from registration under the Securities Act. In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the whole Tradeable Warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the “fair market value” and the exercise price of the Tradeable Warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported closing price of the shares of common stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the trading day prior to the date of exercise. The warrants will expire five years from December 6, 2024 at 5:00 p.m., New York City time.
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We may call the outstanding Tradeable Warrants for redemption, in whole and not in part, at a price of $0.01 per warrant:
| ● | at any time after the Tradeable Warrants become exercisable; |
| ● | upon not less than thirty (30) days prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder, if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the shares of common stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share, for any 20 trading days within a 30-day trading period; |
| ● | commencing after the warrants become exercisable and ending on the third business day prior to the notice of redemption to Tradeable Warrant holders; and |
| ● | if, and only if, there is a current registration statement in effect with respect to the shares of common stock underlying such Tradeable Warrants at the time of redemption and for the entire 30-day trading period referred to above and continuing each day thereafter until the date of redemption. |
The right to exercise will be forfeited unless the warrants are exercised prior to the date specified in the notice of redemption. On and after the redemption date, a record holder of a Tradeable Warrant will have no further rights except to receive the redemption price for such holder’s warrant upon surrender of such Tradeable Warrant.
If we call the Tradeable Warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require all holders that wish to exercise warrants to do so on a “cashless basis.” In such event, each holder would pay the exercise price by surrendering the Tradeable Warrants for that number of shares of common stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of common stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the “fair market value” and the exercise price of the Tradeable Warrants by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” for this purpose shall mean the average reported closing price of the shares of common stock for the ten (10) trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to holders of the Tradeable Warrants. Whether we will exercise our option to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis” will depend on a variety of factors including the price of our common shares at the time the warrants are called for redemption, our cash needs at such time and concerns regarding dilutive share issuances.
The Tradeable Warrants were issued in registered form under the Warrant Agreement. The Warrant Agreement for the Tradeable Warrants provides that the terms of the Tradeable Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval, by written consent or vote, of the holders of a majority of the then outstanding Tradeable Warrants in order to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders.
The exercise price and number of shares of common stock issuable on exercise of the Tradeable Warrants may be adjusted in certain circumstances including in the event of a share dividend, extraordinary dividend or our recapitalization, reorganization, merger or consolidation. However, the warrants will not be adjusted for issuances of shares of common stock at a price below their respective exercise prices.
The Tradeable Warrants may be exercised upon surrender of the warrant certificate on or prior to the expiration date at the offices of the warrant agent, with the exercise form on the reverse side of the warrant certificate completed and executed as indicated, accompanied by full payment of the exercise price, by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of warrants being exercised. The Tradeable Warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of shares of common stock and any voting rights until they exercise their Tradeable Warrants and receive shares of common stock. After the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
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Except as described above, no Tradeable Warrants will be exercisable for cash and we will not be obligated to issue shares of common stock unless at the time a holder seeks to exercise such Tradeable Warrant, a prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants is current and the shares of common stock have been registered or qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the holder of the warrants. Under the terms of the Warrant Agreement, we have agreed to use our best efforts to meet these conditions and to maintain a current prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants until the expiration of the Tradeable Warrants. If the prospectus relating to the shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of the warrants is not current or if the common stock is not qualified or exempt from qualification in the jurisdictions in which the holders of the Tradeable Warrants reside, we will not be required to net cash settle or cash settle the Tradeable Warrant exercise, the Tradeable Warrants may have no value, the market for the Tradeable Warrants may be limited and the Tradeable Warrants may expire worthless.
Tradeable Warrant holders may elect to be subject to a restriction on the exercise of their Tradeable Warrants such that an electing warrant holder would not be able to exercise their warrants to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, such holder would beneficially own in excess of 9.9% of the shares of common stock outstanding.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants, a holder would be entitled to receive a fractional interest in a share, we will, upon exercise, round down to the nearest whole number the number of shares of common stock to be issued to the Tradeable Warrant holder.
We have agreed that, subject to applicable law, any action, proceeding or claim against us arising out of or relating in any way to the Warrant Agreement will be brought and enforced in the courts of the State of New York or the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and we irrevocably submit to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction will be the exclusive forum for any such action, proceeding or claim. This provision applies to claims under the Securities Act but does not apply to claims under the Exchange Act or any claim for which the federal district courts of the United States of America are the sole and exclusive forum.
Investor Warrants
Pursuant to a securities purchase agreement, dated December 6, 2024, by and between us and ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC (together with the Form of First Tranche Warrant and Form of Second Tranche Warrant issued on December 6, 2024, the “Warrant Purchase Agreement”), we issued and sold to ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC warrants to purchase shares of our common stock, comprised of two tranches (the “First Tranche Warrant” and “Second Tranche Warrant” and together, the “Investor Warrants”). The Warrant Purchase Agreement was amended by that certain Consent and Waiver, dated January 16, 2026, by and between us and ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC, pursuant to which, among other things, we agreed to reduce the exercise price of the First Tranche Warrant to $2.00 per share and include standard cashless exercise language to the First Tranche Warrant and Second Tranche Warrant. The Investor Warrants may be exercised on any day on or after December 6, 2024, in whole or in part at $2.00 per share for the First Tranche Warrant and $10.00 per share for the Second Tranche Warrant, subject to certain adjustments as provided in the applicable Warrant.
The number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the First Tranche Warrant is equal to the quotient of (i) the product of (x) $10 million minus any amounts previously paid to exercise the Investor Warrants and (y) multiplied by 110%, and (ii) divided by the exercise price then in effect. Currently, the number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the First Tranche Warrant is equal to 5,500,000, assuming an exercise price of $2.00. The number of shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Second Tranche Warrant is equal to 2,140,000, subject to certain adjustments.
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The First Tranche Warrant and Second Tranche Warrant will expire on the twenty (20)-month anniversary and the five (5) year anniversary, respectively, of the effective date of the registration statement registering the resale of the shares of common stock underlying the Investor Warrants. Subject to certain exceptions outlined in the Investor Warrants, including, but not limited to, equity issuances in connection with its equity incentive plan and certain strategic acquisitions, if the Company sells, enters into an agreement to sell, or grants any option to purchase, or sells, enters into an agreement to sell, or otherwise disposes of or issues (or announces any offer, sale, grant or any option to purchase or other disposition) any shares of common stock or any other securities that are at any time convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitle the holder thereof to acquire, common stock, or any warrant, option, subscription or purchase right with respect to any such convertible, exchangeable or other security, at an effective price per share less than the exercise price of the Investor Warrants then in effect, the exercise price of the Investor Warrants will be reduced to equal the effective price per share in such dilutive issuance. Further, the exercise price of the Investor Warrants is subject to the Warrant Floor Price (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement). On each Warrant Floor Price Reset Date (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement), the Warrant Floor Price will be reduced to 20% of the average VWAP during the five (5) trading days immediately prior to such Warrant Floor Price Reset Date. Additionally, we may reduce the Warrant Floor Price to any amount set forth in a written notice to ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC, provided that any such reduction will be irrevocable and will not be subject to increase thereafter.
Further, until the later of the date on which (i) no Investor Warrants are outstanding and (ii) the Company is eligible to register the offer and sale of its securities on Form S-3, the Company and its subsidiaries are prohibited from effecting or entering into an agreement to effect any Subsequent Placement (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement) involving a Variable Rate Transaction. A “Variable Rate Transaction” means a transaction in which the Company or any subsidiary (a) issues or sells any Convertible Securities (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement) either (x) at a conversion, exercise or exchange rate or other price that is based upon and/or varies with the trading prices of or quotations for the shares of common stock at any time after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities, or (y) with a conversion, exercise or exchange price that is subject to being reset at some future date after the initial issuance of such Convertible Securities or upon the occurrence of specified or contingent events directly or indirectly related to the business of the Company or the market for the common stock, other than pursuant to a customary “weighted average” anti-dilution provision or (b) enters into any agreement (including, without limitation, an equity line of credit or an “at-the-market” offering) whereby the Company or any subsidiary may sell securities at a future determined price (other than standard and customary “preemptive” or “participation” rights).
Pursuant to the terms of the Warrant Purchase Agreement, the Company is required to cause the stockholders to approve (i) the issuance of all of the shares of common stock underlying the Investor Warrants in compliance with the rules and regulations of the Nasdaq and (ii) an amendment to the articles of incorporation to increase the number of authorized shares of capital stock of the Company to 250,000,000. On January 2, 2025, a majority of the stockholders of the Company approved such resolutions.
ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC will not have the right to exercise any portion of the Investor Warrants to the extent that, after giving effect to such exercise, ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC (together with certain related parties) would beneficially own in excess of the Ownership Limitation (as defined in the Warrant Purchase Agreement) of shares of our common stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such conversion. The Ownership Limitation may be raised or lowered to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%, at the option of the holder, except that any increase will only be effective upon 61 days’ prior written notice to us.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Nevada Law
We are a Nevada corporation and are governed by the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”). The Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and NRS contain provisions that could have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of the Company.
Authorized but Unissued Shares. The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock and preferred stock are available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to any limitations imposed by the listing standards of the Nasdaq. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate finance transactions, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved common stock and preferred stock could make more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.
Combinations with Interested Stockholders. Nevada’s “combinations with interested stockholders” statutes, NRS 78.411 through 78.444, inclusive, prohibit specified types of business “combinations” between certain Nevada corporations and any person deemed to be an “interested stockholder” for two years after such person first becomes an “interested stockholder” unless the corporation’s board of directors approves the combination (or the transaction by which such person becomes an “interested stockholder”) in advance, or unless the combination is approved by the board of directors and 60 percent of the corporation’s voting power not beneficially owned by the interested stockholder, its affiliates and associates. However, these statutes do not apply to any combination of a corporation and an interested stockholder after the expiration of four years after the person first became an interested stockholder. For purposes of these statutes, an “interested stockholder” is any person who is (1) the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10 percent or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of the corporation, or (2) an affiliate or associate of the corporation and at any time within the two previous years was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10 percent or more of the voting power of the then outstanding shares of the corporation. The definition of “combination” is sufficiently broad to cover most significant transactions between a corporation and an “interested stockholder.” However, a Nevada corporation may elect in its articles of incorporation not to be governed by these particular laws, but if such election is not made in the corporation’s original articles of incorporation, the amendment (1) must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of stock representing a majority of the outstanding voting power of the corporation not beneficially owned by interested stockholders or their affiliates and associates, and (2) is not effective until 18 months after the vote approving the amendment and does not apply to any combination with a person who first became an interested stockholder on or before the effective date of the amendment. Our Articles of Incorporation do not include such an election to opt-out of these provisions.
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Acquisition of Controlling Interests. Nevada’s “acquisition of controlling interest” statutes, NRS 78.378 through 78.3793, inclusive, contain provisions governing the acquisition of a controlling interest in certain Nevada corporations. These “control share” laws provide generally that any person that acquires a “controlling interest” in certain Nevada corporations may be denied voting rights, unless a majority of the disinterested stockholders of the corporation elects to restore such voting rights. These laws provide that a person acquires a “controlling interest” whenever a person acquires shares of a subject corporation that, but for the application of these provisions of the NRS, would enable that person to exercise (1) one-fifth or more, but less than one-third, (2) one-third or more, but less than a majority or (3) a majority or more, of all of the voting power of the corporation in the election of directors. Once an acquirer crosses one of these thresholds, shares which it acquired in the transaction taking it over the threshold and within the 90 days immediately preceding the date when the acquiring person acquired or offered to acquire a controlling interest become “control shares” to which the voting restrictions described above apply.
Number of Directors; Filling Vacancies; Removal. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Company’s business and affairs will be managed by or under the direction of the Board. The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws provide that the Board will consist of not less than one member, with the exact number of directors to be fixed exclusively by the Board. In addition, the Bylaws provide that any Board vacancy, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors, may be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum of the Board, or by the sole remaining director, unless the Board determines by resolution that such vacancies or newly created directorships shall be filled by stockholders. The Articles of Incorporation provide that any director, or the entire Board, may be removed from office at any time only for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of more than 60 percent of the voting power of all then-outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors. These provisions may prevent stockholders from removing incumbent directors without cause and filling the resulting vacancies with their own nominees.
Special Meetings. The Bylaws provide that special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by the Board, certain officers of the Company or holders of shares entitled to cast not less than 33.4 percent of votes at the special meeting.
Amendments to the Bylaws. The Articles of Incorporation provide that the Board has the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws. The Bylaws provide that stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws; provided, however, that, in addition to any vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Company required by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, such action by stockholders shall require the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Requirements for Advance Notification of Stockholder Nomination and Proposals. Under the Bylaws, stockholders of record are able to nominate persons for election to the Board or bring other business constituting a proper matter for stockholder action at annual meetings only by providing proper notice to the Company secretary. Proper notice must be received not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year (or, in some cases, prior to the 10th day following the announcement of the meeting) and must include, among other information, the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice and the class and number of shares owned by such stockholder, certain information relating to each person whom such stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director and a brief description of any business such stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting. Nothing in the Bylaws will be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. Contests for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals will be precluded if the proper procedures are not followed. Third parties may therefore be discouraged from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect their own slate of directors or to approve their own proposals.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “NUAI.” Our Public Tradeable Warrants are listed on the Nasdaq under the ticker symbol “NUAIW.”
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This prospectus covers the public resale of (i) 19,267,595 shares of our common stock held by the selling stockholders described herein, including (a) 11,547,344 shares of common stock underlying the Note, (b) 5,500,000 shares of common stock underlying the First Tranche Warrant, (c) 2,140,000 shares of common stock underlying the Second Tranche Warrant, (d) 20,289 shares of common stock underlying the Private Tradeable Warrants and (e) 59,962 shares of common stock held by certain of the selling stockholders herein, (ii) 5,750,000 shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Public Tradeable Warrants, and (iii) 20,289 Private Tradeable Warrants issued by us to the selling stockholders named below, which we refer to collectively herein as the “Securities”. The selling stockholders may from time to time offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus any or all of the Securities owned by them, but make no representation that any of the Securities will be offered for sale. Except as may be updated in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, including any proxy statement incorporated into such Annual Report or subsequently filed, the selling stockholders are not a director, or officer or employee of ours or an affiliate of such person. The tables below present information regarding the selling stockholders and the Securities that the selling stockholders may offer and sell from time to time under this prospectus. The term “selling stockholders” includes the stockholders listed in the table below and their transferees, pledgees, donees, assignees or other successors.
The following tables set forth:
| ● | the names of the selling stockholders; |
| ● | the number of Securities beneficially owned by the selling stockholders prior to the sale of the Shares covered by this prospectus; |
| ● | the number of Securities that may be offered by the selling stockholders pursuant to this prospectus; |
| ● | the number of Securities to be beneficially owned by the selling stockholders following the sale of any Securities covered by this prospectus; and |
| ● | the percentage of common stock or Private Tradeable Warrants, respectively, owned by the selling stockholders following the sale of any Securities covered by this prospectus. |
All information with respect to common stock or Private Tradeable Warrant ownership of the selling stockholders has been furnished by or on behalf of the selling stockholders and is as of January 22, 2026. Based on information supplied by the selling stockholders, except as may otherwise be indicated in the footnotes to the table below, the selling stockholders have sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the common stock reported as owned by them.
Because the selling stockholders identified in the tables may sell some or all of the Securities owned by them which are included in this prospectus, and because there are currently no agreements, arrangements or understandings with respect to the sale of any of the Securities, no estimate can be given as to the number of Securities available for resale hereby that will be held by the selling stockholders upon termination of this offering. In addition, the selling stockholders may have sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of, or may sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of, at any time and from time to time, the common stock or Private Tradeable Warrants they hold in transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act after the date on which they provided the information set forth on the table below. We have, therefore, assumed for the purposes of the following tables, that the selling stockholders will sell all of the Securities beneficially owned by them that are covered by this prospectus, but will not sell any other shares of our common stock that they may presently own. The percent of beneficial ownership for the selling stockholders is based on 53,623,529 shares of our common stock and 230,750 Private Tradeable Warrants outstanding as of January 21, 2026, respectively.
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| Shares of Common Stock Owned Prior to this Offering | Maximum Number of Shares of Common Stock to be Sold Pursuant to this | Shares of Common Stock Owned After Sale of Shares | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Percent | Prospectus | Number | Percent | ||||||||||||||||
| Selling Stockholder | ||||||||||||||||||||
| ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC(1) | 0 | 0 | 7,640,000 | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| SharonAI, Inc.(2) | 11,547,344 | 21.53 | % | 11,547,344 | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Gordon Roth(3) | 31,971 | * | 31,971 | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| AMG Trust(4) | 34,342 | * | 34,342 | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Theodore Roth(5) | 13,469 | * | 13,469 | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Louis J. Ellis III(6) | 469 | * | 469 | |||||||||||||||||
| Total | 11,627,595 | 21.68 | % | 19,267,595 | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||||||
| * | Less than 1.0%. |
| (1) | Includes 7,640,000 shares of common stock issuable to ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC upon the exercise of the Investor Warrants (discussed above), without regard to any beneficial ownership limitation and assuming the Company has obtained an appropriate shareholder vote. |
| (2) | Includes 11,547,344 shares of common stock issuable to SharonAI, Inc. pursuant to the Note assuming the Note is converted at the Floor Price. Based on the Floor Price set forth in the Note (and assuming such shares are not subject to a 19.99% ownership cap and the Company has obtained an appropriate shareholder vote), 11,547,344 is the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable to SharonAI, Inc. pursuant to the Note. SharonAI, Inc. is the primary and direct beneficial owner of the shares indicated above and the board of directors has the sole voting and dispositive power over such shares. The address of SharonAI, Inc. is 745 5th Ave, Suite 500, New York, NY 10151. |
| (3) | Includes (a) 25,067 shares of common stock owned by Gordon Roth and (b) 6,904 shares of common stock underlying the Private Tradeable Warrants which were previously issued to Gordon Roth in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the IPO which became warrants of the Company pursuant to the Business Combination. Gordon Roth is the primary and direct beneficial owner of the shares indicated above and has the sole voting and dispositive power over such shares. Gordon Roth was the Chief Financial Officer of Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and is the Chief Financial Officer of Roth Capital Partners, LLC which has provided certain investment banking services to the Company. The address of Gordon Roth is 888 San Clemente Drive, 4th Floor, Newport Beach, CA 92660. |
| (4) | Includes (a) 25,371 shares of common stock owned by AMG Trust, established January 23, 2007 and (b) 8,971 shares of common stock underlying the Private Tradeable Warrants which were previously issued to AMG Trust in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the IPO which became warrants of the Company pursuant to the Business Combination. AMG Trust is the primary and direct beneficial owner of the shares indicated above and Aaron Gurewitz, as trustee, has the sole voting and dispositive power over such shares. Aaron Gurewitz was the Co-President of Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and is the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Head of Investment Banking of Roth Capital Partners, LLC which has provided certain investment banking services to the Company. The address of AMG Trust is 888 San Clemente Drive, 4th Floor, Newport Beach, CA 92660. |
| (5) | Includes (a) 9,524 shares of common stock owned by Theodore Roth and (b) 3,945 shares of common stock underlying the Private Tradeable Warrants which were previously issued to Theodore Roth in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the IPO which became warrants of the Company pursuant to the Business Combination. Theodore Roth is the primary and direct beneficial owner of the shares indicated above and has the sole voting and dispositive power over such shares. Theodore Roth is the Vice Chairman of Roth Capital Partners, LLC which has provided certain investment banking services to the Company. The address of Theodore Roth is 888 San Clemente Drive, 4th Floor, Newport Beach, CA 92660. |
| (6) | Includes 469 shares of common stock underlying the Private Tradeable Warrants which were previously issued to Louis J. Ellis III in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the IPO which became warrants of the Company pursuant to the Business Combination. Louis J. Ellis III is the primary and direct beneficial owner of the shares indicated above and has the sole voting and dispositive power over such shares. Louis J. Ellis III is the Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets of Roth Capital Partners, LLC which has provided certain investment banking services to the Company. The address of Louis J. Ellis III is 31872 Via Fierro, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. |
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| Private Tradeable Warrants Owned Prior to this Offering | Maximum Number of Private Tradeable Warrants to be Sold Pursuant to this | Private Tradeable Warrants Owned After Sale of Warrants | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number | Percent | Prospectus | Number | Percent | ||||||||||||||||
| Selling Stockholder | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gordon Roth(1) | 6,904 | 2.99 | % | 6,904 | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||||||
| AMG Trust(2) | 8,971 | 3.89 | % | 8,971 | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Theodore Roth(3) | 3,945 | 1.71 | % | 3,945 | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||||||
| Louis J. Ellis III(4) | 469 | * | 469 | 0 | 0 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total | 20,289 | 8.79 | % | 20,289 | 0 | 0 | % | |||||||||||||
| * | Less than 1.0%. |
| (1) | Includes 6,904 Private Tradeable Warrants owned by Gordon Roth. Gordon Roth is the primary and direct beneficial owner of the Private Tradeable Warrants indicated above and has the sole voting and dispositive power over such Private Tradeable Warrants. Gordon Roth was the Chief Financial Officer of Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and is the Chief Financial Officer of Roth Capital Partners, LLC which has provided certain investment banking services to the Company. The address of Gordon Roth is 888 San Clemente Drive, 4th Floor, Newport Beach, CA 92660. |
| (2) | Includes 8,971 Private Tradeable Warrants owned by AMG Trust, established January 23, 2007. AMG Trust is the primary and direct beneficial owner of the Private Tradeable Warrants indicated above and Aaron Gurewitz, as trustee, has the sole voting and dispositive power over such Private Tradeable Warrants. Aaron Gurewitz was the Co-President of Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and is the Co-Chief Executive Officer and Head of Investment Banking of Roth Capital Partners, LLC which has provided certain investment banking services to the Company. The address of AMG Trust is 888 San Clemente Drive, 4th Floor, Newport Beach, CA 92660. |
| (3) | Includes 3,945 Private Tradeable Warrants owned by Theodore Roth. Theodore Roth is the primary and direct beneficial owner of the Private Tradeable Warrants indicated above and has the sole voting and dispositive power over such Private Tradeable Warrants. Theodore Roth is the Vice Chairman of Roth Capital Partners, LLC which has provided certain investment banking services to the Company. The address of Theodore Roth is 888 San Clemente Drive, 4th Floor, Newport Beach, CA 92660. |
| (4) | Includes 469 Private Tradeable Warrants owned by Louis J. Ellis III. Louis J. Ellis III is the primary and direct beneficial owner of the Private Tradeable Warrants indicated above and has the sole voting and dispositive power over such Private Tradeable Warrants. Louis J. Ellis III is the Managing Director, Equity Capital Markets of Roth Capital Partners, LLC which has provided certain investment banking services to the Company. The address of Louis J. Ellis III is 31872 Via Fierro, San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675. |
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Registration Rights Agreements
Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement
On December 6, 2024, in connection with the closing of the Business Combination, Roth CH V Holdings, Inc., certain stockholders of Roth CH V Holdings, Inc. and New Era Helium Corp. entered into the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, pursuant to which Roth CH V Holdings, Inc. agreed to register for resale certain shares of its common stock and warrants held by such stockholders from time to time. The Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement amends and restates the registration rights agreement that was entered into by Roth CH Acquisition V Co. and the other parties thereto in connection with Roth CH Acquisition V Co.’s initial public offering. Pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, the selling stockholders have certain rights briefly outlined below, upon the terms and conditions set forth therein.
Registration Rights. Subject to certain limitations, we were, within 30 business days following the Business Combination, required to (i) file with the SEC a shelf registration statement registering the resale of the Registrable Shares (as defined in the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, as applicable) on a delayed and continuous basis, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until the earlier of such time as (a) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold and (b) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144(b) under the Securities Act.
Shelf Takedowns. Subject to certain limitations, the selling stockholders are entitled to request shelf takedowns, including underwritten shelf takedowns so long as the minimum market price of the shares to be included in the offering is $75 million, subject to certain other limitations, including the Company’s ability to delay such shelf takedowns in certain circumstances.
Piggyback Rights. Subject to certain limitations, the selling stockholders are entitled to request to participate in, or “piggyback” on, registrations of any of our common stock for sale by us in an underwritten offering.
Conditions and Limitations. The registration rights outlined above are subject to conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters, as applicable, to limit the number of shares to be included in a registration statement and our right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under specified circumstances.
Expenses and Indemnification. In connection with any registration effected pursuant to the terms of the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, we are required to pay for all of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with such registration, including, without limitation, registration and filing fees, fees and expenses of compliance with securities or blue sky laws, printing expenses and fees and disbursements to our counsel and accountants. However, the underwriting commissions and discounts, brokerage fees, applicable taxes, underwriting marketing costs and other fees and expenses of counsel for a holder payable in respect of registrable securities included in any registration are to be paid by the persons including such registrable securities in any such registration on a pro rata basis. We have also agreed to indemnify the holders of registrable securities and each of their respective officers, directors, and each person who controls such holders, against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses with respect to each registration effected pursuant to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement.
EPFA Registration Rights Agreement and Warrants Registration Rights Agreement
On December 6, 2024, following the closing of the Business Combination, the Company entered into the (i) EPFA Registration Rights Agreement with respect to the resale of the shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the (a) Equity Purchase Facility Agreement, by and between the Company and ATW AI Infrastructure LLC and (b) the notes issued thereto, and (ii) Warrants Registration Rights Agreement with respect to the resale of the shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the terms of the Securities Purchase Agreement, by and between the Company and ATW AI Infrastructure II LLC. Pursuant to the EPFA Registration Rights Agreement and Warrant Registration Rights Agreement, the selling stockholders have certain rights briefly outlined below, upon the terms and conditions set forth therein.
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Registration Rights. Subject to certain limitations, we were, within 30 calendar days following the effective date of the EPFA Registration Rights Agreement and Warrant Registration Rights Agreement, required to (i) file with the SEC a shelf registration statement registering the resale of the Registrable Shares (as defined in the EPFA Registration Rights Agreement and Warrant Registration Rights Agreement, as applicable) on a delayed and continuous basis, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to have the registration statement declared effective as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter, and (iii) use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the effectiveness of the registration statement until the earlier of such time as (a) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold and (b) all of the Registrable Securities have been sold or may be sold pursuant to Rule 144(b) under the Securities Act.
Piggyback Rights. Subject to certain limitations, the selling stockholders are entitled to request to participate in, or “piggyback” on, registrations of any of our common stock for sale by us in an underwritten offering.
Conditions and Limitations. The registration rights outlined above are subject to conditions and limitations, including the right of the underwriters, as applicable, to limit the number of shares to be included in a registration statement and our right to delay or withdraw a registration statement under specified circumstances.
Expenses and Indemnification. In connection with any registration effected pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreements, we are required to pay for all of the fees and expenses incurred in connection with such registration, including, without limitation, registration fees, listing and qualification fees, printing expenses, fees and expenses of our counsel and accountants (including legal fees of such selling stockholder’s counsel associated with the review of the registration statement). We have also agreed to indemnify the holders of registrable securities and each of their respective officers, directors, partners, employees, agents, representatives, and each person who controls such holders, against all losses, claims, damages, liabilities, judgments, fines, penalties, charges, costs, reasonable attorneys’ fees, amounts paid in settlement and expenses (joint or several) with respect to each registration effected pursuant to the EPFA Registration Rights Agreement and Warrants Registration Rights Agreement.
SharonAI Purchase Agreement
On January 16, 2026, the Company entered into the SharonAI Purchase Agreement with SharonAI, Inc. (“SharonAI”) pursuant to which the Company acquired 100% of SharonAI’s 50% interest in TCDC. The Company paid a portion of the purchase price to SharonAI by issuing the Note to SharonAI. Pursuant to the SharonAI Purchase Agreement, and upon the terms and conditions set forth therein, the Company agreed to register for resale the common stock underlying such Note as promptly as practicable following their issuance. On the Maturity Date, SharonAI has the option to convert up to $10,000,000 of the Note into shares of common stock of the Company at a conversion rate based on the trailing 30-day VWAP of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain customary conditions. Based on the Floor Price set forth in the Note (and assuming such shares are not subject to a 19.99% ownership cap and the Company has obtained an appropriate shareholder vote), 11,547,344 is the maximum number of shares of common stock issuable to SharonAI, Inc. pursuant to the Note. Pursuant to the listing rules of the Nasdaq, until shareholder approval is obtained, we cannot issue more than 19.99% of the outstanding shares of common stock as of January 15, 2026 pursuant to the Note at an average price that would be less than the Nasdaq Minimum Price, or $4.55, which is the closing price on the date immediately prior to the execution of the SharonAI Purchase Agreement. See “Selling Stockholders—Material Relationships with Selling Stockholders” for more information.
Warrant Agreement
The Tradeable Warrants were issued under the Warrant Agreement. Pursuant to the Warrant Agreement, the Company agreed that as soon as practicable, but in no event later than thirty (30) business days after the Business Combination, it would use its best efforts to file with the SEC a registration statement for the registration of the shares of common stock issuable upon exercise of the Tradeable Warrants, and to cause the same to become effective and to maintain the effectiveness of such registration statement, and a current prospectus relating thereto, until the expiration of the Tradeable Warrants in accordance with the provisions of the Warrant Agreement. For more information regarding the Warrant Agreement, please read “Description of Capital Stock—Tradeable Warrants.”
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Material Relationships with Selling Stockholders
Executive Officers
E. Will Gray II is our Chief Executive Officer. He has voting and dispositive power on shares owned by Pecos Slope Holdings LLC. Joel G. Solis is the Co-Founder and was the Chairman of New Era Helium Corp. until December 6, 2024.
SharonAI
On December 19, 2025, the Company and SharonAI entered into a Binding Term Sheet for Acquisition of Interest in Texas Critical Data Centers LLC (the “Term Sheet”), setting forth the terms and conditions for the sale by SharonAI of 100% of its 50% interest in TCDC to the Company. TCDC is a joint venture between SharonAI and the Company formed to fund, develop, and construct a data center site project with behind the meter natural gas-fired power in Ector County, Texas. On January 16, 2026, the Company and SharonAI entered into the SharonAI Purchase Agreement. The SharonAI Purchase Agreement contains customary representations, warranties, covenants and obligations. Additionally, the Company, as borrower, entered into a Senior Secured Convertible Promissory Note (the “Note”) with SharonAI, as lender, for an aggregate principal amount of $50,000,000. The Note matures on the Maturity Date unless earlier redeemed by the Company and has an interest rate of 10% per annum payable on the Maturity Date in cash. On the Maturity Date, SharonAI has the option to convert up to $10,000,000 of the Note into shares of common stock of the Company at a conversion rate based on the trailing 30-day VWAP of the Company’s common stock, subject to certain customary conditions.
The total consideration payable by the Company to SharonAI pursuant to the SharonAI Purchase Agreement will be approximately $70,000,000, of which, (a) $10,000,000 will be payable in cash, with (i) $150,000 payable as a non-refundable deposit within 14 days of December 19, 2025, and (ii) $9,850,000 payable upon the occurrence of certain events, but no later than March 31, 2026; (b) $10,000,000 will be payable in common stock or other securities of the Company upon its next equity financing, but no later than March 31, 2026; and (c) $50,000,000, plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, will be paid pursuant to the repayment of the Note (unless otherwise partially converted into shares of common stock by SharonAI).
The sale of the interests of TCDC was subject to the condition that SharonAI reimburse the Company for SharonAI’s portion of the amount required to be contributed to TCDC for TCDC to purchase the Additional 203 Acres (as defined below). SharonAI reimbursed the Company on January 7, 2026 in the amount of approximately $2,550,000.
Joel Solis
On October 23, 2025, the Company entered into a secured promissory note (the “Solis Note”) with Joel Solis, who formerly served as a director of the Company, and Aventus Properties LLC. Pursuant to the terms of the Solis Note, the Company agreed to provide a loan in the principal amount of $4,000,000. The loan bears interest on the outstanding principal balance at a rate per annum equal to the lesser of (i) eighteen percent (18%), compounded annually, or (ii) the Maximum Rate, defined as the highest non-usurious rate of interest permitted under applicable law. The Solis Note includes customary covenants, representations, warranties, and events-of-default provisions. The loan is secured by a deed of trust on certain real property located in Odessa, Texas, and Pecos, Texas, which will be recorded in the real property records of Ector County and Reeves County, Texas. The Solis Note matured on December 6, 2025 and was repaid on December 8, 2025.
Please see our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and proxy for additional descriptions of the nature of any position, office, or other material relationship which the selling stockholders have had within the past three years with us and our affiliates.
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The selling stockholders may, from time to time, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose of any or all of their securities or interests in the securities on any stock exchange, market or trading facility on which the securities are traded or in private transactions. The selling stockholders may sell their securities from time to time at the prevailing market price or in privately negotiated transactions.
The selling stockholders may use any one or more of the following methods when disposing of securities or interests therein:
| ● | on the Nasdaq, in the over-the-counter market or on any other securities exchange on which our common stock is listed or traded; |
| ● | ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which the broker-dealer solicits purchasers; |
| ● | block trades in which the broker-dealer will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; |
| ● | purchases by a broker-dealer as principal and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; |
| ● | an exchange distribution in accordance with the rules of the applicable exchange; |
| ● | privately negotiated transactions; |
| ● | in underwritten transactions; |
| ● | distributions to equity holders; |
| ● | distributions to former and current employees and/or service providers; |
| ● | short sales effected after the date the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part is declared effective by the SEC; |
| ● | through the writing or settlement of options or other hedging transactions, whether through an options exchange or otherwise; |
| ● | broker-dealers may agree with the selling stockholders to sell a specified number of such securities at a stipulated price per security; |
| ● | a combination of any such methods of sale; and |
| ● | any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law. |
The selling stockholders may sell the securities at fixed prices, at prices then-prevailing or related to the then current market price or at negotiated prices. The offering price of the securities from time to time will be determined by the selling stockholders and, at the time of the determination, may be higher or lower than the market price of our common stock on the Nasdaq or any other exchange or market.
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The securities may be sold directly or through broker-dealers acting as principal or agent, or pursuant to a distribution by one or more underwriters on a firm commitment or best-efforts basis. The selling stockholders may also enter into hedging transactions with broker-dealers. In connection with such transactions, broker-dealers of other financial institutions may engage in short sales of our common stock in the course of hedging the positions they assume with the selling stockholders. The selling stockholders may also enter into options or other transactions with broker-dealers or other financial institutions which require the delivery to such broker-dealer or other financial institution of securities offered by this prospectus, which securities such broker-dealer or other financial institution may resell pursuant to this prospectus (as supplemented or amended to reflect such transaction). In connection with an underwritten offering, underwriters or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the selling stockholders or from purchasers of the offered securities for whom they may act as agents. In addition, underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. The selling stockholders and any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in a distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any profit on the sale of the securities by the selling stockholders and any commissions received by broker-dealers may be deemed to be underwriting commissions under the Securities Act.
The selling stockholders may agree to indemnify an underwriter, broker-dealer or agent against certain liabilities related to the selling of their securities, including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. Under the Registration Rights Agreements, we have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholders against certain liabilities related to the sale of the common stock, including certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act. Under the Registration Rights Agreements, we have also agreed to pay the costs, expenses and fees of registering the securities. All other expenses of issuance and distribution will be borne by the selling stockholders as set forth in the applicable Registration Rights Agreement.
The selling stockholders are subject to the applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations under the Exchange Act, including Regulation M. This regulation may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of the securities offered in this prospectus by the selling stockholders. The anti-manipulation rules under the Exchange Act may apply to sales of securities in the market and to the activities of the selling stockholders and their affiliates. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of the securities to engage in market-making activities for the particular securities being distributed for a period of up to five business days before the distribution. The restrictions may affect the marketability of the securities and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities for the securities.
To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended and/or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution. Instead of selling the securities under this prospectus, the selling stockholders may sell the securities in compliance with the provisions of Rule 144 under the Securities Act, if available, or pursuant to other available exemptions from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.
Under the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the securities registered hereby may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, in some states such securities may not be sold unless they have been registered or qualified for sale or an exemption from registration or qualification requirements is available and is complied with.
We cannot assure you that the selling stockholders will sell all or any portion of our common stock offered hereby.
We will receive the proceeds from the exercise of the Tradeable Warrants, but not from the sale of the underlying common stock. Upon exercise of a Tradeable Warrant, we will issue the securities underlying such Tradeable Warrant pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Warrant Agreement.
Certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Vinson & Elkins, L.L.P., Houston, Texas. The validity of the issuance of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Anthony, Linder & Cacomanolis, PLLC, West Palm Beach, Florida. If certain legal matters in connection with an offering of the securities made by this prospectus and a related prospectus supplement are passed upon by counsel for the underwriters of such offering, that counsel will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement related to that offering.
The consolidated financial statements of New Era Helium Inc. as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, and for each of the years then ended, incorporated by reference in this prospectus, have been audited by Weaver and Tidwell, L.L.P., an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
Estimates of reserves incorporated by reference in this prospectus are derived from the Appraisal Report and reserves reports and estimates for the year ended December 31, 2024 prepared by MKM Engineering, an independent firm providing consulting services in the oil and gas industry, in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in petroleum engineering.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
| Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution. |
Set forth below are the expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) expected to be incurred in connection with the offering of the securities registered hereby.
| SEC registration fee | $ | 68,716.07 | ||
| FINRA filing fee | 225,500 | |||
| Printing and engraving expenses | * | |||
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | |||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | |||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees | * | |||
| Miscellaneous | * | |||
| Total | $ | * |
| * | These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. |
| Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers. |
Nevada Revised Statutes.
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada. NRS 78.138 provides that, unless a corporation’s articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a director or officer will not be individually liable unless the presumption that such director or officer is acting in good faith and on an informed basis with a view to the interests of the corporation has been rebutted, and it is proven that (i) the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law.
NRS 78.7502(1) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise or as a manager of a limited liability company, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
NRS 78.7502(2) permits a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set forth above against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted under similar standards, except that no indemnification pursuant to NRS 78.7502 may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after any appeals taken therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper. NRS 78.751(1) provides that a corporation shall indemnify any person who is a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with defending an action (including, without limitation, attorney’s fees), to the extent that the person is successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including, without limitation, an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or as a manager of a limited liability company, or any claim, issue or matter in such action.
NRS 78.751 further provides that the indemnification pursuant to NRS 78.7502 shall not be deemed exclusive or exclude any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled (except that indemnification may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of any appeals taken therefrom, to be liable for intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and such intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law was material to the cause of action) and that the indemnification shall continue as to directors, officers, employees or agents who have ceased to hold such positions, and to their heirs, executors and administrators.
NRS 78.752 provides that a Nevada corporation may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him or her and liability and expenses incurred by him or her in his or her capacity as a director, officer, employee, or agent, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation has the authority to indemnify him or her against such liability and expenses.
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The Company’s Articles of Incorporation.
NUAI’s Articles of Incorporation currently provide that the individual liability of the directors and officers of the Company is eliminated to the full extent permitted by the NRS. The Articles of Incorporation further provides that every person who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of another company, or as its representative in a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS. The expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding must be paid by the Company as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company. Such right of indemnification is not exclusive of any other right which directors, officers or representatives may have.
The Company’s Bylaws.
NUAI’s Bylaws currently provide that the Company will indemnify its directors and executive officers to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS; provided, however, that the Company may modify the extent of such indemnification by individual contracts with its directors and executive officers. The Company shall not be required to indemnify any director or executive officer in connection with any proceeding initiated by such person unless (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was authorized by the Board, (iii) such indemnification is provided by the Company, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Company under the NRS or any other applicable law or (iv) such indemnification is otherwise required under the Bylaws. The Company has the power to indemnify its other officers, employees and other agents as set forth in the NRS or any other applicable law.
The Company will advance to any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or executive officer of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or executive officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, prior to the final disposition of the proceeding, promptly following request therefor, all expenses incurred by any director or executive officer in connection with such proceeding; provided, however, that, if the NRS requires, an advancement of expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Company of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section or otherwise.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, unless otherwise determined pursuant to the terms of the Bylaws, no advance will be made by the Company to an executive officer of the Company (except by reason of the fact that such executive officer is or was a director of the Company) in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the proceeding, even if not a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by a majority of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, that the facts known to the decision-making party at the time such determination is made demonstrate clearly and convincingly that such person acted in bad faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company.
Additional Information.
NUAI has entered into employment agreements whereby it has agreed to indemnify the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer to the fullest extent permitted by law, for all amounts (including, without limitation, judgments, fines, settlement payments, expenses and reasonable out of pocket attorneys’ fees) incurred or paid by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer in connection with any action, suit, investigation or proceeding, or threatened action, suit, investigation or proceeding, arising out of or relating to the performance by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of services for, or the acting by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer as a director, officer or executive of, the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company. Any fees or other necessary expenses incurred by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer in defending any such action, suit, investigation or proceeding shall be paid by the Company in advance, subject to the Company’s right to seek repayment from the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer if a determination is made that the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer were not entitled to indemnification.
NUAI also maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.
NUAI may enter into one or more underwriting agreements which provide that the underwriters will be obligated, under some circumstances, to indemnify our directors, officers and controlling persons against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
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| Item 16. | Exhibits. |
The following documents are filed as exhibits to this registration statement, including those exhibits incorporated herein by reference to a prior filing of New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act as indicated in parentheses:
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| * | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K of New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. | |
| ** | Filed herewith. | |
+
| To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Rule 5b-3 thereunder. |
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| Item 17. | Undertakings. |
| (a) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes: |
| (1) | To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: |
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
| (2) | That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (3) | To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering. |
| (4) | That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 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 of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
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| (5) | That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser: |
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. |
| (6) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (7) | Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act 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 of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. |
| (8) | To the extent that the securities are offered to existing security holders pursuant to warrants or rights and any securities not taken by security holders are to be reoffered to the public, to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering. |
| (9) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: |
| (i) | For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b) (1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. |
| (ii) | For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. |
| (10) | The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act. |
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Midland, State of Texas, on January 22, 2026.
| NEW ERA ENERGY & DIGITAL, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ E. Will Gray II | |
| E. Will Gray II | ||
| Chief Executive Officer and Interim Chief Financial Officer | ||
Each person whose signature appears below appoints E. Will Gray II and Charles Nelson, and each of them, any of whom may act without the joinder of the other, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any Registration Statement (including any amendment thereto) for this offering that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or would do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated below as of January 22, 2026.
| Name | Title | |
| /s/ E. Will Gray II | Chief Executive Officer, Interim Chief Financial Officer and Chairman of the Board of Directors | |
| E. Will Gray II | (Principal Executive Officer and Principal Financial Officer) | |
| /s/ E. Will Gray II | Principal Accounting Officer | |
| E. Will Gray II | ||
| /s/ Peter Lee | Director | |
| Peter Lee | ||
| /s/ Charles Nelson | Director | |
| Charles Nelson | ||
| /s/ Ondrej Sestak | Director | |
| Ondrej Sestak | ||
| /s/ Trent Yang | Director | |
| Trent Yang |
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Exhibit 4.2
NEW ERA ENERGY & DIGITAL, INC.,
Issuer
AND
[TRUSTEE],
Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of [●], 20__
Debt Securities
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| PAGE | ||
| Article 1 DEFINITIONS | 1 | |
| Section 1.01 | Definitions of Terms | 1 |
| Article 2 ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES | 4 | |
| Section 2.01 | Designation and Terms of Securities | 4 |
| Section 2.02 | Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate | 6 |
| Section 2.03 | Denominations: Provisions for Payment | 6 |
| Section 2.04 | Execution and Authentications | 7 |
| Section 2.05 | Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 8 |
| Section 2.06 | Temporary Securities | 8 |
| Section 2.07 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities | 9 |
| Section 2.08 | Cancellation | 9 |
| Section 2.09 | Benefits of Indenture | 9 |
| Section 2.10 | Authenticating Agent | 10 |
| Section 2.11 | Global Securities | 10 |
| Section 2.12 | CUSIP Numbers | 11 |
| Article 3 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS | 11 | |
| Section 3.01 | Redemption | 11 |
| Section 3.02 | Notice of Redemption | 11 |
| Section 3.03 | Payment Upon Redemption | 12 |
| Section 3.04 | Sinking Fund | 12 |
| Section 3.05 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 12 |
| Section 3.06 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 12 |
| Article 4 COVENANTS | 13 | |
| Section 4.01 | Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest | 13 |
| Section 4.02 | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 13 |
| Section 4.03 | Paying Agents | 13 |
| Section 4.04 | Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee | 14 |
| Article 5 SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE | 14 | |
| Section 5.01 | Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders | 14 |
| Section 5.02 | Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders | 14 |
| Section 5.03 | Reports by the Company | 14 |
| Section 5.04 | Reports by the Trustee | 15 |
| Article 6 REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT | 15 | |
| Section 6.01 | Events of Default | 15 |
| Section 6.02 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 17 |
| Section 6.03 | Application of Moneys Collected | 17 |
| Section 6.04 | Limitation on Suits | 18 |
| Section 6.05 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 18 |
| Section 6.06 | Control by Securityholders | 19 |
| Section 6.07 | Undertaking to Pay Costs | 19 |
i
TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
| PAGE | ||
| Article 7 CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE | 19 | |
| Section 7.01 | Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee | 19 |
| Section 7.02 | Certain Rights of Trustee | 20 |
| Section 7.03 | Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities | 22 |
| Section 7.04 | May Hold Securities | 22 |
| Section 7.05 | Moneys Held in Trust | 22 |
| Section 7.06 | Compensation and Reimbursement | 22 |
| Section 7.07 | Reliance on Officer’s Certificate | 23 |
| Section 7.08 | Disqualification; Conflicting Interests | 23 |
| Section 7.09 | Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility | 23 |
| Section 7.10 | Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor | 23 |
| Section 7.11 | Acceptance of Appointment By Successor | 24 |
| Section 7.12 | Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business | 25 |
| Section 7.13 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company | 25 |
| Section 7.14 | Notice of Default | 25 |
| Article 8 CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS | 25 | |
| Section 8.01 | Evidence of Action by Securityholders | 25 |
| Section 8.02 | Proof of Execution by Securityholders | 26 |
| Section 8.03 | Who May be Deemed Owners | 26 |
| Section 8.04 | Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded | 26 |
| Section 8.05 | Actions Binding on Future Securityholders | 26 |
| Article 9 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | 27 | |
| Section 9.01 | Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders | 27 |
| Section 9.02 | Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders | 28 |
| Section 9.03 | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 28 |
| Section 9.04 | Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures | 28 |
| Section 9.05 | Execution of Supplemental Indentures | 28 |
| Article 10 SUCCESSOR ENTITY | 29 | |
| Section 10.01 | Company May Consolidate, Etc | 29 |
| Section 10.02 | Successor Entity Substituted | 29 |
| Article 11 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 29 | |
| Section 11.01 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 29 |
| Section 11.02 | Discharge of Obligations | 30 |
| Section 11.03 | Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust | 30 |
| Section 11.04 | Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents | 30 |
| Section 11.05 | Repayment to Company | 30 |
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(CONTINUED)
| PAGE | ||
| Article 12 IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | 30 | |
| Section 12.01 | No Recourse | 30 |
| Article 13 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | 31 | |
| Section 13.01 | Effect on Successors and Assigns | 31 |
| Section 13.02 | Actions by Successor | 31 |
| Section 13.03 | Surrender of Company Powers | 31 |
| Section 13.04 | Notices | 31 |
| Section 13.05 | Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver | 31 |
| Section 13.06 | Treatment of Securities as Debt | 31 |
| Section 13.07 | Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent | 31 |
| Section 13.08 | Payments on Business Days | 32 |
| Section 13.09 | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act | 32 |
| Section 13.10 | Counterparts | 32 |
| Section 13.11 | Separability | 32 |
| Section 13.12 | Compliance Certificates | 32 |
| Section 13.13 | Section 13.13 U.S.A | 32 |
| Section 13.14 | Force Majeure | 32 |
| Section 13.15 | Table of Contents; Headings | 32 |
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INDENTURE
INDENTURE, dated as of [●], 20 , among New Era Energy & Digital, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), and [TRUSTEE], as trustee (the “Trustee”):
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the certificate of the Trustee;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:
Article 1
DEFINITIONS
Section 1.01 Definitions of Terms. The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (except as herein or any indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“Authenticating Agent” means the Trustee or an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors (or the functional equivalent thereof) of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or duly authorized committee thereof) and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification.
“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in the city of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
“Company” means New Era Energy & Digital, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada, and, subject to the provisions of Article 10, shall also include its successors and assigns.
1
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at .
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning set forth in Section 2.03.
“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.
“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series, any event specified in Section 6.01, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“Exchange Act” means the United States Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder.
“Global Security” means a Security issued to evidence all or a part of any series of Securities which is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
“Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof at any time prior to the stated maturity of the Securities, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“herein”, “hereof” and “hereunder”, and other words of similar import, refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.
“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
“Officer” means, with respect to the Company, the chairman of the Board of Directors, a chief executive officer, a president, a chief financial officer, a chief operating officer, any executive vice president, any senior vice president, any vice president, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer, the controller or any assistant controller or the secretary or any assistant secretary.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by any Officer. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
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“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing subject to customary exceptions of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 13.07, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Outstanding”, when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except (a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or any paying agent, or delivered to the Trustee or any paying agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which moneys or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own paying agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as provided in Article 3, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, limited liability company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.
“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
“Responsible Officer” when used with respect to the Trustee means any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee (or any successor group of the Trustee) or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and in each case who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securityholder”, “holder of Securities”, “registered holder”, or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security is registered on the Security Register kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” shall have the meanings as set forth in Section 2.05.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
“Trustee” means , and, subject to the provisions of Article 7, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
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“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“U.S.A. Patriot Act” means the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001, Pub. L. 107-56, as amended and signed into law October 26, 2001.
Article 2
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
Section 2.01 Designation and Terms of Securities.
(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that series from all other Securities);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series);
(3) the maturity date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;
(4) the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the certificate of authentication for such series;
(5) the applicability of any guarantees;
(6) whether or not the Securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
(7) whether the Securities rank as senior debt, senior subordinated debt, subordinated debt or any combination thereof, and the terms of any subordination;
(8) if the price (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which such Securities will be issued is a price other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if applicable, the portion of the principal amount of such Securities that is convertible into another security or the method by which any such portion shall be determined;
(9) the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;
(10) the Company’s right, if any, to defer the payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;
(11) if applicable, the date or dates after which, or the period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, the Company may at its option, redeem the series of Securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions;
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(12) the date or dates, if any, on which, and the price or prices at which the Company is obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the Securityholder’s option to purchase, the series of Securities and the currency or currency unit in which the Securities are payable;
(13) the denominations in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable, if other than denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof;
(14) any and all terms, if applicable, relating to any auction or remarketing of the Securities of that series and any security for the obligations of the Company with respect to such Securities and any other terms which may be advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series;
(15) whether the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other individual Securities; and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities;
(16) if applicable, the provisions relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of the series and the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at the Company’s option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, the applicable conversion or exchange period and the manner of settlement for any conversion or exchange, which may, without limitation, include the payment of cash as well as the delivery of securities;
(17) if other than the full 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;
(18) additions to or changes in the covenants applicable to the series of Securities being issued, including, among others, the consolidation, merger or sale covenant;
(19) additions to or changes in the Events of Default with respect to the Securities and any change in the right of the Trustee or the Securityholders to declare the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with respect to such Securities to be due and payable;
(20) additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;
(21) additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture;
(22) additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of this Indenture both with and without the consent of Securityholders of Securities issued under this Indenture;
(23) the currency of payment of Securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars;
(24) whether interest will be payable in cash or additional Securities at the Company’s or the Securityholders’ option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;
(25) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any and principal amounts of the Securities of the series to any Securityholder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes;
(26) any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities of the series; and
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(27) any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the Securities, any other additions or changes in the provisions of this Indenture, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.
Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates.
Section 2.02 Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate. The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, and they may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
Section 2.03 Denominations: Provisions for Payment. The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the denominations of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof, subject to Section 2.01(a)(13). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. Subject to Section 2.01(a)(23), the principal of and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon in case of redemption or repurchase thereof prior to maturity, and any cash amount due upon conversion or exchange thereof, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the United States of America that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months.
The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.03.
Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (a) or clause (b) below:
(a) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date.
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(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities and any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the first day of the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
Section 2.04 Execution and Authentications. The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by one of its Officers. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature.
The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been an Officer (at the time of execution), notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be such an officer of the Company. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee, or by an Authenticating Agent. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by an Officer, and the Trustee in accordance with such written order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.
Upon the Company’s delivery of any such authentication order to the Trustee at any time after the initial issuance of Securities under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon, (1) an Opinion of Counsel or reliance letter and (2) an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent to the execution, authentication and delivery of such Securities are in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
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Section 2.05 Registration of Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b) The Company shall keep, or cause to be kept, at its office or agency designated for such purpose a register or registers (herein referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register the Securities and the transfers of Securities as in this Article provided and which at all reasonable times shall be open for inspection by the Trustee. The registrar for the purpose of registering Securities and transfer of Securities as herein provided shall be appointed as authorized by Board Resolution (the “Security Registrar”).
Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office or agency of the Company designated for such purpose, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.
All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c) Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, no service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial redemption of any series or repurchase, conversion or exchange of less than the entire principal amount of a Security, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.06, Section 3.03(b) and Section 9.04 not involving any transfer.
(d) The Company shall not be required (1) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (2) to register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of any series or portions thereof called for redemption or surrendered for repurchase, but not validly withdrawn, other than the unredeemed portion of any such Securities being redeemed in part or not surrendered for repurchase, as the case may be. The provisions of this Section 2.05 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
Section 2.06 Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office or agency of the Company designated for the purpose, and the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
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Section 2.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities. In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon the Company’s request the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the written request or authorization of any officer of the Company. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
Section 2.08 Cancellation. All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, repurchase, exchange, registration of transfer or conversion shall, if surrendered to the Company or any paying agent (or any other applicable agent), be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On request of the Company at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall deliver to the Company canceled Securities held by the Trustee. In the absence of such request the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver a certificate of disposition to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.09 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities.
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Section 2.10 Authenticating Agent. So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption, repurchase or conversion thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon request by the Company shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
Section 2.11 Global Securities.
(a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.04, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (1) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (2) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (3) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction (or if the Depositary names the Trustee as its custodian, retained by the Trustee), and (4) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”
(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.05, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
(c) If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Company has received a request from the Depositary or from the Trustee, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.04, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Depositary for delivery to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
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Section 2.12 CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the “CUSIP” numbers.
Article 3
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
Section 3.01 Redemption. The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
Section 3.02 Notice of Redemption.
(a) In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with any right the Company reserved for itself to do so pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid (or with regard to any Global Security held in book entry form, by electronic mail), a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 90 days before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with any such restriction.
Each such notice of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP numbers, if any), specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Company, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is from a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed.
In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
(b) If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days’ notice (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair in its discretion and that may provide for the selection of a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $1,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by an Officer, instruct the Trustee or any paying agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such paying agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such paying agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such paying agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.
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Section 3.03 Payment Upon Redemption.
(a) If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an Interest Payment Date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.03).
(b) Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
Section 3.04 Sinking Fund. The provisions of Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.01 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment”. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.05. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
Section 3.05 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. The Company (a) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series and (b) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 3.06 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.05 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officer’s Certificate, deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.02. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.03.
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Article 4
COVENANTS
Section 4.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities. Payments of principal on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions to the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date. Payments of interest on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions in writing to the Security Registrar and the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date.
Section 4.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency. So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company agrees to maintain an office or agency with respect to each such series and at such other location or locations as may be designated as provided in this Section 4.02, where (a) Securities of that series may be presented for payment, (b) Securities of that series may be presented as herein above authorized for registration of transfer and exchange, and (c) notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be given or served, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by any officer authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, notices and demands. The Company initially appoints the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as its paying agent with respect to the Securities.
Section 4.03 Paying Agents.
(a) If the Company shall appoint one or more paying agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
(1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(2) that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3) that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent; and
(4) that it will perform all other duties of paying agent as set forth in this Indenture.
(b) If the Company shall act as its own paying agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. Whenever the Company shall have one or more paying agents for any series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the paying agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such paying agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.
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(c) Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, (1) the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, and (2) the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or direct any paying agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such paying agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such paying agent; and, upon such payment by the Company or any paying agent to the Trustee, the Company or such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
Section 4.04 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee. The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
Article 5
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
Section 5.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) within 15 days after each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.03) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company and (b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished; provided, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
Section 5.02 Preservation Of Information; Communications With Securityholders.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 and as to the names and addresses of holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar (if acting in such capacity).
(b) The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 5.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(c) Securityholders may communicate as provided in Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and, in connection with any such communications, the Trustee shall satisfy its obligations under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the provisions of Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 5.03 Reports by the Company.
(a) The Company will at all times comply with Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Company covenants and agrees to provide (which delivery may be via electronic mail) to the Trustee within 30 days, after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee any correspondence filed with the Commission or any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by the Commission; and provided further, that so long as such filings by the Company are available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), or any successor system, such filings shall be deemed to have been filed with the Trustee for purposes hereof without any further action required by the Company. For the avoidance of doubt, a failure by the Company to file annual reports, information and other reports with the SEC within the time period prescribed thereof by the Commission shall not be deemed a breach of this Section 5.03.
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(b) Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 5.03 is for informational purposes only and the information and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein, or determinable from information contained therein including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants thereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate). The Trustee is under no duty to examine any such reports, information or documents delivered to the Trustee or filed with the SEC via EDGAR to ensure compliance with the provision of this Indenture or to ascertain the correctness or otherwise of the information or the statements contained therein. The Trustee shall have no responsibility or duty whatsoever to ascertain or determine whether the above referenced filings with the SEC on EDGAR (or any successor system) has occurred.
Section 5.04 Reports by the Trustee.
(a) If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee, within sixty (60) days after each May 1, shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register, a brief report dated as of such May 1, which complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any securities exchange.
Article 6
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
Section 6.01 Events of Default.
(a) Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:
(1) the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 90 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
(2) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;
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(3) the Company fails to observe or perform any other of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(4) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (A) commences a voluntary case, (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(5) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (B) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.
(b) In each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above), unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the holders of the Securities.
(c) At any time after the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06, and (2) any and all Events of Default under the Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal on (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.06.
No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
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Section 6.02 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
(a) The Company covenants that (1) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period of 90 days, or (2) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06.
(b) If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law or equity out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.
(c) In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under the Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.06.
(d) All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.06, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.
In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in the Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.03 Application of Moneys Collected. Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
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FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.06;
SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.
Section 6.04 Limitation on Suits. No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (a) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (b) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder; (c) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; (d) the Trustee for 90 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (e) during such 90 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series. For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
Section 6.05 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.07, all powers and remedies given by this Article to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.
(b) No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every power and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
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Section 6.06 Control by Securityholders. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to such series; provided, however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or subject the Trustee in its sole discretion to personal liability. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed, subject to the Trustee’s duties under the Trust Indenture Act, would involve the Trustee in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the Securityholders not involved in the proceeding. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.04, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.01 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.01(c)). Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.07 Undertaking to Pay Costs. All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
Article 7
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 7.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.
(b) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to that series that may have occurred:
(A) the duties and obligations of the Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of such series be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to the Securities of such series except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
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(B) in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Securityholder or to any other Person for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that series;
(4) none of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it;
(5) The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers or duties hereunder;
(6) The permissive right of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty of the Trustee; and
(7) No Trustee shall have any duty or responsibility for any act or omission of any other Trustee appointed with respect to a series of Securities hereunder.
Section 7.02 Certain Rights of Trustee. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) Any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument signed in the name of the Company by any authorized officer of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);
(c) The Trustee may consult with counsel and the opinion or written advice of such counsel or, if requested, any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(d) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably acceptable to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived), to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs;
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(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(f) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents or inquire as to the performance by the Company of one of its covenants under this Indenture, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.04); provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, 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 afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require security or indemnity reasonably acceptable to the Trustee against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such examination 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) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances;
(i) In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action; and
(j) The Trustee agrees to accept and act upon instructions or directions pursuant to this Indenture sent by unsecured e-mail, facsimile transmission or other similar unsecured electronic methods; provided, however, that (1) the party providing such written instructions, subsequent to such transmission of written instructions, shall provide the originally executed instructions or directions to the Trustee in a timely manner, and (2) such originally executed instructions or directions shall be signed by an authorized representative of the party providing such instructions or directions. If the party elects to give the Trustee e-mail or facsimile instructions (or instructions by a similar electronic method) and the Trustee in its discretion elects to act upon such instructions, the Trustee’s understanding of such instructions shall be deemed controlling. The Trustee shall not be liable for any losses, costs or expenses arising directly or indirectly from the Trustee’s reliance upon and compliance with such instructions notwithstanding such instructions conflict or are inconsistent with a subsequent written instruction. The party providing electronic instructions agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit instructions and directions to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk or interception and misuse by third parties. 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 furnish the Trustee with Officer’s Certificates, Company Orders and any other matters or directions pursuant to this Indenture.
(k) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder.
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(l) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any Default or Event of Default (other than an Event of Default relating to the failure to pay the interest on, or the principal of, the Securities) until the Trustee shall have received written notification in the manner set forth in this Indenture or a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have obtained actual knowledge.
Section 7.03 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities.
(a) The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any statement in any registration statement, prospectus, or any other document in connection with the sale of Securities. The Trustee shall not be responsible for any rating on the Securities or any action or omission of any rating agency.
(b) The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
(c) The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.01, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any paying agent other than the Trustee.
Section 7.04 May Hold Securities. The Trustee or any paying agent or Security Registrar, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, paying agent or Security Registrar.
Section 7.05 Moneys Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions of Section 11.05, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
Section 7.06 Compensation and Reimbursement.
(a) The Company shall pay to the Trustee for each of its capacities hereunder from time to time compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
(b) The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder against any loss, liability or expense (including the cost of defending itself and including the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel) incurred by it except as set forth in Section 7.06(c) in the exercise or performance of its powers, rights or duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
(c) The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence or bad faith.
(d) To ensure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all funds or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of or interest on particular Securities. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a)(4) or (5), the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for services in connection therewith are to constitute expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law. The provisions of this Section 7.06 shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
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Section 7.07 Reliance on Officer’s Certificate. Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.01, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it reasonably necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an 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, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section 7.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 7.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least fifty million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority.
If such corporation or other Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or other Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or any Securityholder of that series who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b) In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.08 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or
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(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.09 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation; then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.
(d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
(e) Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.
Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment By Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates, (2) shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates.
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(c) Upon request of any such successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
(e) Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
Section 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, including the administration of the trust created by this Indenture, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.08 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. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
Section 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
Section 7.14 Notice of Default. If any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if such Event of Default is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act notice of the Event of Default within the earlier of 90 days after it occurs and 30 days after it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or written notice of it is received by the Trustee, unless such Event of Default has been cured; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.
Article 8
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 8.01 Evidence of Action by Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
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If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
Section 8.02 Proof of Execution by Securityholders. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his or her agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(b) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.
The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
Section 8.03 Who May be Deemed Owners. Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Security Registrar as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.03) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Section 8.04 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded. In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
Section 8.05 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders. At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.
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Article 9
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders. In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series;
(b) to comply with Article 10;
(c) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(d) to add to the covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions relating to the Company for the benefit of the holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series), to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and the continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default, or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
(e) to add to, delete from, or revise the conditions, limitations, and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, or purposes of issue, authentication, and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;
(f) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder in any material respect;
(g) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of the Securities of any series as provided in Section 2.01, to establish the form of any certifications required to be furnished pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or any series of Securities, or to add to the rights of the holders of any series of Securities;
(h) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee; or
(i) to comply with any requirements of the Commission or any successor in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.02.
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Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.01) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.01 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby, (a) extend the fixed maturity of any Securities of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
Section 9.03 Effect of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 9.04 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures. Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Section 10.01, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any securities exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
Section 9.05 Execution of Supplemental Indentures. Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01, shall receive an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized or permitted by the terms of this Article and that all conditions precedent to the execution of the supplemental indenture have been complied with; provided, however, that such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Company shall (or shall direct the Trustee to) transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby .as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Company to mail, or cause the mailing of, such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
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Article 10
SUCCESSOR ENTITY
Section 10.01 Company May Consolidate, Etc. Nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors); provided, however, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the survivor of such transaction) or any such sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition (other than a sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition to a Subsidiary of the Company), the due and punctual payment of the principal of (premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.01 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect) reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property.
Section 10.02 Successor Entity Substituted.
(a) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the obligations set forth under Section 10.01 on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
(b) In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c) Nothing contained in this Article shall require any action by the Company in the case of a consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
Article 11
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 11.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. If at any time: (a) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of a series theretofore authenticated and not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (other than any Securities that shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.07 and Securities for whose payment money or Governmental Obligations have theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereupon repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 11.05); or (b) all such Securities of a particular series not theretofore 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 or cause to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in moneys or Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof, sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay at maturity or upon redemption all Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder with respect to such series by the Company then this Indenture shall thereupon cease to be of further effect with respect to such series except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03 and 7.10, that shall survive until the date of maturity or redemption date, as the case may be, and Sections 7.06 and 11.05, that shall survive to such date and thereafter, and the Trustee, on demand of the Company and at the cost and expense of the Company shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and discharging this Indenture with respect to such series.
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Section 11.02 Discharge of Obligations. If at any time all such Securities of a particular series not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or that have not become due and payable as described in Section 11.01 shall have been paid by the Company by depositing irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds moneys or an amount of Governmental Obligations sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal (and premium, if any) and interest due or to become due to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and if the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series, then after the date such moneys or Governmental Obligations, as the case may be, are deposited with the Trustee the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such series shall cease to be of further effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.03, 2.05, 2.07, 4.01, 4.02, 4.03, 7.06, 7.10 and 11.05 hereof that shall survive until such Securities shall mature and be paid.
Thereafter, Sections 7.06 and 11.05 shall survive.
Section 11.03 Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust. All moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections 11.01 or 11.02 shall be held in trust and shall be available for payment as due, either directly or through any paying agent (including the Company acting as its own paying agent), to the holders of the particular series of Securities for the payment or redemption of which such moneys or Governmental Obligations have been deposited with the Trustee.
Section 11.04 Payment of Moneys Held by Paying Agents. In connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys or Governmental Obligations then held by any paying agent under the provisions of this Indenture shall, upon demand of the Company, be paid to the Trustee and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations.
Section 11.05 Repayment to Company. Any moneys or Governmental Obligations deposited with any paying agent or the Trustee, or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of a particular series that are not applied but remain unclaimed by the holders of such Securities for at least two years after the date upon which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on such Securities shall have respectively become due and payable, or such other shorter period set forth in applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, shall be repaid to the Company on May 31 of each year or upon the Company’s request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and thereupon the paying agent and the Trustee shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys or Governmental Obligations, and the holder of any of the Securities entitled to receive such payment shall thereafter, as a general creditor, look only to the Company for the payment thereof.
Article 12
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 12.01 No Recourse. No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or 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 this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
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Article 13
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 13.01 Effect on Successors and Assigns. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture made by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 13.02 Actions by Successor. Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
Section 13.03 Surrender of Company Powers. The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any successor corporation.
Section 13.04 Notices. Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice, request or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made or served by the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying or other agent under this Indenture or by the holders of Securities or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed (until another address is filed in writing by the Company with the Trustee), as follows: . Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
Section 13.05 Governing Law; Jury Trial Waiver. This Indenture and each Security shall governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.
Section 13.06 Treatment of Securities as Debt. It is intended that the Securities will be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.
Section 13.07 Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent.
(a) Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.12) relating to the proposed action have been complied with and, if requested, an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
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(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture (other than the certificate to be delivered pursuant to Section 13.12 or Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall include (1) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is reasonably necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 13.08 Payments on Business Days. Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.01 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
Section 13.09 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.
Section 13.10 Counterparts. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 13.11 Separability. In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
Section 13.12 Compliance Certificates. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during which any Securities of any series were outstanding, an officer’s certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any Event of Default that occurred during such fiscal year. Such certificate shall contain a certification from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company that a review has been conducted of the activities of the Company and the Company’s performance under this Indenture and that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 13.12, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture. If the officer of the Company signing such certificate has knowledge of such an Event of Default, the certificate shall describe any such Event of Default and its status.
Section 13.13 Section 13.13 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 request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
Section 13.14 Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying agent or any other agent under this Indenture be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions or utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any paying agent or any other agent under this Indenture shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 13.15 Table of Contents; Headings. The table of contents and headings of the articles and sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof, and will not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
| NEW ERA ENERGY & DIGITAL, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| [TRUSTEE], as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
Signature Page to Indenture
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CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE1
Section of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as Amended |
Section of Indenture | |
| 310(a) | 7.09 | |
| 310(b) |
7.08 7.10 | |
| 310(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 311(a) | 7.13 | |
| 311(b) | 7.13 | |
| 311(c) | Inapplicable | |
| 312(a) |
5.01 5.02(a) | |
| 312(b) | 5.02(c) | |
| 312(c) | 5.02(c) | |
| 313(a) | 5.04(a) | |
| 313(b) | 5.04(b) | |
| 313(c) |
5.04(a) 5.04(b) | |
| 313(d) | 5.04(c) | |
| 314(a) |
5.03 13.12 | |
| 314(b) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(c) | 13.07(a) | |
| 314(d) | Inapplicable | |
| 314(e) | 13.07(b) | |
| 314(f) | Inapplicable | |
| 315(a) |
7.01(a) 7.01(b) | |
| 315(b) | 7.14 | |
| 315(c) | 7.01 | |
| 315(d) | 7.01(b) | |
| 315(e) | 6.07 | |
| 316(a) |
6.06 8.04 | |
| 316(b) | 6.04 | |
| 316(c) | 8.01 | |
| 317(a) | 6.02 | |
| 317(b) | 4.03 | |
| 318(a) | 13.09 |
| 1 | This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions. |
34
Exhibit 5.1
|
LAURA ANTHONY, ESQ. CRAIG D. LINDER, ESQ.* JOHN CACOMANOLIS, ESQ.**
Associates and OF COUNSEL: JOSEPHINE CARINO, ESQ.*** CHAD FRIEND, ESQ., LLM MICHAEL R. GEROE, ESQ., CIPP/US**** JESSICA HAGGARD, ESQ. ***** PETER P. LINDLEY, ESQ., CPA, MBA JOHN LOWY, ESQ.******* STUART REED, ESQ. LAZARUS ROTHSTEIN, ESQ. SVETLANA ROVENSKAYA, ESQ.******** HARRIS TULCHIN, ESQ. ********* |
WWW.ALCLAW.COM WWW.SECURITIESLAWBLOG.COM
DIRECT E-MAIL: JHaggard@ALCLAW.COM
|
*licensed in CA, FL and NY
**licensed in FL and NY
*** licensed in CA
****licensed in CA, DC, MO and NY
*****licensed in Missouri
*******licensed in NY and NJ
********licensed in NY and NJ
*********licensed in CA and HI (inactive in HI)
January 22, 2026
New Era Energy & Digital, Inc.
4501 Santa Rosa Drive
Midland, TX 79707
| Re: | New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as securities counsel to New Era Energy & Digital, Inc., a Nevada corporation (the “Company”) in connection with the registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. The Registration Statement consists of two prospectuses, covering the registration of the following:
| ● | An offering of the combination of the following, with an aggregate amount not to exceed $350,000,000: (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (iii) the Company’s debt securities consisting of senior debt, subordinated debt or debentures (the “Debt Securities”), (iv) the Company’s warrants to purchase Common Stock (the “Warrants”), (v) the Company’s rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, or Debt Securities (the “Rights”), (vi) units issued by the Company comprised of any of the foregoing securities listed in (i) through (vi) above (the “Units”), or any combination of the foregoing, each on the terms to be determined at the time of each offering; and, |
| ● | Securities to be issued, offered and sold, including up to (i) 19,267,595 shares of our Common Stock held by the selling stockholders described herein, issuable upon the exercise of the Private Tradeable Warrants (defined below), issuable upon the exercise of the Investor Warrants (as defined in the Registration Statement), or issuable upon conversion of the Note (as defined in the Registration Statement), (ii) 5,750,000 shares of Common Stock that may be issued upon the exercise of 5,750,000 warrants issued in the initial public offering (the “IPO”) of Roth CH Acquisition V Co., a Delaware corporation (the “Public Tradeable Warrants”) which became warrants of the Company pursuant to the Business Combination (as defined in the Registration Statement), and (iii) 20,289 warrants issued in a private placement simultaneously with the closing of the IPO (the “Private Tradeable Warrants” and together with the Public Tradeable Warrants, the “Tradeable Warrants”) which became warrants of the Company pursuant to the Business Combination (collectively, the “Secondary Securities”). |
The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Rights and Units, plus any additional Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Rights and Units that may be registered pursuant to any subsequent registration statement that the Company may hereafter file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act in connection with the offering by the Company contemplated by the Registration Statement are collectively referred to herein as the “Primary Securities” and, together with the Secondary Securities, the “Securities.”
Such Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act, at which time it is contemplated that the Offering Prospectus included in the Registration Statement will be supplemented in the future by one or more supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”).
This opinion letter is furnished to you to enable you to fulfill the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K, 17 C.F.R. §229.601(b)(5), in connection with the Registration Statement.
In rendering our opinions set forth below, we have reviewed such corporate documents and records of the Company, such certificates of public officials and such other matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion letter. As to facts material to the opinions expressed herein, we have relied upon oral and written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and relied on certificates of public officials. We also have assumed (a) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals; (b) the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies; (c) the genuineness of all signatures; (d) the legal capacity of natural persons; and (e) the truth, accuracy and completeness of the information, factual matters, representations and warranties contained in all of such documents.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | Upon the due authorization of the issuance of shares of Common Stock and the issuance and sale thereof as described in the Registration Statement, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; |
| 2. | Upon the due authorization of the issuance of shares of Preferred Stock and the issuance and sale thereof as described in the Registration Statement, such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; |
| 3. | Upon due authorization, the Debt Securities, when (a) the definitive terms and provisions of such Debt Securities have been duly established, (b) any supplemental indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the trustee and (c) when the Debt Securities are duly executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the trustee in accordance with the applicable Indenture and paid for by the purchasers thereof, the Debt Securities will be legally issued by the Company and will constitute the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms; |
| 4. | Upon the due authorization of the Warrants and when duly executed by the Company and countersigned by the Warrant Agent in accordance with the applicable Warrant Agreement, the Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms; |
| 5. | Upon the due authorization of the Rights and when duly executed by the Company and countersigned by the Rights Agent in accordance with the applicable Rights Agreement, the Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms; and |
| 6. | The shares of Common Stock (a) held by the selling stockholders or issuable upon conversion of the Note, (b) issuable upon the exercise of the Investor Warrants, and (c) issuable upon the exercise of the Public Tradeable Warrants or Private Tradeable Warrants, when issued pursuant to their terms, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The Private Tradeable Warrants constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms. |
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The opinions set forth above are subject, as the enforcement of remedies, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, receivership, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally and to the effect of general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought.
In rendering the foregoing opinions, we have assumed that: (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto, shall have become effective under the Securities Act and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder); (ii) a Prospectus Supplement describing each class or series of Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, to the extent required by applicable law and relevant rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), will be timely filed with the Commission; (iii) the definitive terms of each class or series of Securities shall have been established in accordance with resolutions duly adopted by the Board (or an authorized committee thereof) (each, a “Board Action”), the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, (the “Charter”) and applicable law; (iv) the Company will issue and deliver the Securities in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectuses, the applicable Prospectus Supplement and any applicable underwriting agreement; (v) the total number of shares of Common Stock issuable (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security) will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock, that the Company is then authorized to issue under its Charter; (vi) the Board Action authorizing the Company to issue, offer and sell the Securities will have been adopted by the Board (or an authorized committee thereof) and will be in full force and effect at all times at which the Securities are offered or sold by the Company; and (vii) all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are limited to the Private Corporations Law of the State of Nevada and the reported judicial decisions interpreting such statute and provisions and the laws of the state of New York and the federal laws of the United States of America. We are not opining on, and we assume no responsibility for, the applicability to or effect on any of the matters covered herein of (a) any other laws of the State of Nevada; (b) the laws of any other jurisdiction; or (c) the laws of any county, municipality or other political subdivision or local governmental agency or authority.
This opinion is given as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to advise you after the date hereof of facts or circumstances that come to our attention or changes in law that occur, in each case, subsequent to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, which could affect the opinions contained herein. This opinion is being rendered for the benefit of the Company in connection with the matters addressed herein.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S−K under the Securities Act and to the reference to our firm therein and in the Prospectuses and any Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that this firm is within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
| Sincerely yours, | |
| /s/ Laura E. Anthony | |
| Laura E. Anthony, | |
| For the Firm |
1700 PALM BEACH LAKES BLVD., SUITE 820 ● WEST PALM BEACH, FLORIDA ● 33401 ● PHONE: 561-514-0936
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Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectuses constituting a part of this Registration Statement of our report dated March 31, 2025, relating to the consolidated financial statements of New Era Helium Inc. (the Company) appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024.
We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectuses.
/s/ WEAVER AND TIDWELL, L.L.P.
Denver, Colorado
January 22, 2026
Exhibit 23.3
CONSENT OF MKM ENGINEERING
We hereby consent to (i) the use of the name MKM Engineering, (ii) references to MKM Engineering as an independent oil and gas engineering consulting firm, and (iii) the use of information from our Appraisal of Certain Oil and Gas Interests owned by NEH Midstream LLC and Solis Partners, LLC located in Chaves County, New Mexico and Howard County, Texas as of December 31, 2024 (the “Appraisal Report”) and which contains our opinion of the proved reserves and future net revenue of NEH Midstream LLC and Solis Partners, LLC as of December 31, 2024, in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of New Era Energy & Digital, Inc. (as it may be amended, the “Registration Statement”).
We further consent to the inclusion of the Appraisal Report as an exhibit through incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement. We further consent to the reference to MKM Engineering under the heading “EXPERTS” in the Registration Statement and related prospectus.
| MKM ENGINEERING | ||
| Texas Registered Engineering Firm F-009733 | ||
| By: | /s/ Michele K. Mudrone | |
| Name: | Michele K. Mudrone | |
| Title: | Professional Engineer | |
| Date: | January 22, 2026 | |