PSQ Holdings, Inc S-3, filed May 9, 2025
PSQ Holdings, Inc. (PSQH)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 2025
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION
STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
PSQ Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 86-2062844 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
313 Datura Street, Suite 200
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
(877) 776-2402
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)
James M. Giudice
Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel
313 Datura Street, Suite 200
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Telephone: (877) 776-2402
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copies to:
|
Jonathan H. Talcott E. Peter Strand Michael K. Bradshaw, Jr. Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP 101 Constitution Avenue NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20001 Telephone: (202) 689-2800 |
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 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.
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.
| PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS | SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 9, 2025 |
$200,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
From time to time, we may offer and sell our securities listed above in one or more offerings in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the time of the offering. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold by us under this prospectus will not exceed $200 million.
Each time we offer our securities, we will provide you with specific terms of the securities offered in supplements to this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. Accompanying prospectus supplements may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplements, the information incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the accompany prospectus supplements and the additional information described below under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” carefully before you invest in our securities.
Our securities may be offered and sold to or through underwriters, brokers, dealers or agents as designated from time to time, or directly to one or more other purchasers or through a combination of such methods. For additional information, you should refer to the section captioned “Plan of Distribution” on page 33 of this prospectus. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of our securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the accompanying prospectus supplement. The price to the public of our securities and the net proceeds that we expect to receive from such sale will also be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
Each share of our Class A Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders except as otherwise expressly provided by our Charter (as defined herein) or as provided by law. Each share of our Class C Common Stock entitles its holder, initially Mr. Michael Seifert, our Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, to a number of votes per share (rounded up to the nearest whole number) equal to (a) the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock entitled to vote on the applicable matter as of the applicable record date plus 100, divided by (b) the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock. As of the date of this prospectus, Mr. Seifert controls approximately 51.53 % of our outstanding voting power due to his ownership of all of our outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock and, as such, the result of most matters to be voted upon by our stockholders will be controlled by Mr. Seifert, who can base his vote upon his best judgment and his fiduciary duties to our stockholders, and who otherwise will be able to exercise a very significant degree of control over our company. In addition, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of applicable NYSE rules as of the date of this prospectus and, consequently, qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. As a result, our stockholders do not have the same degree of corporate governance protections under NYSE rules as those afforded to stockholders of companies that are not “controlled companies.”
You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or amendment carefully before investing in our securities. Our Class A Common Stock trades on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “PSQH” and our Warrants trade on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “PSQH.WS”. On May 8, 2025, the closing price of our Class A Common Stock as reported by NYSE was $1.94 per share and the closing price of our Public Warrants as reported by NYSE was $0.21. Each of our Warrants is exercisable for one share of Class A Common Stock at an exercise price of $11.50 per share.
We are an emerging growth company and a smaller reporting company under the federal securities laws and, as such, are subject to certain reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary — Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company” on page 2 of this prospectus.
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and consider the risk factors set forth under the caption “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement before you invest in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2025.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
i
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a shelf registration process. Using this process, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $200 million. This prospectus provides a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell any securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain more specific information about the terms of the securities being offered and the specific manner in which they will be offered. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. Accompanying prospectus supplements may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. To the extent that any statement we make in an accompanying prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in this prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference herein, the statements made in this prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference herein will be deemed modified or superseded by those made in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
You should carefully read this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein as described below under the captions “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” before making a decision to invest in our securities.
You should rely only on the information set forth in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.
We are not making an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein are accurate only as of the dates of those documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
Unless the context otherwise requires, throughout this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, the words “PublicSquare,” “PSQ,” “we,” “us,” “our,” “the registrant” or the “Company” refer to PSQ Holdings, Inc., and the term “securities” refers collectively to our preferred stock, common stock, debt securities, warrants, units and any combination of the foregoing securities.
This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in documents described in this prospectus. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents, which you should review before making a decision to invest in our securities. Copies of the documents referred to herein have been filed, or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information.”
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Unless otherwise stated in this prospectus or the context otherwise requires, references in this document to:
“Board” means the board of directors of the Company. References herein to the Company will include its subsidiaries to the extent reasonably applicable.
“Business Combination” means the business combination of Colombier and Private PSQ pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.
“Bylaws” means the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company as in effect on the date of this prospectus.
“Charter” means the Restated Charter of the Company as in effect on the date of this prospectus.
“Class A Common Stock” means the shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.
“Class C Common Stock” means the shares of Class C common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of the Company.
“Closing” means the closing of the Business Combination.
“Common Stock” means our Class A Common Stock and Class C Common Stock together.
“Colombier” means the Company prior to the Closing.
“Colombier Sponsor” means Colombier Sponsor LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.
“Colombier Class A Common Stock” means the Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Colombier, prior to the Closing of the Business Combination.
“Colombier Class B Common Stock” means the Class B Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, of Colombier, prior to the Closing of the Business Combination.
“DGCL” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended.
“Earnout Shares” means up to 3,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock that may be issued by the Company to Participating Equityholders upon achievement of certain trading price-based targets for the Company Common Stock following Closing.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“IPO” means the initial public offering of Colombier’s Units at a public offering price of $10.00 per Unit that it consummated on June 11, 2021.
“Merger Agreement” means the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 27, 2023, by and among Colombier, Merger Sub, Colombier Sponsor, as purchaser representative, and PSQ.
“Merger Sub” means Colombier-Liberty Acquisition, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Colombier prior to the Closing.
“NYSE” means the New York Stock Exchange.
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“PIPE Offering” means the private investment in public equity transaction that closed on October 24, 2024, pursuant to which the Resale Shares were sold by the Company at $2.70 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $5.35 million.
“PIPE Purchasers” means the purchasers party to the Securities Purchase Agreement (or their permitted transferees), that purchased the Resale Shares in the PIPE Offering.
“Private PSQ” means PublicSq. Inc. (f/k/a PSQ Holdings, Inc.), a Delaware corporation, prior to the Business Combination. References herein to Private PSQ will include its subsidiaries to the extent reasonably applicable.
“Private Placement” means the private placement consummated simultaneously with the IPO in which Colombier issued the Private Warrants to the Colombier Sponsor at a purchase price of $1.00 per Private Warrant for aggregate consideration of $5,700,000.
“Private Warrants” means one (1) whole warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) share of Class A Common Stock at a purchase price of $11.50 per share originally issued to the Colombier Sponsor in the Private Placement.
“PSQ Founder” means Michael Seifert, our Founder, President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board.
“Public Warrants” means one (1) whole redeemable warrant that was included in as part of each Unit, entitling the holder thereof to purchase one (1) share of Class A Common Stock at a purchase price of $11.50 per share.
“SEC” means the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Sponsor Distributees” means the members of Colombier Sponsor at the time of the Closing.
“Units” means the units issued in our IPO consisting of one (1) share of Colombier Class A Common Stock and one-third (1/3) of one Public Warrant.
“Warrants” means Private Warrants and Public Warrants, collectively.
“Warrant Agent” means Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company.
“Warrant Agreement” means that certain Warrant Agreement, dated June 8, 2021, between Colombier and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent.
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This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in our securities. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including any prospectus supplement and the matters discussed under the sections titled “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Business” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus before making an investment decision.
Company Overview
PublicSquare is a technology-enabled Marketplace & Payments ecosystem that serves an audience of consumers and merchants who value life, family, and liberty. PublicSquare operates under three segments: Financial Technology, Marketplace, and Brands. The Financial Technology (“FinTech”) segment comprises Credova, a “Buy Now Pay Later” company focused on the outdoors & shooting sports industry, and PSQ Payments, a “cancel-proof” payments processing company. The primary mission of the Marketplace segment is to help consumers “shop their values” and put purpose behind their purchases with American-owned small businesses. PublicSquare leverages data and insights from the Marketplace to assess its customers’ needs and provide wholly-owned quality financial products and brands. PublicSquare’s Brands segment comprises EveryLife, a premium D2C life-affirming baby products company.
On March 13, 2024, we acquired Credova Holdings, Inc., the parent company of Credova Financial, LLC (collectively, “Credova”), which operates a point-of-sale FinTech platform providing “Buy Now Pay Later” and other financing solutions catered to the outdoors & shooting sports industries.
The Company’s three operating segments — Financial Technology, Marketplace, and Brands — are summarized below:
Financial Technology
Financial Technology includes both Credova and PSQPayments LLC (“PSQ Payments”). Credova assists consumers, lenders, and retailers in offering point-of-sale financing products. Credova has developed and maintains an internet-based proprietary retail finance platform and related application programming interfaces (“APIs”) through which Credova, certain Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”) and National Credit Union Administration (“NCUA”) insured financial institutions, other insured financial institutions authorized by Credova, and merchants can dynamically offer certain financing products. PSQ Payments was launched on October 28, 2024 and is a payment stack consisting of a framework of technological components and services the Company’s customers can utilize to manage their payment processes.
Marketplace
The PSQ Marketplace (the “Platform”) is our primary customer and merchant acquisition tool. The Platform is free to use for shoppers, who can utilize the Platform to search and shop from quality American small businesses, both locally and across the country. These values-aligned businesses include e-commerce merchants, restaurants, banks, and other service providers. The Merchants on our platform can list their businesses at no cost, are charged transaction fees when shoppers purchase their products through our Marketplace, and can choose to conduct paid advertising on the platform to increase their exposure to our customers.
The Platform can be accessed through two primary means:
| ● | Mobile application — Available for both iOS and Android-based devices. |
| ● | Web — Via web browser at PublicSquare.com. |
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Brands
EveryLife is a direct-to-consumer baby care company founded in 2023 with a mission to provide premium products for every miraculous life. EveryLife believes that every baby is a gift from God and deserves love, protection, and celebration. EveryLife is committed to its core values, ensuring excellence in product quality, and demonstrating generosity by donating diapers and wipes to moms in need (via its unique “Buy For a Cause” program). This commitment has quickly set EveryLife apart, elevating both its brand and products. Since its launch in July 2023, EveryLife has been delivering premium, high-performing, price-accessible products that align with the pro-life and pro-family values of its consumers.
Our Values
We are passionate about our mission and that passion guides everything we do. We are driven to transform the United States, for the better, through the power of commerce. We as a company embrace and promote five core values that differentiate us greatly from our competitors. These five values are:
| ● | We are united in our commitment to freedom and truth — that’s what makes us Americans. |
| ● | We will always protect the family unit and celebrate the sanctity of every life. |
| ● | We believe small business members and the communities who support them are the backbone of our economy. |
| ● | We believe in the greatness of the United States of America and will always fight to defend it. |
| ● | Our constitution is non-negotiable — government isn’t the source of our rights, so it can’t take them away. |
These five core values are the foundation of our Company’s vision, which connects the consumer and merchants who use our services to promote their voice through their purchasing power, or “vote with their wallets”.
Corporate Information
PSQ Holdings, Inc. is a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 313 Datura Street, Suite 200, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401, and our telephone number is (877) 776-2402. Our principal website address is https://www.publicsquare.com. Information contained in, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company and a Smaller Reporting Company
We qualify as an “emerging growth company” (“EGC”), as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012. We may remain an EGC until the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the consummation of our IPO, although if the market value of our common stock that is held by non-affiliates exceeds $700 million as of any June 30 before that time or if we have annual gross revenues of $1.235 billion or more in any fiscal year, we would cease to be an EGC as of December 31 of the applicable year. We also would cease to be an EGC if we issue more than $1 billion of non-convertible debt over a three-year period. For so long as we remain an EGC, we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not EGCs. Accordingly, the information contained herein may be different than the information you receive from other public companies in which you hold stock.
We are also a “smaller reporting company,” as defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act. We may continue to be a smaller reporting company if either (1) the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $250 million or (2) our annual revenue was less than $100 million during the most recently completed fiscal year and the market value of our stock held by non-affiliates is less than $700 million. If we are a smaller reporting company at the time we cease to be an emerging growth company, we may continue to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure requirements that are available to smaller reporting companies. For so long as we remain a smaller reporting company, we are permitted and intend to rely on exemptions from certain disclosure and other requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not smaller reporting companies.
Controlled Company Exemption
Michael Seifert, our Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, as a result of his ownership of all of the shares of our outstanding Class C Common Stock, owns 51.53 % of our outstanding voting power for the election of directors as of the date of this prospectus. As a result, we are a “controlled company” within the meaning of applicable NYSE rules as of the date of this prospectus and, consequently, qualify for exemptions from certain corporate governance requirements. Our stockholders do not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to such requirements.
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully read and review the risk factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, the risk factors discussed under the caption “Risk Factors” in any accompanying prospectus supplement, and any risk factors discussed in our other filings with the SEC which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement before investing in our securities. These risks and uncertainties are not the only risks and uncertainties we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently view as immaterial, may also materially and adversely affect us. If any of the risks or uncertainties described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, any accompanying prospectus supplement or our other filings with the SEC or if any additional risks and uncertainties actually occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially and adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes, without limitation, statements regarding expectations, hopes, beliefs, intentions, plans, prospects, financial results or strategies regarding us and the future held by our management team and the products and markets, future financial condition, expected future performance and market opportunities of our business. These statements constitute projections, forecasts and forward-looking statements, and are not guarantees of performance. Such statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. When used in this prospectus, forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “estimate,” “continue,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “possible,” “predict,” “should,” “would,” “plan,” “project,” “forecast,” “intend,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “seek,” “target,” “designed to” or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical facts. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements.
We caution readers of this prospectus that these forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, most of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond our control, which could cause the actual results to differ materially from the expected results. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding estimates and forecasts of financial and performance metrics, projections of market opportunity and market share, potential benefits and the commercial attractiveness to our customers of products and services sold through our platform, the prospects of our recently launched direct-to-consumer (“D2C”) business and the potential success of our marketing and expansion strategies. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in the prospectus, and on the current expectations of our management and are not predictions of actual performance. These forward-looking statements are provided for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, a prediction or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and will differ from assumptions. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including:
| ● | changes in the competitive industries and markets in which we operate or plan to operate; |
| ● | changes in applicable laws or regulations affecting our business; |
| ● | our ability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations, and to identify and realize additional opportunities; |
| ● | risks related to our limited operating history, the rollout and/or expansion of our business and the timing of our expected business milestones; |
| ● | risks related to our potential inability to achieve or maintain profitability and generate significant revenue; |
| ● | current and future conditions in the global economy, including as a result of economic uncertainty, and its impact on us, our business and the markets in which we operate; |
| ● | our ability to retain existing advertisers and consumer and business members and attract new advertisers and consumer and business members; |
| ● | our potential inability to manage growth effectively; |
| ● | our ability to recruit, train and retain qualified personnel; |
| ● | estimates for the prospects and financial performance of our business may prove to be incorrect or materially different from actual results; |
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| ● | risks related to future market adoption of our offerings; |
| ● | risks related to our marketing and growth strategies; |
| ● | the effects of competition on our business; |
| ● | our ability to meet the continued listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange; |
| ● | expectations with respect to our future operating and financial performance and growth, including when we will generate positive cash flow from operations; |
| ● | our ability to raise funding on reasonable terms as necessary to develop our products in the timeframe contemplated by our business plan; |
| ● | our ability to execute our anticipated business plans and strategy; and |
| ● | other risks and uncertainties described in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, including those under the section entitled “Risk Factors.” |
If any of these risks materialize or any of our assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that we presently do not know or that we currently believe are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect our expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this prospectus. We anticipate that subsequent events and developments may cause our assessments to change. However, while we may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, we specifically disclaim any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing our assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this prospectus. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Actual results, performance or achievements may, and are likely to, differ materially, and potentially adversely, from any projections and forward-looking statements and the assumptions on which those forward-looking statements were based. There can be no assurance that the data contained herein is reflective of future performance to any degree. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as a predictor of future performance as projected financial information and other information are based on estimates and assumptions that are inherently subject to various significant risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance. All forward-looking statements attributable to us or a person acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements.
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Unless otherwise specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities for general corporate and working capital purposes. Additional details regarding the use of the net proceeds from any particular sale of our securities will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Pending their use, we intend to invest the net proceeds from the sale of our securities in high-quality, short-term, interest-bearing securities.
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The following is a summary of the material terms of our securities and is not intended to be a complete summary of the rights and preferences of such securities. We urge you to read our Charter and Bylaws in their entirety for a complete description of the rights and preferences of our securities.
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of (a) 540,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $0.0001 par value per share, consisting of (i) 500,000,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and (ii) 40,000,000 shares of Class C Common Stock, and (b) 50,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share.
As of May 9, 2025, we have 42,325,298 shares of Class A Common Stock, 3,213,678 shares of Class C Common Stock and no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
Common Stock
Voting Rights
Class A Common Stock
Holders of shares of Class A Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share of Class A Common Stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders except as otherwise expressly provided by our Charter or as provided by law. Our Charter does not provide the Class A Common Stock with cumulative voting for the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of at least a majority of the voting power of then-outstanding shares of the Common Stock entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, will be able to elect all of our directors.
Class C Common Stock
Each share of our Class C Common Stock entitles its holder to a number of votes per share (rounded up to the nearest whole number) equal to (a) the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock entitled to vote on the applicable matter as of the applicable record date plus 100, divided by (b) the aggregate number of outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock (the “Per Share Class C Voting Power”). The issued and outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock, as a group, are entitled to a number of votes equal to the Per Share Class C Voting Power multiplied by the total number of shares of Class C Common Stock outstanding.
Each share of Class C Common Stock held by the PSQ Founder may be converted by the PSQ Founder at any time into one share of Class A Common Stock.
In the event that, the PSQ Founder transfers shares of Class C Common Stock to any person other than certain permitted transferees, such transferred shares will convert automatically into shares of Class A Common Stock having only one vote per share. All outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock will convert into Class A Common Stock (i) in the event the PSQ Founder is no longer at least one of an officer or director of PSQ, or dies or becomes incapacitated, or (ii) at such time as the total number of outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock falls below 50% of the total number of outstanding shares of Class C Common Stock.
Other than with respect to voting power, our Class C Common Stock has the same rights and privileges as our Class A Common Stock.
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Dividend Rights
Subject to preferences that may apply to any shares of convertible preferred stock outstanding at the time, the holders of shares of our Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends out of funds legally available if our Board, in our discretion, determines to issue dividends and then only at the times and in the amounts that our Board may determine. Stock dividends with respect to each class of our Common Stock may only be paid with shares of stock of the same class of common stock.
No Preemptive or Similar Rights
Our Common Stock is not entitled to preemptive rights and is not subject to redemption or sinking fund provisions.
Right to Receive Liquidation Distributions
Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders would be distributed among the holders of the then outstanding Common Stock pro rata in accordance with the number of shares of our Common Stock held by each such holder, subject to prior satisfaction of all outstanding debt and liabilities and the preferential rights of and the payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock.
Registration Rights
On July 19, 2023, in connection with the Closing, we, the Colombier Sponsor and certain Private PSQ stockholders (the “New Investors” and together with the Colombier Sponsor, the “Investors”) entered into an Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights Agreement, we are obligated to file one or more registration statements to register the resales of Class A Common Stock held by the Investors after the Closing, including Class A Common Stock that was issued upon conversion of Colombier Class B Common Stock, or issuable upon conversion of Class C Common Stock, and Earnout Shares. One or more Investors holding 20% of the aggregate number of registrable securities owned by all Investors are entitled under the Registration Rights Agreement to make a written demand for registration under the Securities Act of all or part of their registrable securities (up to a maximum of four demand registrations). The Registration Rights Agreement also provides such Investors with “piggy-back” registration rights, subject to certain requirements and customary conditions.
Under the Registration Rights Agreement, we agreed to indemnify the Investors and certain persons or entities related to such Investors such as their officers, directors, employees and agents and each person who controls such Investor (within the meaning of the Securities Act) against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) resulting from any untrue or alleged untrue statement, or omission or alleged omission, of a material fact in any registration statement or prospectus pursuant to which the Investors sell their registrable securities, unless such liability arose from such Investor’s misstatement or alleged misstatement, or omission or alleged omission, and the Investors including registrable securities in any registration statement or prospectus agreed to indemnify us and certain persons or entities related to us such as our officers and directors and underwriters against all losses caused by their misstatements or omissions (or alleged misstatements or omissions) in those documents.
In connection with the PIPE Offering, the Company and the PIPE Purchasers entered into a Registration Rights Agreement (the “October Registration Rights Agreement”) pursuant to which, among other customary terms and indemnification provisions, the Company agreed to prepare and file a registration statement for the resale of (i) all of the Resale Shares and (ii) any securities issued or then issuable upon any stock split, dividend or other distribution, recapitalization or similar event with respect to the Resale Shares (together, the “Registrable Securities”), on or before the 180th calendar day following the Closing Date (as defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement) and use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable and no later than the 90th calendar day following the filing date, and use its commercially reasonable efforts to keep such registration statement continuously effective until the date that all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement (i) have been sold, or (ii) may be sold by non-affiliates without volume or manner-of-sale restrictions pursuant to Rule 144 and without the requirement for the Company to be in compliance with the current public information requirement under Rule 144.
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Lock-Up Period
Pursuant to the Securities Purchase Agreement, the PIPE Purchasers have agreed not to, during the period (the “Lock-Up Period”) beginning on October 24, 2024 (the “Closing”) and ending on the earlier of (A) the one (1) year anniversary of the date of the Closing or (B) the date on which the Company completes a liquidation, merger, capital stock exchange, reorganization or other similar transaction that results in all of the Company’s stockholders having the right to exchange their shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock for cash, securities or other property: (i) lend, offer, pledge, hypothecate, encumber, donate, assign, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Resale Shares, (ii) enter into any swap, hedge or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Resale Shares, (iii) engage in any short sales, including all such sales defined in Rule 200 promulgated under Regulation SHO under the Exchange Act, and all types of direct and indirect stock pledges, forward sale contracts, options, puts, calls, swaps and similar arrangements (including on a total return basis), and sales and other transactions through non-US broker dealers or foreign regulated brokers or (iv) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, whether any such transaction described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above is to be settled by delivery of Resale Shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise (any of the foregoing described in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv), a “Prohibited Transfer”), subject to certain enumerated exceptions, as set forth in the Securities Purchase Agreement.
Preferred Stock
Our Charter provides that shares of preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Our Board is authorized to fix the voting powers, if any, designations, powers, preferences, the relative, participating, optional or other special rights and any qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, applicable to the shares of each series. Our Board is able to, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting powers and other rights that could have anti-takeover effects. The ability of our Board to issue preferred stock without stockholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of us or the removal of existing management. We have no preferred stock outstanding as of the date of this Prospectus. Although we do not currently intend to issue any shares of preferred stock, we cannot assure you that we will not do so in the future.
Warrants
Public Warrants
Each Public Warrant entitles the registered holder to purchase one share of Class A Common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, subject to adjustment as discussed below. The Public Warrants will expire five years after the Closing of the Business Combination, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, or earlier upon redemption or liquidation. As of the date of this prospectus, we have 5,750,000 Public Warrants outstanding.
We will not be obligated to deliver any shares of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of a Public Warrant and will have no obligation to settle such warrant exercise unless a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants is then effective and a prospectus relating thereto is current, subject to our satisfying our obligations described below with respect to registration. No warrant will be exercisable and we will not be obligated to issue shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of a warrant unless the Class A Common Stock issuable upon such warrant exercise has been registered, qualified or deemed to be exempt under the securities laws of the state of residence of the registered holder of the warrants. In the event that the conditions in the two immediately preceding sentences are not satisfied with respect to a Public Warrant, the holder of such warrant will not be entitled to exercise such warrant and such warrant may have no value and expire worthless. In no event will we be required to net cash settle any warrant.
On October 12, 2023, a registration statement on Form S-1 was declared effective, covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, and we intend to maintain a current prospectus relating to those shares of Class A Common Stock until the warrants expire or are redeemed, as specified in the warrant agreement. If we fail to maintain a registration statement covering the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the warrants, warrant holders may exercise warrants on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act or another exemption. Notwithstanding the above, if our Class A Common Stock is at the time of any exercise of a warrant not listed on a national securities exchange such that it satisfies the definition of a “covered security” under Section 18(b)(1) of the Securities Act, we may, at our option, require holders of public warrants who exercise their warrants to do so on a “cashless basis” in accordance with Section 3(a)(9) of the Securities Act and, in the event we so elect, we will not be required to file or maintain in effect a registration statement, but we will use our reasonable best efforts to register or qualify the shares under applicable blue sky laws to the extent an exemption is not available.
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Once the Public Warrants become exercisable, we may call the warrants for redemption:
| ● | in whole and not in part; |
| ● | at a price of $0.01 per warrant; |
| ● | upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice of redemption to each warrant holder; and |
| ● | if, and only if, the reported last sale price of the Class A Common Stock equals or exceeds $18.00 per share (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) for any 20 trading days within a 30-trading day period ending three business days before we send the notice of redemption to the warrant holders. |
If and when the Public Warrants become redeemable by us, we may not exercise our redemption right if the issuance of shares of common stock upon exercise of the warrants is not exempt from registration or qualification under applicable state blue sky laws or we are unable to effect such registration or qualification.
We have established the last of the redemption criteria discussed above to prevent a redemption call unless there is at the time of the call a significant premium to the warrant exercise price. If the foregoing conditions are satisfied and we issue a notice of redemption of the Public Warrants, each warrant holder will be entitled to exercise its warrant prior to the scheduled redemption date. However, the price of the Class A Common Stock may fall below the $18.00 redemption trigger price (as adjusted for stock splits, stock dividends, reorganizations, recapitalizations and the like) as well as the $11.50 warrant exercise price after the redemption notice is issued.
If we call the Public Warrants for redemption as described above, our management will have the option to require any holder that wishes to exercise its warrant to do so on a “cashless basis.” In determining whether to require all holders to exercise their warrants on a “cashless basis,” our management will consider, among other factors, our cash position, the number of warrants that are outstanding and the dilutive effect on our stockholders of issuing the maximum number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of our warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, all holders of Public Warrants would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of redemption is sent to the holders of warrants. If our management takes advantage of this option, the notice of redemption will contain the information necessary to calculate the number of shares of Class A Common Stock to be received upon exercise of the Public Warrants, including the “fair market value” in such case. Requiring a cashless exercise in this manner will reduce the number of shares to be issued and thereby lessen the dilutive effect of a warrant redemption. We believe this feature is an attractive option to us if we do not need the cash from the exercise of the warrants. If we call our Public Warrants for redemption and our management does not take advantage of this option, the Colombier Sponsor and its permitted transferees would still be entitled to exercise their Private Warrants for cash or on a cashless basis using the same formula described above that other warrant holders would have been required to use had all warrant holders been required to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis, as described in more detail below.
In the event we determine to redeem the Public Warrants, holders of our redeemable warrants would be notified of such redemption as described in our warrant agreement. Specifically, in the event that we elect to redeem all of the redeemable warrants as described above, we will fix a date for the redemption (the “Redemption Date”). Notice of redemption will be mailed by first class mail, postage prepaid, by us not less than 30 days prior to the Redemption Date to the registered holders of the redeemable warrants to be redeemed at their last addresses as they appear on the registration books. Any notice mailed in the manner provided in the warrant agreement will be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the registered holder received such notice. In addition, beneficial owners of the redeemable warrants will be notified of such redemption via our posting of the redemption notice to The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”).
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A holder of a Public Warrant may notify us in writing in the event it elects to be subject to a requirement that such holder will not have the right to exercise such warrant, to the extent that after giving effect to such exercise, such person (together with such person’s affiliates), to the Warrant Agent’s actual knowledge, would beneficially own in excess of 9.8% (or such other amount as a holder may specify) of the shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding immediately after giving effect to such exercise.
If the number of outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock is increased by a stock dividend payable in shares of Class A Common Stock, or by a split-up of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such stock dividend, split-up or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Public Warrant will be increased in proportion to such increase in the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock. A rights offering to holders of Class A Common Stock entitling holders to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock at a price less than the fair market value will be deemed a stock dividend of a number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the product of (i) the number of shares of Class A Common Stock actually sold in such rights offering (or issuable under any other equity securities sold in such rights offering that are convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock) and (ii) one (1) minus the quotient of (x) the price per share of the Class A Common Stock paid in such rights offering divided by (y) the fair market value. For these purposes (i) if the rights offering is for securities convertible into or exercisable for Class A Common Stock, in determining the price payable for Class A Common Stock, there will be taken into account any consideration received for such rights, as well as any additional amount payable upon exercise or conversion and (ii) fair market value means the volume weighted average price of Class A Common Stock as reported during the ten (10) trading day period ending on the trading day prior to the first date on which the shares of Class A Common Stock trade on the applicable exchange or in the applicable market, regular way, without the right to receive such rights.
In addition, if we, at any time while the Public Warrants are outstanding and unexpired, pay a dividend or make a distribution in cash, securities or other assets to the holders of Class A Common Stock on account of such shares of Class A Common Stock (or other shares of our capital stock into which the warrants are convertible), other than (a) as described above or (b) certain ordinary cash dividends then the warrant exercise price will be decreased, effective immediately after the effective date of such event, by the amount of cash and/or the fair market value of any securities or other assets paid on each share of Class A Common Stock in respect of such event.
If the number of outstanding shares of our Class A Common Stock is decreased by a consolidation, combination, reverse stock split or reclassification of shares of Class A Common Stock or other similar event, then, on the effective date of such consolidation, combination, reverse stock split, reclassification or similar event, the number of shares of Class A Common Stock issuable on exercise of each Public Warrant will be decreased in proportion to such decrease in outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock.
Whenever the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the Public Warrants is adjusted, as described above, the warrant exercise price will be adjusted by multiplying the warrant exercise price immediately prior to such adjustment by a fraction (x) the numerator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of the warrants immediately prior to such adjustment, and (y) the denominator of which will be the number of shares of Class A Common Stock so purchasable immediately thereafter.
In case of any reclassification or reorganization of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock (other than those described above or that solely affects the par value of such shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any merger or consolidation of us with or into another corporation (other than a consolidation or merger in which we are the continuing corporation and that does not result in any reclassification or reorganization of our outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock), or in the case of any sale or conveyance to another corporation or entity of the assets or other property of us as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in connection with which we are dissolved, the holders of the Public Warrants will thereafter have the right to purchase and receive, upon the basis and upon the terms and conditions specified in the warrants and in lieu of the shares of our Class A Common Stock immediately theretofore purchasable and receivable upon the exercise of the rights represented thereby, the kind and amount of shares of stock or other securities or property (including cash) receivable upon such reclassification, reorganization, merger or consolidation, or upon a dissolution following any such sale or transfer, that the holder of the warrants would have received if such holder had exercised that person’s warrants immediately prior to such event. If less than 70% of the consideration receivable by the holders of Class A Common Stock in such a transaction is payable in the form of Class A Common Stock in the successor entity that is listed for trading on a national securities exchange or is quoted in an established over-the-counter market, or is to be so listed for trading or quoted immediately following such event, and if the registered holder of the warrant properly exercises the warrant within thirty days following public disclosure of such transaction, the warrant exercise price will be reduced as specified in the warrant agreement based on per share consideration minus the Black-Scholes warrant value (as defined in the Warrant Agreement) of the warrant. The purpose of such exercise price reduction is to provide additional value to holders of the Public Warrants when an extraordinary transaction occurs during the exercise period of the Public Warrants pursuant to which the holders of the Public Warrants otherwise do not receive the full potential value of the Public Warrants in order to determine and realize the option value component of the Public Warrant. This formula is to compensate the Public Warrant holder for the loss of the option value portion of the Public Warrant due to the requirement that the Public Warrant holder exercise the warrant within 30 days of the event. The Black-Scholes model is an accepted pricing model for estimating fair market value where no quoted market price for an instrument is available.
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The Public Warrants and the Private Warrants were issued in registered form under a warrant agreement between Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Warrant Agent, and Colombier. You should review a copy of the Warrant Agreement, which has been publicly filed with the SEC and which you can find in the list of exhibits to this registration statement, for a complete description of the terms and conditions applicable to the Warrants. The Warrant Agreement provides that the terms of the Warrants may be amended without the consent of any holder to cure any ambiguity or correct any defective provision, but requires the approval by the holders of at least a majority of the then issued and outstanding Public Warrants to make any change that adversely affects the interests of the registered holders of Public Warrants.
The Public 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 (or on a cashless basis, if applicable), by certified or official bank check payable to us, for the number of Public Warrants being exercised. The Public Warrant holders do not have the rights or privileges of holders of Class A Common Stock and any voting rights until they exercise their warrants and receive shares of Class A Common Stock. After the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of the Public Warrants, each holder will be entitled to one (1) vote for each share held of record on all matters to be voted on by stockholders.
No fractional shares will be issued upon exercise of the Public Warrants. If, upon exercise of the Public 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 of shares of Class A Common Stock to be issued to the warrant holder.
Private Warrants
Except as described below, the Private Warrants have terms and provisions that are identical to those of the Public Warrants, including as to exercise price, exercisability and exercise period. Commencing 30 days after the Closing the Private Warrants (including the Class A Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Private Warrants) became transferable, assignable and salable. The Private Warrants will not be redeemable by us so long as they are held by the Colombier Sponsor or its permitted transferees. As of the date of this prospectus, we have 5,700,000 Private Warrants outstanding. The Sponsor Distributees, or their permitted transferees, have the option to exercise the Private Warrants on a cashless basis. If the Private Warrants are held by holders other than the Sponsor Distributees or their permitted transferees, the Private Warrants will be subject to the same terms and conditions as the Public Warrants, and among other matters, be redeemable by us and exercisable by the holders on the same basis as the Public Warrants.
If holders of the Private Warrants elect to exercise them on a cashless basis, they would pay the exercise price by surrendering their warrants for that number of shares of Class A Common Stock equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (x) the product of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock underlying the warrants, multiplied by the difference between the exercise price of the warrants and the “fair market value” (defined below) by (y) the fair market value. The “fair market value” shall mean the average reported last sale price of the Class A Common Stock for the 10 trading days ending on the third trading day prior to the date on which the notice of warrant exercise is sent to the Warrant Agent.
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Our Transfer Agent and Warrant Agent
The transfer agent for our Common Stock and Warrant Agent for our Warrants is Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company. We have agreed to indemnify Continental Stock Transfer & Trust Company in its roles as transfer agent and Warrant Agent, its agents and each of its stockholders, directors, officers and employees against all claims and losses that may arise out of acts performed or omitted for its activities in that capacity, except for any liability due to any gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of the indemnified person or entity.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Our Charter and the Bylaws could have the effect of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control over us. These provisions, which are summarized below, are expected to discourage certain types of coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids and encourage persons seeking to acquire control of us to first negotiate with our Board. We believe that the benefits of increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with an unfriendly or unsolicited acquirer outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging a proposal to acquire us because negotiation of these proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.
Among other things, the Charter and Bylaws include provisions regarding:
| ● | the terms of the Class C Common Stock, which are held by the PSQ Founder, and provide the PSQ Founder with a majority of the voting power of our Common Stock on any vote of our stockholders, which could preclude stockholders from bringing matters before annual or special meetings of stockholders and delay changes in our Board and also may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us; |
| ● | opting out of Section 203 of the DGCL to allow us to establish our own rules governing business combinations with interested parties; |
| ● | the ability of our Board to issue shares of preferred stock, including “blank check” preferred stock and to determine the price and other terms of those shares, including preferences and voting rights, without stockholder approval, which could be used to significantly dilute the ownership of a hostile acquirer; |
| ● | the limitation of the liability of, and the indemnification of, our directors and officers; |
| ● | the exclusive right of our Board to elect a director to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of our Board or the resignation, death or removal of a director, which prevents stockholders from being able to fill vacancies on our Board; |
| ● | the requirement that a special meeting of stockholders may be called only by our Board, the chairperson of our Board, or our chief executive officer, which could delay the ability of stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including the removal of directors; |
| ● | controlling the procedures for the conduct and scheduling of Board and stockholder meetings; |
| ● | the requirement for the affirmative vote of holders of at least 75% of the voting power of all of the then outstanding shares of the voting stock, voting together as a single class, to amend, alter, change or repeal certain provisions of the Charter or any provision of the Bylaws, which could preclude stockholders from bringing matters before annual or special meetings of stockholders and delay changes in our Board and also may inhibit the ability of an acquirer to effect such amendments to facilitate an unsolicited takeover attempt; |
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| ● | the ability of our Board to amend the bylaws, which may allow our Board to take additional actions to prevent an unsolicited takeover and inhibit the ability of an acquirer to amend the bylaws to facilitate an unsolicited takeover attempt; |
| ● | advance notice procedures with which stockholders must comply to nominate candidates to our Board or to propose matters to be acted upon at a stockholders’ meeting, which could preclude stockholders from bringing matters before annual or special meetings of stockholders and delay changes in our Board and also may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us; and |
| ● | our Board is divided into three classes, Class I, Class II and Class III, with each class serving staggered terms, which could preclude stockholders from bringing matters before annual or special meetings of stockholders and delay changes in our Board and also may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us. |
These provisions, alone or together, could delay or prevent hostile takeovers and changes in control or changes in our Board or management.
Charter and Restated Bylaw Provisions
Our Charter and Bylaws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers, or delaying or preventing changes in control of our management team or changes in our Board or our governance or policy, including the following:
Issuance of Undesignated Preferred Stock
Our Board has the authority, without further action by the stockholders, to issue up to 50,000,000 shares of undesignated preferred stock with rights, powers and preferences, including voting powers, designated from time to time by our Board. The existence of authorized but unissued shares of preferred stock enables our Board to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise.
Exclusive forum for certain lawsuits
Our Charter requires, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that derivative actions brought in our name, actions against any of our current or former directors, officers, employees or stockholders for breach of fiduciary duty and certain other actions may be brought only in the Court of Chancery in the State of Delaware or if such court does not have subject matter jurisdiction, the federal district court of the State of Delaware. Our Charter also requires, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the federal district courts of the United States to be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action under the Securities Act. Although we believe these provisions benefit us by providing increased consistency in the application of Delaware law in the types of lawsuits to which it applies, a court may determine that these provisions are unenforceable, and to the extent they are enforceable, the provisions may have the effect of discouraging lawsuits against our directors, officers, employees and stockholders although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.
Notwithstanding, the Charter provides that the exclusive forum provision will be applicable to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. Section 27 of the Exchange Act creates exclusive federal jurisdiction over all suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder. As a result, (i) the exclusive forum provision will not apply to suits brought to enforce any duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction, and (ii) unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
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Special meeting of stockholders
Our Bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may be called only by the chairman of our Board, or our chief executive officer, or our Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of our Board, and may not be called by any other person.
Advance notice requirements for stockholder proposals and director nominations
Our Bylaws provide that stockholders seeking to bring business before our annual meeting of stockholders, or to nominate candidates for election as directors at our annual meeting of stockholders, must provide timely notice of their intent in writing. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice will need to be received by our secretary at our principal executive offices not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the opening of business on the 120th day prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders. Pursuant to Rule 14A-8 of the Exchange Act, proposals seeking inclusion in our annual proxy statement must comply with the notice periods contained therein. Our Bylaws also specify certain requirements as to the form and content of a stockholders’ meeting. These provisions may preclude our stockholders from bringing matters before our annual meeting of stockholders or from making nominations for directors at our annual meeting of stockholders.
No action by written consent
Our Charter provides that our stockholders are not entitled to take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting of stockholders.
Board of Directors
Our Board is divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II and Class III. The term of the Class I Directors will expire at our 2027 annual meeting of the stockholders, the term of the Class II Directors shall expire at our 2025 annual meeting of the stockholders and the term of the Class III Directors will expire at our 2026 annual meeting of the stockholders. All directors elected at annual meetings of stockholders will be elected for terms ending on the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting of the stockholders at which such director was elected or until the election and qualification of their respective successors in office, subject to their earlier death, resignation or removal. Our Charter and our Bylaws provide that the authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of our Board. Subject to the terms of any preferred stock, any or all of the directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of the outstanding shares of our capital stock entitled to vote thereon. Any vacancy on our Board, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of our Board, may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of our directors then in office.
Listing of Securities
Our Class A Common Stock and Public Warrants are currently listed on the NYSE under the symbols “PSQH” and “PSQH.WS,” respectively.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities either separately, or together with, or upon the conversion or exercise of or in exchange for, other securities described in this prospectus. Debt securities may be our senior, senior subordinated or subordinated obligations and may be issued in one or more series. Unless otherwise expressly stated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the debt securities will represent our general, unsecured obligations and will rank equally with all of our other unsecured indebtedness.
Any debt securities that we issue will be issued under an indenture that will be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, or other trustee that is qualified to act under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “TIA”), which we select to act as trustee. A copy of the form of indenture (the “Indenture”) has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. The Indenture may be modified by one or more supplemental indentures, which we will incorporate by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. Any debt securities that we issue will include those stated in the Indenture (including any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities) as well as those made part of the Indenture by reference to the TIA, as in effect on the date of the Indenture. The Indenture will be subject to and governed by the terms of the TIA.
The following description and any description in an accompanying prospectus supplement is a summary only and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to the terms and provisions of the indentures and any supplemental indentures that we file with the SEC in connection with an issuance of any series of debt securities. You should read all of the provisions of the indentures, including the definitions of certain terms, as well as any supplemental indentures that we file with the SEC in connection with the issuance of any series of debt securities. These summaries set forth certain general terms and provisions of the securities to which any accompanying prospectus supplement may relate. The specific terms and provisions of a series of debt securities and the extent to which the general terms and provisions may also apply to a particular series of debt securities will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement. Copies of the Indenture may be obtained from us or the Trustee.
General
We may issue the debt securities in one or more series, with the same or various maturities, at par or at a discount. We will describe the particular terms of each series of debt securities in an accompanying prospectus supplement relating to that series, which we will file with the SEC. Please read the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to the series of debt securities being offered for specific terms including, when applicable:
| ● | the title of the debt securities of the series; |
| ● | the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which debt securities of the series will be issued; |
| ● | any limit on the aggregate principal amount of that series of debt securities; |
| ● | whether such securities rank as senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities; |
| ● | the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the debt securities of the series shall be exchanged for or converted into other of our securities or securities of another person; |
| ● | if the debt securities of the series will be secured by any collateral and, if so, a general description of the collateral and the terms and provisions of such collateral security, pledge or other agreements; |
| ● | the date or dates on which we will pay the principal of the debt securities of the series; |
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| ● | the rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, at which debt securities of the series will bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if applicable, used to determine those rates, the date or dates, if any, from which interest on the debt securities of the series will begin to accrue, or the method or methods, if any, used to determine those dates, the dates on which the interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series will be payable and the record dates for the payment of interest; |
| ● | the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, of the debt securities of the series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a currency exchange rate, commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index; |
| ● | if other than the corporate trust office of the Trustee, the place or places where amounts due on the debt securities of the series will be payable and where the debt securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer and exchange and where notices and demands to or upon us in respect of the debt securities of the series may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means; |
| ● | if applicable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, we may, at our option, redeem debt securities of the series; |
| ● | the terms and conditions, if applicable, upon which the holders of debt securities may require us to repurchase or redeem debt securities of the series at the option of the holders of debt securities of the series; |
| ● | the provisions, terms and conditions, if any, with respect to any sinking fund or analogous provision; |
| ● | the authorized denominations in which the debt securities of the series will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof; |
| ● | whether the debt securities of the series are to be issuable, in whole or in part, in bearer form (“bearer debt securities”); |
| ● | whether any fully regulated debt securities of the series will be issued in temporary or permanent global form (“global debt securities”) and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global debt securities if other than The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”); |
| ● | any depositaries, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents; |
| ● | the trustee for the debt securities; |
| ● | the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other than the full principal amount; |
| ● | any addition to, or modification or deletion of, any covenant described in this prospectus or in the Indenture; |
| ● | any events of default, if not otherwise described below under “—Events of Default” and any change to the right of the holders to declare the principal of any debt securities due and payable; |
| ● | if other than U.S. dollars, the currency, currencies or currency units of denomination of the debt securities of the series, which may be any foreign currency, and if such currency denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency; |
| ● | if other than U.S. dollars, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the purchase price for the debt securities of the series will be payable, in which payments of principal and, if applicable, premium or interest on the debt securities of the series will be payable, and, if necessary, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined; |
| ● | any listing of the debt securities on any securities exchange; |
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| ● | any additions or deletions to the defeasance or the satisfaction and discharge provisions set forth herein; |
| ● | if and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts (“Additional Amounts”) on the debt securities of the series in respect of specified taxes, assessments or other governmental charges and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities of the series rather than pay the Additional Amounts; |
| ● | the priority and kind of any lien securing the debt securities and a brief identification of the principal properties subject to such lien; |
| ● | additions or deletions to or changes in the provisions relating to modification of the Indenture set forth herein; and |
| ● | any other terms of the debt securities of the series (whether or not such other terms are consistent or inconsistent with any other terms of the Indenture). |
As used in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement relating to the offering of debt securities of any series, references to the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the debt securities of the series include the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, required by the debt securities of the series to be paid in that context.
Debt securities may be issued as original issue discount securities to be sold at a substantial discount below their principal amount. In the event of an acceleration of the maturity of any original issue discount security, the amount payable to the holder upon acceleration will be determined in the manner described in the accompanying prospectus supplement. Certain U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to original issue discount securities will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
If the purchase price of any debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or if the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any debt securities is payable in a foreign currency, the specific terms of those debt securities and the applicable foreign currency will be specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities.
The terms of the debt securities of any series may differ from the terms of the debt securities of any other series, and the terms of particular debt securities within any series may differ from each other. Unless otherwise expressly provided in the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities, we may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, reopen an existing series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series.
Unless otherwise described in an accompanying prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities and except to the limited extent set forth below under “—Merger, Consolidation and Transfer of Assets,” there will be no limitation upon our ability to incur indebtedness or other liabilities or that would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a business combination, takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us. Accordingly, we may in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of our consolidated indebtedness and other liabilities or otherwise adversely affect our capital structure or credit rating without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series.
Registration, Transfer and Payment
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, each series of debt securities will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, debt securities will be issued in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
Unless otherwise indicated in the accompanying prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be payable and may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and, if applicable, for conversion into or exchange for other securities or property, at an office or agency maintained by us in the United States. However, we may, at our option, make payments of interest on any registered debt security by check mailed to the address of the person entitled to receive that payment or by wire transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States. Unless otherwise indicated in the accompanying prospectus supplement, no service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, redemption or repayment of debt securities, or for any conversion or exchange of debt securities for other securities or property, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with that transaction.
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Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not be required to:
| ● | issue, register the transfer of or exchange debt securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any mailing of a notice of a redemption for the debt securities of that series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; or |
| ● | register the transfer of or exchange any debt security, or portion of any debt security, selected for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any registered debt security being redeemed in part. |
Book-entry Debt Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global debt securities. Global debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary which, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to the series, will be DTC. Global debt securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for individual certificates evidencing debt securities, a global debt security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to its nominee or by the nominee to the depositary, or by the depositary or its nominee to a successor depositary or to a nominee of the successor depositary.
We anticipate that global debt securities will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and that global debt securities will be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. All interests in global debt securities deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC will be subject to the operations and procedures of DTC and, in the case of any interests in global debt securities held through Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V. (“Euroclear”) or Clearstream Banking, société anonyme (“Clearstream, Luxembourg”), the operations and procedures of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be. We also anticipate that the following provisions will apply to the depository arrangements with respect to global debt securities. Additional or differing terms of the depository arrangements may be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
DTC has advised that it is:
| ● | a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law; |
| ● | a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law; |
| ● | a member of the Federal Reserve System; |
| ● | a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code; and |
| ● | a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. |
DTC holds securities that its participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the settlement among its participants of securities transactions, including transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in participants’ accounts, which eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and other organizations. Access to the DTC system is also available to others, sometimes referred to in this prospectus as indirect participants, that clear transactions through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant either directly or indirectly. Indirect participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies. The rules applicable to DTC and its participants are on file with the SEC.
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Purchases of debt securities within the DTC system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of the actual purchaser or beneficial owner of a debt security is, in turn, recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which they purchased the debt securities. Transfers of ownership interests in debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners.
Beneficial owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the debt securities, except under the limited circumstances described below.
To facilitate subsequent transfers, all debt securities deposited by participants with DTC will be registered in the name of DTC’s nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of debt securities with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. will not change the beneficial ownership of the debt securities. DTC has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the debt securities. DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited. Those participants may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants are responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants and by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any legal requirements in effect from time to time. Redemption notices shall be sent to DTC or its nominee. If less than all of the debt securities of a series are being redeemed, DTC will reduce the amount of the interest of each direct participant in the debt securities under its procedures.
In any case in which a vote may be required with respect to the debt securities of any series, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will give consents for or vote the global debt securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC will mail an omnibus proxy to us after the record date. The omnibus proxy assigns the consenting or voting rights of Cede & Co. to those direct participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited on the record date identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy. Principal and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the global debt securities will be paid to Cede & Co., as nominee of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts on the relevant payment date unless DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on the payment date. Payments by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name.” Those payments will be the responsibility of DTC’s direct and indirect participants and not of DTC, us, the Trustee or any underwriters or agents involved in the offering or sale of any debt securities. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, to DTC is our responsibility, disbursement of payments to direct participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of payments to the beneficial owners is the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.
Except under the limited circumstances described below, beneficial owners of interests in a global debt security will not be entitled to have debt securities registered in their names and will not receive physical delivery of debt securities. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to exercise any rights under the debt securities and the Indenture.
The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global debt securities.
DTC is under no obligation to provide its services as depositary for the debt securities of any series and may discontinue providing its services at any time. None of us, the Trustee or any underwriters or agents involved in the offering or sale of any debt securities will have any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants under the rules and procedures governing DTC. As noted above, beneficial owners of interests in global debt securities generally will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the debt securities. However, if:
| ● | DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for the global debt securities of any series, or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act (if so required by applicable law or regulation) and a successor depositary for the debt securities of such series is not appointed within 90 days of such event, as the case may be, or |
| ● | an event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series, |
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we will prepare and deliver certificates for the debt securities of that series in exchange for beneficial interests in the global debt securities of that series. Any beneficial interest in a global debt security that is exchangeable under the circumstances described in the preceding sentence will be exchangeable for debt securities in definitive certificated form registered in the names and in the authorized denominations that the depositary shall direct. It is expected that these directions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global debt securities.
Clearstream, Luxembourg and Euroclear hold interests on behalf of their participating organizations through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream, Luxembourg’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their respective depositaries, which hold those interests in customers’ securities accounts in the depositaries’ names on the books of DTC. At the present time, Citibank, N.A. acts as U.S. depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. acts as U.S. depositary for Euroclear (the “U.S. Depositaries”).
Clearstream, Luxembourg holds securities for its participating organizations (“Clearstream Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Clearstream Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of Clearstream Participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Clearstream, Luxembourg provides to Clearstream Participants, among other things, services for safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement of internationally traded securities and securities lending and borrowing.
Clearstream, Luxembourg is registered as a bank in Luxembourg, and as such is subject to regulation by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier and the Banque Centrale du Luxembourg, which supervise and oversee the activities of Luxembourg banks. Clearstream Participants are financial institutions including underwriters, securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations, and may include any underwriters or agents involved in the offering or sale of any debt securities or their respective affiliates. Indirect access to Clearstream, Luxembourg is available to other institutions that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Clearstream Participant. Clearstream, Luxembourg has established an electronic bridge with Euroclear as the operator of the Euroclear System (the “Euroclear Operator”) in Brussels to facilitate settlement of trades between Clearstream, Luxembourg and the Euroclear Operator.
Distributions with respect to global debt securities held beneficially through Clearstream, Luxembourg will be credited to cash accounts of Clearstream Participants in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Clearstream, Luxembourg. Euroclear holds securities and book-entry interests in securities for participating organizations (“Euroclear Participants”) and facilitates the clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Euroclear Participants, and between Euroclear Participants and participants of certain other securities intermediaries through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of such participants or other securities intermediaries. Euroclear provides Euroclear Participants, among other things, with safekeeping, administration, clearance and settlement, securities lending and borrowing, and related services. Euroclear Participants are investment banks, securities brokers and dealers, banks, central banks, supranationals, custodians, investment managers, corporations, trust companies and certain other organizations, and may include any underwriters or agents involved in the offering or sale of any debt securities or their respective affiliates. Non-participants in Euroclear may hold and transfer beneficial interests in a global debt security through accounts with a participant in the Euroclear System or any other securities intermediary that holds a book-entry interest in a global debt security through one or more securities intermediaries standing between such other securities intermediary and Euroclear.
Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with the Euroclear Operator are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear Participants, and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear Participants.
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Distributions on interests in global debt securities held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of Euroclear Participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the U.S. Depositary for Euroclear.
Transfers between Euroclear Participants and Clearstream Participants will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.
Cross-market transfers between direct participants in DTC, on the one hand, and Euroclear Participants or Clearstream Participants, on the other hand, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC’s rules on behalf of Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, by its U.S. Depositary; however, such cross-market transactions will require delivery of instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, by the counterparty in such system in accordance with the applicable rules and procedures and within the established deadlines (European time) of such system. Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, as the case may be, will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to its U.S. Depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving interests in global debt securities in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day fund settlement applicable to DTC. Euroclear Participants and Clearstream Participants may not deliver instructions directly to their respective U.S. Depositaries.
Due to time zone differences, the securities accounts of a Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant purchasing an interest in a global debt security from a direct participant in DTC will be credited, and any such crediting will be reported to the relevant Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant, during the securities settlement processing day (which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg) immediately following the settlement date of DTC. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg as a result of sales of interests in a global debt security by or through a Euroclear Participant or Clearstream Participant to a direct participant in DTC will be received with value on the settlement date of DTC but will be available in the relevant Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg cash account only as of the business day for Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg following DTC’s settlement date.
Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg are under no obligation to perform or to continue to perform the foregoing procedures and such procedures may be discontinued at any time without notice. None of us, the Trustee or any underwriters or agents involved in the offering or sale of any debt securities will have any responsibility for the performance by Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg or their respective participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.
The information in this section concerning DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg and their book-entry systems has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy of that information.
Redemption and Repurchase
The debt securities of any series may be redeemable at our option, or may be subject to mandatory redemption by us, as required by a sinking fund or otherwise. In addition, the debt securities of any series may be subject to repurchase or repayment by us, at the option of the holders. The accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the terms, the times and the prices regarding any optional or mandatory redemption by us or any repurchase or repayment at the option of the holders of any series of debt securities.
Conversion and Exchange
The terms, if any, on which debt securities of any series are convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares or any other securities or property will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, which may be mandatory, at the option of the holders or at our option. Unless otherwise expressly stated in the accompanying prospectus supplement, references in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement to the conversion or exchange of debt securities of any series for our common stock or other securities or property shall be deemed not to refer to or include any exchange of any debt securities of a series for other debt securities of the same series.
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Merger, Consolidation and Transfer of Assets
Unless otherwise specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement, the Indenture provides that we will not, directly or indirectly, in any transaction or series of related transactions, consolidate or merge with another person (whether or not we are the surviving corporation), or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the property and assets of us and our subsidiaries taken as a whole, to another person unless:
| ● | we shall be the continuing entity or the resulting, surviving or transferee person shall (i) be a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic or foreign jurisdiction and (ii) shall expressly assume by supplemental indenture reasonably satisfactory in form to the Trustee all of our obligations under the debt securities and the Indenture (including, without limitation, the obligation to convert or exchange any debt securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property in accordance with the provisions of such debt securities and the Indenture); |
| ● | immediately after giving effect to a transaction described above, no event of default under the Indenture, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default under the Indenture, shall exist; and |
| ● | the Trustee shall have received the officers’ certificate and opinion of counsel called for by the Indenture. |
In the case of any such merger, consolidation, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition in which we are not the continuing entity and upon execution and delivery by the successor person of the supplemental indenture described above, such successor person shall succeed to, and be substituted for us and may exercise every right and power of us under the Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person had been named as us therein, and we shall be automatically released and discharged from all obligations and covenants under the Indenture and the debt securities issued under that indenture.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement, any of the following events will be events of default with respect to the debt securities of any series:
| ● | default in payment of any interest on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of, any of the debt securities of a series when due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; |
| ● | default in payment of any principal of, or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts, if any, payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on, any of the debt securities of a series when due (whether at maturity, upon redemption, upon repayment or repurchase at the option of the holder or otherwise and whether payable in cash or common shares or other securities or property); |
| ● | default in the performance or breach of any covenant (other than those events defaults referenced in the first and second bullet points above) for the benefit of the holders of the debt securities of a series for 90 days after receipt of written notice of such default given by the Trustee or holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of such series; |
| ● | specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to us; or |
| ● | any other event of default established for the debt securities of that series. |
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No event of default with respect to any particular series of debt securities necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.
The Indenture provides that the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may waive our compliance with the provisions described above under “—Merger, Consolidation and Transfer of Assets” and certain other provisions of the Indenture and, if specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to such series of debt securities, any additional covenants applicable to the debt securities of such series. The Indenture also provides that holders of not less than a majority in aggregate of principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may waive an existing default or event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series, except a default in payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, or Additional Amounts, if any, or sinking fund payments, if any, on debt securities of that series or, in the case of any debt securities which are convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, a default in any such conversion or exchange, or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of the affected series. As used in this paragraph, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series.
The Indenture also provides that if an event of default (other than an event of default specified in the fourth and fifth bullet points of the third preceding paragraph) occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, either the Trustee or the holders of more than 25% in principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding may declare the principal of, or if debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of that series of debt securities, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. The Indenture also provides that if an event of default specified in the fourth and fifth bullet points of the third preceding paragraph occurs with respect to any series of debt securities, then the principal of, or if debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities, such lesser amount as may be specified in the terms of that series of debt securities, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all the debt securities of that series will automatically become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any holder of the debt securities of that series. However, upon specified conditions, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of a series then outstanding may rescind and annul an acceleration of the debt securities of that series and its consequences.
Subject to the provisions of the TIA requiring the Trustee, during the continuance of an event of default under the Indenture, to act with the requisite standard of care, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of debt securities of any series unless those holders have offered the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, fees and expenses and liabilities which might be incurred in compliance with such request or direction. Subject to the foregoing, holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series issued under the Indenture have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee under the Indenture with respect to that series. The Indenture requires our annual filing with the Trustee of a certificate which states whether or not we are in default under the terms of the Indenture.
No holder of any debt securities of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under the Indenture, unless:
| ● | the holder gives written notice to the Trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series; |
| ● | the holders of more than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series make a written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such event of default; |
| ● | the holder or holders offer to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, fees and expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request; |
| ● | the Trustee for 90 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity fails to institute any such proceeding; and |
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| ● | no direction inconsistent with such written request is given to the Trustee during such 90-day period by the holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of such series. |
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Indenture, the holder of a debt security will have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on that debt security on the respective due dates for those payments and, in the case of any debt security which is convertible into or exchangeable for other securities or property, to convert or exchange, as the case may be, that debt security in accordance with its terms, and to institute suit for the enforcement of those payments and any right to effect such conversion or exchange, and this right shall not be impaired without the consent of the holder.
Modification, Waivers and Meetings
From time to time, we and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series issued under the Indenture and affected by a modification or amendment, may modify, amend, supplement or waive compliance with any of the provisions of the Indenture or of the debt securities of the applicable series or the rights of the holders of the debt securities of that series under the Indenture. However, unless otherwise specified in the accompanying prospectus supplement, no such modification, amendment, supplement or waiver may, among other things:
| ● | change the amount of debt securities of any series issued under the Indenture whose holders must consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver; |
| ● | reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any debt securities issued under the Indenture; |
| ● | reduce the principal or change the stated maturity of the principal of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligations with respect to any debt securities issued under the Indenture; |
| ● | reduce the amount of principal of any original issue discount securities that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof; |
| ● | waive any default or event of default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any debt securities (except a rescission of acceleration of the debt securities by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding series of such debt securities and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration); |
| ● | change any place where or the currency in which debt securities are payable; |
| ● | make any changes to the provisions of the Indenture relating to waivers of past defaults, rights of holders of debt securities to receive payment or limitations on amendments to the Indenture without the consent of all holders; or |
| ● | waive any redemption payment with respect to a debt security of such series; |
without in each case obtaining the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security issued under the Indenture affected by the modification or amendment.
From time to time, we and the Trustee, without the consent of the holders of any debt securities issued under the Indenture, may modify, amend, supplement or waive compliance with any provisions of the Indenture, among other things:
| ● | to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; |
| ● | to provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to or in place of certificated debt securities; |
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| ● | to evidence the succession of another person to us under the Indenture and the assumption by that successor of our covenants, contained in the Indenture and in the debt securities; |
| ● | to add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of debt securities; |
| ● | to secure the debt securities of any series pursuant to the requirements of any covenant on liens in respect of such series or otherwise; |
| ● | to change or eliminate any provision of the Indenture, or to add any new provisions to the Indenture, provided that any such change, elimination or addition (A) shall (i) not apply to any debt securities outstanding on the date of such supplemental indenture or (ii) modify the rights of the holder of any debt security with respect to such provision in effect prior to the date of such supplemental indenture or (B) shall become effective only when no debt security of such series remains outstanding; |
| ● | to make any change that would provide additional rights or benefits to holders of the debt securities of such series or that does not adversely affect the holders’ rights under the Indenture in any material respect; |
| ● | to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the TIA; |
| ● | to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of debt securities of any series as permitted by the Indenture; |
| ● | to evidence and provide for the acceptance of the appointment of a successor trustee in respect of the debt securities of one or more series or to add to or change any of the provisions of the Indenture as are necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the Indenture by more than one trustee; |
| ● | to add additional guarantors or obligors under the Indenture; or |
| ● | to conform any provision of the Indenture or any debt securities or security documents to the description thereof reflected in any prospectus (including this prospectus), accompanying prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or similar offering document used in connection with the initial offering or sale of such debt securities to the extent that such description was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture, the debt securities or security documents. |
Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, upon our direction, the Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of debt securities issued under the Indenture specified by us, subject to the survival of specified provisions of the Indenture (including the obligation to pay Additional Amounts, if any, and the obligation, if applicable, to exchange or convert debt securities of that series into other securities or property in accordance with their terms) when
| ● | either: |
| o | all of the debt securities of such series that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed debt securities that have been replaced or paid and debt securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to us, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or |
| o | all of the debt securities of such series that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year or have been called for redemption and we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the holders of such debt securities, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government securities or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such debt securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption; |
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| ● | no default or event of default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a default or event of default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material instrument to which we are a party or by which we are bound (other than a breach, violation or default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith); |
| ● | we have paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by us under the Indenture; and |
| ● | we have delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee for such debt securities to apply the deposited money toward the payment of such debt securities at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be. |
Unless otherwise provided in the accompanying prospectus supplement, we may elect with respect to any series of debt securities and at any time, to have our obligations discharged with respect to the outstanding debt securities of such series (“Legal Defeasance”). Legal Defeasance means that we shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the debt securities of such series, and the Indenture shall cease to be of further effect as to all outstanding debt securities of such series, except as to:
| ● | rights of holders of outstanding debt securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities of such series when such payments are due solely out of the trust funds referred to below; |
| ● | our obligations with respect to the debt securities of such series concerning issuing temporary debt securities of such series, registration of debt securities of such series, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of such series, and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment and money for security payments held in trust; |
| ● | the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee for such debt securities of such series under the Indenture, and the obligations of us in connection therewith; and |
| ● | the Legal Defeasance provisions of the Indenture. |
In addition, we may, at our option and at any time, elect to have our obligations released with respect to substantially all of the covenants under the Indenture, except as described otherwise in the Indenture (“Covenant Defeasance”), and thereafter any omission to comply with such obligations shall not constitute a default or event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series. In the event Covenant Defeasance occurs, certain events of default will no longer constitute an event of default with respect to the debt securities of such series. Covenant Defeasance will not be effective until such bankruptcy events no longer apply. We may exercise our Legal Defeasance option regardless of whether we have previously exercised Covenant Defeasance.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance:
| ● | we must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, as trust funds, in trust solely for the benefit of the holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable U.S. government securities or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of and interest on the debt securities of such series on the stated date for payment or on the redemption date of the principal or installment of principal of or interest on the debt securities of such series; |
| ● | in the case of Legal Defeasance, we shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States confirming that: |
| o | we have received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or |
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| o | since the date of the issuance of the debt securities of such series, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law; |
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon this opinion of counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the holders and beneficial owners of debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
| ● | in the case of Covenant Defeasance, we shall have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the holders and beneficial owners of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred; |
| ● | no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a default or event of default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith); |
| ● | such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any material agreement or instrument (other than the Indenture) to which we or any of our subsidiaries is a party or by which we or any of our subsidiaries is bound (other than that resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith); |
| ● | we shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the deposit was not made by it with the intent of preferring the holders of debt securities of such series over any other of our creditors or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any of our creditors or others; and |
| ● | we shall have delivered to the Trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that the conditions provided for in, in the case of the officers’ certificate, clauses (a) through (f) and, in the case of the opinion of counsel, clauses (b) and/or (c) and (e) of this paragraph have been complied with. |
If the funds deposited with the Trustee to effect Covenant Defeasance are insufficient to pay the principal of and interest on the debt securities of such series when due, then our obligations and the obligations of our subsidiaries, if applicable, under the Indenture will be revived and no such defeasance will be deemed to have occurred.
Governing Law
The Indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
Regarding the Trustee
We will identify the trustee with respect to any series of debt securities in the prospectus supplement relating to the applicable debt securities. The TIA limits the rights of a trustee, if the trustee becomes a creditor of ours to obtain payment of claims or to realize on property received by it in respect of those claims, as security or otherwise. Any trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with us and our subsidiaries from time to time. However, if a trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate the conflict upon the occurrence of an event of default under the Indenture or resign as trustee.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee.
If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee will be required to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. The Trustee will become obligated to exercise any of its powers under the Indenture at the request of any of the holders of debt securities only after those holders have offered the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it.
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The following summarizes the general terms of stock and debt warrants that we may offer. The particular terms of any stock and debt warrants will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement. The description below and in any accompanying prospectus supplement is not complete. You should read the form of warrant agreement and any warrant certificate that we will file with the SEC.
Warrants to Purchase Capital Stock
If we offer stock warrants, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the stock warrants, including:
| ● | The offering price, if any; |
| ● | If applicable, the designation and terms of any preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of preferred stock warrants; |
| ● | The number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon exercise of one stock warrant and the initial price at which the shares may be purchased upon exercise; |
| ● | The dates on which the right to exercise the stock warrants begins and expires; |
| ● | U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
| ● | Call provisions, if any; |
| ● | The currencies in which the offering price and exercise price are payable; and |
| ● | If applicable, the antidilution provisions of the stock warrants. |
The shares of common stock or preferred stock we issue upon exercise of the stock warrants will, when issued in accordance with the stock warrant agreement, be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
Exercise of Warrants to Purchase Capital Stock
You may exercise stock warrants by surrendering to the stock warrant agent the stock warrant certificate, which indicates your election to exercise all or a portion of the stock warrants evidenced by the certificate. Surrendered stock warrant certificates must be accompanied by payment of the exercise price in the form of cash or check. The stock warrant agent will deliver certificates evidencing duly exercised stock warrants to the transfer agent. Upon receipt of the certificates, the transfer agent will deliver a certificate representing the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchased. If you exercise fewer than all the stock warrants evidenced by any certificate, the stock warrant agent will deliver a new stock warrant certificate representing the unexercised stock warrants.
No Rights as Stockholders
Holders of stock warrants are not entitled to vote, to consent, to receive dividends or to receive notice as stockholders with respect to any meeting of stockholders or to exercise any rights whatsoever as our stockholders.
Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities
If we offer debt warrants, the accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants, including:
| ● | The offering price, if any; |
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| ● | The designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and the terms of the indenture under which the debt securities will be issued; |
| ● | If applicable, the designation and terms of the debt securities with which the debt warrants are issued and the number of debt warrants issued with each debt security; |
| ● | If applicable, the date on and after which the debt warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| ● | The principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one debt warrant, and the price at which the principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon exercise; |
| ● | The dates on which the right to exercise the debt warrants begins and expires; |
| ● | U.S. federal income tax consequences; |
| ● | Whether the warrants represented by the debt warrant certificates will be issued in registered or bearer form; |
| ● | The currencies in which the offering price and exercise price are payable; and |
| ● | If applicable, any antidilution provisions. |
You may exchange debt warrant certificates for new debt warrant certificates of different denominations and may present debt warrant certificates for registration of transfer at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent, which will be listed in an accompanying prospectus supplement.
Exercise of Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities
You may exercise debt warrants by surrendering the debt warrant certificate at the corporate trust office of the debt warrant agent, with payment in full of the exercise price. Upon the exercise of debt warrants, the debt warrant agent will, as soon as practicable, deliver the debt securities in authorized denominations in accordance with your instructions and at your sole cost and risk. If less than all the debt warrants evidenced by the debt warrant certificate are exercised, the agent will issue a new debt warrant certificate for the remaining amount of debt warrants.
No Rights as Holders of Debt Securities
Warrantholders do not have any of the rights of holders of debt securities, except to the extent that the consent of warrantholders may be required for certain modifications of the terms of an indenture or form of the debt security, as the case may be, and the series of debt securities issuable upon exercise of the debt warrants. In addition, warrantholders are not entitled to payments of principal of and interest, if any, on the debt securities.
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We may issue or distribute rights to our stockholders for the purchase of shares of our Common Stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We may issue rights independently or together with other securities, and the rights may be attached to or separate from any offered or distributed securities and may or may not be transferrable by the stockholder receiving the rights. In connection with any offering of rights, we may enter into a standby underwriting, backstop or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which the underwriters or other persons may agree to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering. 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, all as set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of rights. The rights agent will act solely as an agent of the Company in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of such series 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 summary of material provisions of the rights are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the certificates representing rights applicable to a particular series of rights. The terms of any rights offered or distributed under an accompanying prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. We urge you to read the accompanying prospectus supplement as well as the complete certificates representing the rights that contain the terms of the rights. The particular terms of any issue of rights will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement relating to the issue, and may include:
| ● | in the case of a distribution of rights to our stockholders, the date for determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| ● | in the case of a distribution of rights to our stockholders, the number of rights issued or to be issued to each stockholder; |
| ● | the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock, preferred stock or debt securities purchasable upon exercise of such rights and the exercise price; |
| ● | the aggregate number of rights being issued; |
| ● | the extent to which the rights are transferrable; |
| ● | the date on which the holder’s ability to exercise such rights shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire; |
| ● | the extent to which the rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
| ● | a discussion of material federal income tax considerations; |
| ● | any other material terms of such rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of such rights; and |
| ● | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting, backstop or purchase arrangement which may be entered into by the Company in connection with the offering, issuance or distribution of rights. |
Each right will entitle the holder of rights to purchase for cash the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or the principal amount of debt securities at the exercise price provided in the accompanying 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 accompanying prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will be void and of no further force and effect.
Holders may exercise rights as described in the accompanying 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 an accompanying prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, forward the shares of Common Stock or preferred stock or principal amount of debt securities purchased upon exercise of the rights. If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed shares of Common Stock or preferred stock or principal amount of debt securities directly to persons, which may be to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as described in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
Until any rights to purchase Common Stock or preferred stock are exercised, the holders of the any rights will not have any rights of holders of the underlying Common Stock or preferred stock, including any rights to receive dividends or payments upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up on the Common Stock or preferred stock, if any. Until any rights to purchase debt securities are exercised, the holder of any rights will not have any rights of holders of the debt securities that can be purchased upon exercise, including any rights to receive payments of principal, premium or interest on the underlying debt securities or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture.
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As may be specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more of our securities registered hereby. An accompanying prospectus supplement will describe:
| ● | The terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately; |
| ● | A description of the terms of any unit agreement governing the units; and |
| ● | A description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units. |
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We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, through broker-dealers, or directly to one or more purchasers. We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:
| ● | at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed; |
| ● | at market prices prevailing at the time of sale; |
| ● | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
| ● | at negotiated prices. |
We may also sell equity securities covered by this registration statement in an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Such offering may be made into an existing trading market for such securities in transactions at other than a fixed price, either:
| ● | on or through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange or quotation or trading service on which such securities may be listed, quoted or traded at the time of sale; and/or |
| ● | to or through a market maker otherwise than on the New York Stock Exchange or such other securities exchanges or quotation or trading services. |
Such at-the-market offerings, if any, may be conducted by underwriters acting as principal or agent.
A prospectus supplement or supplements (and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, to the extent applicable:
| ● | the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, if any; |
| ● | the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale; |
| ● | any over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; |
| ● | any agency fees or underwriting discounts and other items constituting agents’ or underwriters’ compensation; |
| ● | any public offering price; |
| ● | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
| ● | any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed. |
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.
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If underwriters are used in the sale, they will acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to the conditions set forth in the applicable underwriting agreement. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. Subject to certain conditions, the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time.
We may sell the securities directly, in which case no underwriters or agents would be involved, or we may sell the securities through agents designated by us from time to time. If agents are used in the sale of the securities, the agent will not purchase any securities for its own account but will arrange for the sale of the securities. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a “best efforts” basis for the period of its appointment. We may negotiate and pay agent’s fees or commissions for their services. If the securities are sold directly by us, we may sell the securities 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 may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
We may issue the securities as a dividend or distribution or in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders. If we offer securities in a subscription rights offering to our existing security holders, then we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with dealers, acting as standby underwriters. We may pay the standby underwriters a commitment fee for the securities they commit to purchase on a standby basis. If we do not enter into a standby underwriting arrangement, we may retain a dealer-manager to manage a subscription rights offering for us.
In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”), all discounts, commissions or agency fees or other items constituting underwriting compensation to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer will be disclosed in an accompanying prospectus supplement.
We may provide agents and underwriters with indemnification against civil liabilities related to this offering, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents or underwriters may make with respect to these liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
All securities we offer, other than our Class A common stock and our public warrants which are listed on the NYSE under the symbols “PSQH” and “PSQH.WS,” respectively, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters may make a market in these securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot guarantee the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a stabilizing or covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. These transactions may be effected on any exchange or over-the-counter market or otherwise.
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Any underwriters who are qualified market makers on The New York Stock Exchange may engage in passive market making transactions in the securities on The New York Stock Exchange in accordance with Rule 103 of Regulation M, during the business day prior to the pricing of the offering, before the commencement of offers or sales of the securities. Passive market makers must comply with applicable volume and price limitations and must be identified as passive market makers. In general, a passive market maker must display its bid at a price not in excess of the highest independent bid for such security; if all independent bids are lowered below the passive market maker’s bid, however, the passive market maker’s bid must then be lowered when certain purchase limits are exceeded. Passive market making may stabilize the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market and, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time.
Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. The accompanying prospectus supplement may provide that the original issue date for your securities may be more than one scheduled business day after the trade date for your securities. Accordingly, in such a case, if you wish to trade securities on any date prior to the first business day before the original issue date for your securities, you will be required, by virtue of the fact that your securities initially are expected to settle in more than one scheduled business day after the trade date for your securities, to make alternative settlement arrangements to prevent a failed settlement.
The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
Any underwriters, dealers and agents, and their associates and affiliates may engage in transactions with, or perform services, including investment banking services, for us or one or more of our respective affiliates in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation. We will describe in an accompanying prospectus supplement the identity of any such underwriters, dealers and agents and the nature of any such relationships. If at the time of any offering made under this prospectus a member of FINRA participating in the offering has a “conflict of interest” as defined in FINRA Rule 5121, that offering will be conducted in accordance with the relevant provisions of FINRA Rule 5121.
The anticipated date of delivery of offered securities will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement relating to each offer.
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The validity of the securities being offered hereby will be passed upon by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP, Washington, DC.
The consolidated financial statements of PSQ Holdings, Inc. for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2024, incorporated by reference into this registration statement/prospectus have been audited by UHY LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon incorporated by reference herein and are included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, omits certain information, exhibits, schedules and undertakings set forth in the registration statement. For further information pertaining to us and the securities offered in this prospectus, reference is made to that registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents or provisions of any documents referred to in this prospectus are not necessarily complete, and in each instance where a copy of the document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, reference is made to the exhibit for a more complete description of the matters involved.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and on our website at www.publicsquare.com. The information found on, or that can be accessed from or that is hyperlinked to, our website is not part of this prospectus. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement through the SEC’s website, as provided herein.
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INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. Because we are incorporating by reference future filings with the SEC, this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement are continually updated and those future filings may modify or supersede some of the information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. This means that you must look at all of the SEC filings that we incorporate by reference to determine if any of the statements in this prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement or in any document previously incorporated by reference have been modified or superseded. Our periodic reports are filed with the SEC under SEC File Number 001-40457.
We hereby incorporate by reference the following documents:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on March 13, 2025; |
| ● | those portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A for our 2025 Annual Meeting of Stockholders filed with the SEC on April 25, 2025 that are incorporated by reference into our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024; |
| ● | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2025 filed with the SEC on May 8, 2025; |
| ● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 29, 2025, February 21, 2025 (Item 5.02 only) and March 4, 2025, in each case only to the extent filed and not furnished; and |
| ● | the description of our securities contained in Exhibit 4.1 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2024 filed with the SEC on March 13, 2025. |
In addition, all documents we subsequently file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, until the offering of the securities offered hereby is terminated or completed, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus.
Unless specifically stated to the contrary, none of the information that we may furnish to the SEC under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including any related exhibits under Item 9.01, will be incorporated by reference into, or otherwise included in, this prospectus.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will provide each person to whom a prospectus is delivered a copy of all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus. You may obtain copies of these filings, at no cost, through the “Investors” section of our website (www.publicsquare.com) and you may request a copy of these filings (other than an exhibit to any filing unless we have specifically incorporated that exhibit by reference into the filing), at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
General Counsel
313 Datura Street, Suite 200
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Telephone: (877) 776-2402
37
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The expenses relating to the registration of the securities will be borne by the registrant. The following expenses, with the exception of the SEC registration fee, are estimates:
| SEC registration fee | $ | 30,620 | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | (1 | ) | ||
| Accounting fees and expenses | (1 | ) | ||
| Printing and engraving costs | (1 | ) | ||
| Trustee fees and expenses | (1 | ) | ||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses | (1 | ) | ||
| Miscellaneous | (1 | ) | ||
| Total | $ | 30,620 |
| (1) | The amount of securities and number of offerings are indeterminable and the expenses cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the sale and distribution of securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Section 145 of the DGCL provides, generally, that a corporation shall have the power 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, suit or proceeding (except actions by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation against all expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person 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. A corporation may similarly indemnify such person for expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of any action or suit by or in the right of the corporation, provided that such person 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, in the case of claims, issues and matters as to which such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, provided that a court shall have determined, upon application, that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL provides, generally, that the registrant’s Charter may contain a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director or officer to the corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that such provision may not eliminate or limit the liability of (i) a director or officer for any breach of the director’s or officer’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders, (ii) a director or officer for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) a director under section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) a director or officer for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit. No such provision may eliminate or limit the liability of a director or officer for any act or omission occurring prior to the date when such provision became effective.
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The registrant’s Charter provides that the registrant will indemnify each person who was or is a party or 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 registrant), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was, or has agreed to become, the registrant’s director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the registrant’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (all such persons being referred to as an Indemnitee), or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), liabilities, losses, judgments, fines (including excise taxes and penalties arising under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974), and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom if such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the registrant’s best interests, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, he or she had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
The registrant’s Charter also provides that the registrant will indemnify any Indemnitee who was or is a party to an action or suit by or in the right of the registrant to procure a judgment in the registrant’s favor by reason of the fact that the Indemnitee is or was, or has agreed to become, the registrant’s director or officer, or is or was serving, or has agreed to serve, at the registrant’s request as a director, officer, partner, employee or trustee of, or in a similar capacity with, another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) and, to the extent permitted by law, amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, and any appeal therefrom, if the Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the registrant’s best interests, except that no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the registrant, unless the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought, determines that, despite such adjudication but in view of all of the circumstances, he or she is entitled to indemnification of such expenses. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that any Indemnitee has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, he or she will be indemnified by the registrant against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her or on his or her behalf in connection therewith. If the registrant does not assume the defense, expenses must be advanced to an Indemnitee under certain circumstances.
In addition, the registrant has entered into indemnification agreements with all of the registrant’s executive officers and directors. In general, these agreements provide that the registrant will indemnify the executive officer or director to the fullest extent permitted by law for claims arising in his or her capacity as an executive officer or director of the registrant or in connection with his or her service at the registrant’s request for another corporation or entity. The indemnification agreements also provide for procedures that will apply in the event that an executive officer or director makes a claim for indemnification and establish certain presumptions that are favorable to the executive officer or director.
The registrant maintains a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of the registrant’s directors and officers arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers.
II-2
Item 16. Exhibits
| * | Filed herewith. |
| ** | To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of registered securities. |
| + | To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. |
II-3
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
| (i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”); |
| (ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
| (iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (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 SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
| (i) | 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-4
| (ii) | Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date. |
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
| (i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
| (ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant; |
| (iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and |
| (iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser. |
(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(7) 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 of 1939 (the “TIA”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the TIA.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the indemnification provisions described herein, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-5
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in West Palm Beach, State of Florida, on May 9, 2025.
| PSQ HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Michael Seifert | |
| Michael Seifert | ||
| Chief Executive Officer | ||
POWER OF ATTORNEY
Each of the undersigned officers and directors of PSQ Holdings, Inc. constitutes and appoints Michael Seifert and Brad Searle, and each of them singly, his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power to act separately and full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, 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, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite or necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature | Title | Date | ||
| /s/ Michael Seifert | President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board | May 9, 2025 | ||
| Michael Seifert | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
| /s/ Bradley Searle | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | May 9, 2025 | ||
| Bradley Searle | (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
| /s/ Dusty Wunderlich | Director, Chief Strategy Officer | May 9, 2025 | ||
| Dusty Wunderlich | ||||
| /s/ Nick Ayers | Director | May 9, 2025 | ||
| Nick Ayers | ||||
| /s/ Blake Masters | Director | May 9, 2025 | ||
| Blake Masters | ||||
| /s/ James Rinn | Director | May 9, 2025 | ||
| James Rinn | ||||
| /s/ Davis Pilot III | Director | May 9, 2025 | ||
| Davis Pilot III | ||||
| /s/ Willie Langston | Director | May 9, 2025 | ||
| Willie Langston | ||||
| /s/ Donald J. Trump Jr. | Director | May 9, 2025 | ||
| Donald J. Trump Jr. | ||||
II-6
Exhibit 4.5
PSQ Holdings, Inc.
INDENTURE
Dated as of __________, 20__
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| Page | ||||
| ARTICLE I. DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |||
| Section 1.1. | Definitions | 1 | ||
| Section 1.2. | Other Definitions | 4 | ||
| Section 1.3. | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act | 4 | ||
| Section 1.4. | Rules of Construction | 4 | ||
| ARTICLE II. THE SECURITIES | 5 | |||
| Section 2.1. | Issuable in Series | 5 | ||
| Section 2.2. | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities | 5 | ||
| Section 2.3. | Execution and Authentication | 7 | ||
| Section 2.4. | Registrar and Paying Agent | 8 | ||
| Section 2.5. | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust | 8 | ||
| Section 2.6. | Securityholder Lists | 9 | ||
| Section 2.7. | Transfer and Exchange | 9 | ||
| Section 2.8. | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities | 9 | ||
| Section 2.9. | Outstanding Securities | 10 | ||
| Section 2.10. | Treasury Securities | 10 | ||
| Section 2.11. | Temporary Securities | 10 | ||
| Section 2.12. | Cancellation | 10 | ||
| Section 2.13. | Defaulted Interest | 11 | ||
| Section 2.14. | Special Record Dates | 11 | ||
| Section 2.15. | Global Securities | 11 | ||
| Section 2.16. | CUSIP Numbers | 12 | ||
| Section 2.17. | Persons Deemed Owners | 12 | ||
| ARTICLE III. REDEMPTION | 13 | |||
| Section 3.1. | Notice to Trustee | 13 | ||
| Section 3.2. | Selection of Securities to be Redeemed | 13 | ||
| Section 3.3. | Notice of Redemption | 13 | ||
| Section 3.4. | Effect of Notice of Redemption | 14 | ||
| Section 3.5. | Deposit of Redemption Price | 14 | ||
| Section 3.6. | Securities Redeemed in Part | 14 | ||
| ARTICLE IV. COVENANTS | 14 | |||
| Section 4.1. | Payment of Principal and Interest | 14 | ||
| Section 4.2. | Additional Amounts | 14 | ||
| Section 4.3. | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 15 | ||
| Section 4.4. | SEC Reports | 15 | ||
| Section 4.5. | Compliance Certificate | 15 | ||
| Section 4.6. | Taxes | 16 | ||
| Section 4.7. | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws | 16 | ||
| Section 4.8. | Corporate Existence | 16 | ||
| ARTICLE V. SUCCESSORS | 16 | |||
| Section 5.1. | Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets | 16 | ||
| Section 5.2. | Successor Person Substituted | 17 | ||
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| Page | ||||
| ARTICLE VI. DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 17 | |||
| Section 6.1. | Events of Default | 17 | ||
| Section 6.2. | Acceleration | 18 | ||
| Section 6.3. | Other Remedies | 19 | ||
| Section 6.4. | Waiver of Past Defaults | 19 | ||
| Section 6.5. | Control by Majority | 19 | ||
| Section 6.6. | Limitation on Suits | 19 | ||
| Section 6.7. | Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment | 20 | ||
| Section 6.8. | Collection Suit by Trustee | 20 | ||
| Section 6.9. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 20 | ||
| Section 6.10. | Priorities | 20 | ||
| Section 6.11. | Undertaking for Costs | 21 | ||
| ARTICLE VII. TRUSTEE | 21 | |||
| Section 7.1. | Duties of Trustee | 21 | ||
| Section 7.2. | Rights of Trustee | 22 | ||
| Section 7.3. | Individual Rights of Trustee | 23 | ||
| Section 7.4. | Trustee’s Disclaimer | 23 | ||
| Section 7.5. | Notice of Defaults | 23 | ||
| Section 7.6. | Reports by Trustee to Holders | 23 | ||
| Section 7.7. | Compensation and Indemnity | 23 | ||
| Section 7.8. | Replacement of Trustee | 24 | ||
| Section 7.9. | Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. | 24 | ||
| Section 7.10. | Eligibility; Disqualification | 25 | ||
| Section 7.11. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 25 | ||
| ARTICLE VIII. LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE | 25 | |||
| Section 8.1. | Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 25 | ||
| Section 8.2. | Legal Defeasance and Discharge | 25 | ||
| Section 8.3. | Covenant Defeasance | 26 | ||
| Section 8.4. | Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance | 26 | ||
| Section 8.5. | Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 27 | ||
| Section 8.6. | Repayment to Company | 27 | ||
| Section 8.7. | Reinstatement | 28 | ||
| ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS | 28 | |||
| Section 9.1. | Without Consent of Holders | 28 | ||
| Section 9.2. | With Consent of Holders | 29 | ||
| Section 9.3. | Limitations | 29 | ||
| Section 9.4. | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act | 30 | ||
| Section 9.5. | Revocation and Effect of Consents | 30 | ||
| Section 9.6. | Notation on or Exchange of Securities | 30 | ||
| Section 9.7. | Trustee Protected | 31 | ||
| ARTICLE X. GUARANTEES | 31 | |||
| Section 10.1. | Guarantees | 31 | ||
ii
| Page | ||||
| ARTICLE XI. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 31 | |||
| Section 11.1. | Satisfaction and Discharge | 31 | ||
| Section 11.2. | Application of Trust Money | 32 | ||
| ARTICLE XII. MISCELLANEOUS | 32 | |||
| Section 12.1. | Trust Indenture Act Controls | 32 | ||
| Section 12.2. | Notices | 32 | ||
| Section 12.3. | Communication by Holders with Other Holders | 33 | ||
| Section 12.4. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent | 34 | ||
| Section 12.5. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion | 34 | ||
| Section 12.6. | Rules by Trustee and Agents | 34 | ||
| Section 12.7. | Legal Holidays | 34 | ||
| Section 12.8. | No Recourse Against Others | 34 | ||
| Section 12.9. | Counterparts | 34 | ||
| Section 12.10. | Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury | 35 | ||
| Section 12.11. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements | 35 | ||
| Section 12.12. | Successors | 35 | ||
| Section 12.13. | Severability | 35 | ||
| Section 12.14. | Table of Contents, Headings, Etc. | 35 | ||
| Section 12.15. | Securities in a Foreign Currency | 35 | ||
| ARTICLE XIII. SINKING FUNDS | 36 | |||
| Section 13.1. | Applicability of Article | 36 | ||
| Section 13.2. | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 36 | ||
| Section 13.3. | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 36 | ||
iii
PSQ HOLDINGS, INC.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the Indenture
| § 310(a)(1) | 7.10 | |
| (a)(2) | 7.10 | |
| (a)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(4) | Not Applicable | |
| (a)(5) | 7.10 | |
| (b) | 7.10 | |
| (c) | Not Applicable | |
| § 311(a) | 7.11 | |
| (b) | 7.11 | |
| (c) | Not Applicable | |
| § 312(a) | 2.6 | |
| (b) | 12.3 | |
| (c) | 12.3 | |
| § 313(a) | 7.6 | |
| (b)(1) | Not Applicable | |
| (b)(2) | Not Applicable | |
| (c)(1) | 7.6 | |
| (c)(2) | 7.6 | |
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (d) | 7.6 | |
| § 314(a) | 4.4, 4.5 | |
| (b) | Not Applicable | |
| (c)(1) | 12.4 | |
| (c)(2) | 12.4 | |
| (c)(3) | Not Applicable | |
| (d) | Not Applicable | |
| (e) | 12.5 | |
| (f) | Not Applicable | |
| § 315(a) | 7.1 | |
| (b) | 7.5 | |
| (c) | 7.1 | |
| (d) | 7.1 | |
| (e) | 6.11 | |
| § 316(a) | 2.10 | |
| (a)(1)(A) | 6.5 | |
| (a)(1)(B) | 6.4 | |
| (b) | 6.7 | |
| (c) | 2.14, 9.5(d) | |
| § 317(a)(1) | 6.8 | |
| (a)(2) | 6.9 | |
| (b) | 2.5 | |
| § 318(a) | 12.1 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
iv
INDENTURE
Indenture dated as of ___________, 20__ between PSQ Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”), and _____________________________________, as trustee (“Trustee”).
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities (or applicable Series thereof) issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE I.
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.1. Definitions.
“Additional Amounts” means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified herein or therein and which are owing to such Holders.
“Affiliate” of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
“Agent” means any Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent.
“Authorized Newspaper” means a newspaper in an official language of the country of publication customarily published at least once a day for at least five days in each calendar week and of general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used. If it shall be impractical in the opinion of the Trustee to make any publication of any notice required hereby in an Authorized Newspaper, any publication or other notice in lieu thereof that is made or given by the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.
“Bearer” means anyone in possession from time to time of a Bearer Security.
“Bearer Security” means any Security, including any interest coupon appertaining thereto, that does not provide for the identification of the Holder thereof.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York or in the city where the Corporate Trust Office is located on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
“Capital Stock” means:
(1) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(2) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
1
(3) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and
(4) any other interest or participation that confers on a person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.
“Company” means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it pursuant to Article V hereof and thereafter means the successor.
“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers of the Company.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered.
“Default” means any event that is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Depository” means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depository for such Series by the Company, which Depository shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Depository” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depository with respect to the Securities of such Series.
“Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
“Dollars” and “$” means the currency of The United States of America.
“Equity Interests” means Capital Stock and all warrants, options or other rights to acquire Capital Stock (but excluding any debt security that is convertible into, or exchangeable for, Capital Stock).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Foreign Currency” means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.
“GAAP” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of a particular Series, generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect as of the time when and for the period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied.
“Global Security” or “Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depository for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depository or nominee.
“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States pledges its full faith and credit.
“Guarantor” means any person that issues a guarantee of the Securities, either on the Issue Date or after the Issue Date in accordance with the terms of this Indenture; provided, that upon the release and discharge of such person from its guarantee in accordance with this Indenture, such person shall cease to be a Guarantor.
“Holder” or “Securityholder” means a person in whose name a Security is registered or the holder of a Bearer Security.
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“Indenture” means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“interest” when used with respect to any Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity.
“Issue Date” means with respect to any Series of Securities the first date such Securities are issued under this Indenture.
“Lien” means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof or any agreement to give any security interest).
“Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or installment of principal thereof, means the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.
“Officer” means the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom (in the case of an Officers’ Certificate delivered under Section 4.5 hereof) must be the Company’s principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
“person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“principal” of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer, trust officer or any other officer of the Trustee who customarily performs functions similar to those performed by the persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such person’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility or be part of the group that has such responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission or any successor agency.
“Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 2.2 hereof.
“Stated Maturity” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
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“Subsidiary” of any specified person means any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that person or a combination thereof.
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code §§ 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
“Trustee” means the person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
Section 1.2. Other Definitions.
| TERM | DEFINED IN SECTION | |
| “Bankruptcy Law” | 6.1 | |
| “Covenant Defeasance” | 8.3 | |
| “Custodian” | 6.1 | |
| “Depository Entity” | 9.5 | |
| “Event of Default” | 6.1 | |
| “Legal Defeasance” | 8.2 | |
| “Legal Holiday” | 12.7 | |
| “mandatory sinking fund payment” | 13.1 | |
| “Market Exchange Rate” | 12.15 | |
| “optional sinking fund payment” | 13.1 | |
| “Paying Agent” | 2.4 | |
| “Registrar” | 2.4 | |
| “Service Agent” | 2.4 |
Section 1.3. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the SEC.
“indenture securities” means the Securities.
“indenture security holder” means a Securityholder.
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company, any successor obligor upon the Securities or a Guarantor.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
Section 1.4. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
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(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) “or” is not exclusive;
(d) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;
(e) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(f) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and
(g) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the SEC from time to time.
ARTICLE
II.
THE SECURITIES
Section 2.1. Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more Series. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers’ Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
Section 2.2. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution or in a supplemental indenture or in an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:
(a) the title of the Series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series);
(b) the price or prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
(c) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series pursuant to Section 2.7, 2.8, 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6);
(d) whether the Securities rank as senior Securities, senior subordinated Securities or subordinated Securities or any combination thereof and the terms of any such subordination;
(e) the form and terms of any guarantee of any Securities of the series;
(f) the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Securities of the series shall be exchanged for or converted into other securities of the Company or securities of another person;
(g) the provisions, if any, relating to any security provided for the Securities of the Series;
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(h) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
(i) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any currency exchange rate, commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, or the method for determining the date or dates from which interest will accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
(j) the manner in which the amounts of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be determined, if such amounts may be determined by reference to an index based on a currency or currencies or by reference to a currency exchange rate, commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index;
(k) if other than the Corporate Trust Office, the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
(l) if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
(m) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(n) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
(o) the forms of the Securities of the Series in bearer or fully registered form (and, if in fully registered form, whether the Securities of the Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or Securities, and 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);
(p) any depositories, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents with respect to Securities of such Series if other than those appointed herein;
(q) the Trustee for the series of Securities, if other than the Trustee named on the first page hereof or its successors;
(r) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2;
(s) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Articles IV or V which applies to Securities of the Series;
(t) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.2;
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(u) if other than Dollars, the currency of denomination of the Securities of the Series, which may be any Foreign Currency, and if such currency of denomination is a composite currency, the agency or organization, if any, responsible for overseeing such composite currency;
(v) if other than Dollars, the designation of the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be made;
(w) if payments of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series are to be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to such payments will be determined;
(x) the securities exchange(s) on which the Securities of the Series will be listed, if any;
(y) additions or deletions to or changes in the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;
(z) additions or deletions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture;
(aa) additions or deletions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the Indenture both with and without the consent of holders of Securities of the Series issued under the Indenture; and
(bb) any other terms of the Securities of the Series (which terms may modify, supplement or delete any provision of this Indenture with respect to such Series; provided, however, that no such term may modify or delete any provision hereof if imposed by the TIA; and provided, further, that any modification or deletion of the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee hereunder shall have been consented to in writing by the Trustee).
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may be increased to provide for issuances of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate.
Section 2.3. Execution and Authentication.
Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2, except as provided in Section 2.9.
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Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.2) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 12.4, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 12.4.
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not be taken lawfully; or (b) if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or vice-presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.4. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.2, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment (“Paying Agent”), where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange (“Registrar”) and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such Series and this Indenture may be served (“Service Agent”). The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars, additional paying agents or additional service agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.2 for Securities of any Series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar, additional paying agent or additional service agent. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar; the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent; and the term “Service Agent” includes any additional service agent.
The Company hereby appoints the Trustee the initial Registrar, Paying Agent and Service Agent for each Series unless another Registrar, Paying Agent or Service Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.
Section 2.5. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will promptly notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company) shall have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary of the Company acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
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Section 2.6. Securityholder Lists.
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish, or shall cause the Registrar to furnish, to the Trustee at least ten days before each interest payment date, but in any event at least once every six months, and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
Section 2.7. Transfer and Exchange.
Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met. To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange (except as otherwise expressly permitted herein), but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable upon exchanges pursuant to Sections 2.11, 3.6 or 9.6).
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business fifteen days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
Section 2.8. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (b) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every new Security of any Series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
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The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
Section 2.9. Outstanding Securities.
Subject to Section 2.10, the Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.8, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary of the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) holds as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the date of Maturity of Securities of a Series or on any day thereafter (in the case money is deposited by the Company following the date of Maturity) money sufficient to pay such Securities payable on such date of Maturity or on any such later date, as the case may be, then on and after such date of Maturity or such later date, as the case may be, such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.2.
Section 2.10. Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, Securities of a Series owned by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Section 2.11. Temporary Securities.
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities upon a Company Order. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities. Until so exchanged, temporary Securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
Section 2.12. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, replacement or payment. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and deliver such canceled Securities to the Company, unless the Company otherwise directs; provided that the Trustee shall not be required to destroy such Securities. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
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Section 2.13. Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay the defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the persons who are Securityholders of the Series on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix such special record date and the related payment date. At least 15 days before such special record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states such special record date, the related payment date and the amount of interest to be paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
Section 2.14. Special Record Dates.
(a) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, set a record date for the purpose of determining the identity of Holders entitled to consent to any supplement, amendment or waiver permitted by this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, the Holders of such Series and Securities outstanding on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to consent to such supplement, amendment or waiver or revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date. No consent shall be valid or effective for more than 90 days after such record date unless consents from Holders of the principal amount of such Series and Securities required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective shall have also been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.
(b) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of any Series of Securities entitled to join in the giving or making of any notice of Default, any declaration of acceleration, any request to institute proceedings or any other similar direction. If a record date is fixed, the Holders of such Series and Securities outstanding on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, however, that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the date 90 days after such record date.
(c) To the extent reasonably practicable, the Company shall give the Trustee a 15-day advance written notice of any special record date set in accordance with this Section 2.14.
Section 2.15. Global Securities.
(a) Terms of Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depository for such Global Security or Securities.
(b) Transfer and Exchange. Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.7 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.7 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depository for such Security or its nominee only if (i) such Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depository registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act within 90 days of such event, (ii) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable (subject to the procedures of the Depository) or (iii) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing. Any Global Security that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for Securities registered in such names as the Depository shall direct in writing in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security with like tenor and terms.
Except as provided in this Section 2.15(b), a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository, by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.
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(c) Legend. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
“Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company, a New York corporation (“DTC”), New York, New York, to the issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC (and any payment is made to Cede & Co. or such other entity as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL inasmuch as the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co. has an interest herein.”
“Transfer of this Global Security shall be limited to transfers in whole, but not in part, to DTC, to nominees of DTC or to a successor thereof or such successor’s nominee and limited to transfers made in accordance with the restrictions set forth in the Indenture referred to herein.”
(d) Acts of Holders. The Depository, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.
(e) Payments. Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.2, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof.
(f) Consents, Declaration and Directions. Except as provided in Section 2.15(e), the Company, the Trustee and any Agent shall treat a person as the Holder of such principal amount of outstanding Securities of such Series represented by a Global Security as shall be specified in a written statement of the Depository with respect to such Global Security, for purposes of obtaining any consents, declarations, waivers or directions required to be given by the Holders pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 2.16. CUSIP Numbers.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” and/or other similar security identifying numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers (and/or any such other security identifying numbers) in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
Section 2.17. Persons Deemed Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the person in whose name such Security is registered in the register kept by the Registrar as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and (subject to the record date provisions thereof) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Security shall be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary. The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the bearer of a Bearer Security as the absolute owner thereof for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Security shall be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depository shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depository may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
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ARTICLE
III.
REDEMPTION
Section 3.1. Notice to Trustee.
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed. The Company shall give the notice at least 35 days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee).
Section 3.2. Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officer’s Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.
In the event of partial redemption, the Trustee shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such Series; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
Section 3.3. Notice of Redemption.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed and if any Bearer Securities are outstanding, publish on one occasion a notice in an Authorized Newspaper, except that redemption notices may be mailed more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Series of Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles VIII or XI hereof.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price (or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof);
(c) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(d) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(e) that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
(f) the CUSIP number, if any; and
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(g) any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.
Any notice of redemption may be given prior to the redemption thereof, any such redemption of notice may, at the Company’s discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent, including, but not limited to, completion of a qualified equity offering or other corporation transaction. At the Company’s request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense.
Section 3.4. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.3, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price specified in such notice. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on the Securities of a Series to be redeemed is deposited with the Trustee on or before the redemption date, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the Securities of a Series (or such portions thereof) called for redemption and such Securities will cease to be outstanding. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date; provided that, unless otherwise specified with respect to such Securities pursuant to Section 2.2 hereof, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the redemption date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities (or one or more predecessor Securities) registered at the close of business on the relevant record date therefor according to their terms and the terms of this Indenture.
Section 3.5. Deposit of Redemption Price.
On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
Section 3.6. Securities Redeemed in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE IV.
COVENANTS
Section 4.1. Payment of Principal and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of that Series on the dates and in the manner provided in such Securities. Principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on any Series of Securities will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary thereof, holds as of 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue principal with respect to such Securities at the rate specified therefor in the Securities; it will pay interest (including post-petition interest in any proceeding under any Bankruptcy Law) on overdue installments of interest (without regard to any applicable grace period) at the same rate to the extent lawful.
Section 4.2. Additional Amounts.
If any Securities of a Series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company agrees to pay to the Holder of any such Security Additional Amounts as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Securities. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any Series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such Series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
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Section 4.3. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee for such Securities or an Affiliate of such Trustee, Registrar for such Securities or co-registrar) where such Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee for such Securities of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails to furnish such Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of such Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where Holders of a Series of Securities may present or surrender such Securities for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee for such Series of Securities of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
With respect to each Series of Securities, the Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee for such Securities as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.4 hereof.
Section 4.4. SEC Reports.
Unless otherwise specified with respect to Securities of a particular Series pursuant to Section 2.2, the Company will, if and to the extent required under the TIA, so long as any securities of a particular Series are outstanding:
(a) make available to the Trustee and the Holders of Securities copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports which the Company may be required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, provided that for this purpose the filing with the SEC of such reports, information and documents shall be sufficient; or
(b) if the Company is not then subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, make available to the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities (including by means of a public or private website), substantially similar periodic information (excluding exhibits) which would be required to be included in periodic reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K (or any successor form or forms) under the Exchange Act within the time periods set forth in the applicable SEC rules and regulations as if the Company were a non-accelerated filer as defined in such applicable SEC rules and regulations, provided that in each case such information may be subject to exclusions if the Company in good faith determines that such excluded information would not to be material to the interests of the holders of any Series of Securities.
The delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.4 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).
Section 4.5. Compliance Certificate.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor of any Series of Securities (to the extent that such guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee with respect to such Series, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto) and that to the best of his or her knowledge no event has occurred and remains in existence by reason of which payments on account of the principal of or interest, if any, on the Series of Securities is prohibited or if such event has occurred, a description of the event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
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(b) So long as any Series of Securities is outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee with respect to such Series, forthwith upon any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.6. Taxes.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will pay, and will cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of such Securities.
Section 4.7. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not, and each Guarantor of such Securities will not, at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each such Guarantor (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee for such Securities, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
Section 4.8. Corporate Existence.
Subject to Article V hereof, the Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its legal existence and rights and franchises; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not obligate the Company to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of its business and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to any Holder.
ARTICLE
V.
SUCCESSORS
Section 5.1. Merger, Consolidation, or Sale of Assets.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it shall not, directly or indirectly: (a) consolidate or merge with or into another person (whether or not the Company is the surviving corporation) or (b) sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in one or more related transactions, to another person, unless:
(i) the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the resulting, surviving or transferee person shall be a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of any domestic or foreign jurisdiction, and such successor person (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture and, for each Security that by its terms provides for conversion, shall have provided for the right to convert such Security in accordance with its terms;
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(ii) immediately after such transaction, no Default or Event of Default exists; and
(iii) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article V and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
This Section 5.1 will not apply to:
(1) a merger of the Company with an Affiliate solely for the purpose of reincorporating the Company in another jurisdiction; or
(2) any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets between or among the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Section 5.2. Successor Person Substituted.
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of the Company in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.1 hereof, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for (so that from and after the date of such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, the provisions of this Indenture referring to the “Company” shall refer instead to the successor person and not to the Company), and may exercise every right and power of the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person had been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor Company shall not be relieved from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on any Series of Securities except in the case of a sale of all of the Company’s assets in a transaction that is subject to, and that complies with the provisions of, Section 5.1 hereof.
ARTICLE
VI.
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
Section 6.1. Events of Default.
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or
(b) default in payment when due of the principal of, or premium, if any, on any Security of that Series; or
(c) default, for 90 days after receipt of written notice given by the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that Series then outstanding, in the performance or breach of any Covenant for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of that Series (other than a default referred to in clauses (a) and (b) above and other than a Covenant which has been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of any Series of Securities other than that Series); or
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(d) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(i) commences a voluntary case,
(ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case,
(iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(v) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or
(e) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case,
(ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property, or
(iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days; or
(f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under clause (d) above is not an Event of Default with respect to a particular Series of Securities until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of more than 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that Series notify the Company and the Trustee of the Default, and the Company does not cure the Default within 90 days after receipt of the notice. The notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a “Notice of Default.” Such notice shall be given by the Trustee if so requested in writing by the Holders of more than 25% of the principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that Series.
Section 6.2. Acceleration.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 6.1(e) or (f)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of more than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all of the Securities of that Series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any Series has been made, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.
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No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.3. Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of and, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of such Securities or this Indenture.
The Trustee for such Securities may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of such Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder of Securities in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.4. Waiver of Past Defaults.
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series by notice to the Trustee for such Securities may on behalf of the Holders of all of such Securities waive an existing Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, such Securities or in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security of the Series affected; provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration of such Securities and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration, in accordance with Section 6.2. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.5. Control by Majority.
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee for such Securities or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee for any Series of Securities may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture that such Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of such Securities or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability.
Section 6.6. Limitation on Suits.
A Holder of any Series of Securities may pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or such Securities only if:
(a) such Holder gives to the Trustee for such Securities written notice that an Event of Default with respect to such Series is continuing;
(b) Holders of more than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series make a written request to the Trustee for such Securities to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee for such Securities security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to such Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(d) such Trustee does not comply with the request within 90 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and
(e) during such 90-day period, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series do not give such Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request.
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A Holder of any Series of Securities may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of such Series of Securities or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder of Securities of such Series.
Section 6.7. Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Security of any Series to receive payment of principal of and, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Securities (including, if applicable, in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.8. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(a), (b) or (c) hereof with respect to Securities of any Series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee for such Securities is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of and, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on, such Securities and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, overdue interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Trustee, its agents and counsel.
Section 6.9. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee for each Series of Securities is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of such Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Securities for which it acts as trustee allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon such Securities), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder of such Securities to make such payments to such Trustee, and in the event that such Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Holders, to pay to such Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due such Trustee under the Indenture. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of such Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due such Trustee out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that such Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize such Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder for which it acts as trustee any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of such Holder, or to authorize such Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any such Holder in any such proceeding.
Section 6.10. Priorities.
If the Trustee of any Series of Securities collects any money pursuant to this Article VI, it shall pay out the money in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents and attorneys for amounts due under the Indenture, including payment of all compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of such Securities for amounts due and unpaid on such Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal, premium, if any and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
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Subject to Section 2.14 hereof, the Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Securities pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against any Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Security pursuant to Section 6.6 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series.
ARTICLE
VII.
TRUSTEE
Section 7.1. Duties of Trustee.
(a) Subject to Section 7.2(h), if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(i) The Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others.
(ii) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers’ Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(i) This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section.
(ii) The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts.
(iii) The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series 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 such Series.
(d) Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
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(e) The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power at the request or direction of any Holder unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
(h) The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section with respect to the Trustee.
Section 7.2. Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may rely on and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate.
(c) The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depository shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depository.
(d) The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers, provided that the Trustee’s conduct does not constitute negligence or bad faith.
(e) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(f) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder without negligence and in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(g) 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, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(h) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities generally or the Securities of a particular Series and this Indenture.
(i) The Trustee shall not be required to provide any bond or surety with respect to the execution of these trusts and powers.
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Section 7.3. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
Section 7.4. Trustee’s Disclaimer.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication of such Securities.
Section 7.5. Notice of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series and, if any Bearer Securities are outstanding, mail in the manner provided by in TIA § 313(c), notice of a Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as its corporate trust committee or a committee of its Responsible Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
Section 7.6. Reports by Trustee to Holders.
Within 60 days after May 15 in each year following the issuance of a Series of Securities under this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar and, if any Bearer Securities are outstanding, transmit by mail in accordance with TIA § 313(c), a brief report dated as of such May 15, in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA § 313(a).
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed, if any. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 7.7. Compensation and Indemnity.
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services as the Company and the Trustee shall agree upon in writing. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by it. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
The Company shall indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee (including the cost of defending itself) against any loss, liability or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee) incurred by it except as set forth in the next paragraph in the performance of its duties under this Indenture as Trustee or Agent. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. 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.
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.
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To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.4, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(e) or (f) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture.
Section 7.8. Replacement of Trustee.
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company at least 30 days prior to the date of the proposed resignation. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
(a) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
(b) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(c) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(d) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
If the Trustee resigns or is removed with respect to the Securities of a Series or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of such Series may appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such Series to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.7, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture. A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series and, if any Bearer Securities are outstanding, publish such notice on one occasion in an Authorized Newspaper. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.8, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
Section 7.9. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee.
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Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1) and (2) and does not violate the prohibitions in TIA § 310(a)(5). The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated.
ARTICLE
VIII.
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
Section 8.1. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may at any time elect to have either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof be applied to all outstanding Securities of any Series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article VIII.
Section 8.2. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.2, the Company and each Guarantor, if any, of such Securities will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its or their obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities of such Series (including the related guarantees, if any) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company and such Guarantors will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities of such Series (including the related guarantees, if any), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.5 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its or their other obligations under such Securities, such guarantees, if any, and this Indenture (and the Trustee for such Securities, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities of such Series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, or interest or premium, if any, on, such Securities when such payments are due solely out of the trust referred to in Section 8.4 hereof;
(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Article II hereof;
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee for such Securities hereunder and the Company’s and the Guarantors’, if any, obligations in connection therewith; and
(d) this Article VIII.
Subject to compliance with this Article VIII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.3 hereof.
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Section 8.3. Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, the Company and each of the Guarantors, if any, will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, be released from each of its or their obligations under the covenants contained in Sections 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.6 and 4.7, Section 5.1, and covenants specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.2, with respect to the outstanding Securities of the applicable Series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and such Securities will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders of such Securities (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities will not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of such Series, the Company may omit to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply will not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1 hereof, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.3, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.4 hereof, Section 6.1(c) hereof will not constitute an Event of Default.
Section 8.4. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof with respect to Securities of any Series:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee for such Securities, in trust, solely for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, cash in Dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, the outstanding Securities of such Series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether such Securities are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.2 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee for such Securities an Opinion of Counsel confirming that:
(1) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
(2) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders and beneficial owners of the outstanding Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.3 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee for such Securities an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders and beneficial owners of such Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith);
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(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture) to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound (other than that resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith);
(f) the Company must deliver to the Trustee for such Securities an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of such Securities over the other creditors of the Company with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any creditors of the Company or others; and
(g) the Company must deliver to the Trustee for such Securities an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which opinion of counsel may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
Section 8.5. Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to Section 8.6 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.5, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof in respect of the outstanding Securities of any Series will be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Securities of the applicable Series.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article VIII to the contrary, the Trustee will deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.4 hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.6. Repayment to Company.
Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Series of Securities and remaining unclaimed for one year after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the Holders of such Securities will thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
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Section 8.7. Reinstatement.
If, in connection with a Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any Dollars or non-callable Government Securities in accordance with Section 8.5, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s and any applicable Guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the applicable Securities and the guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.2 or 8.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.5; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of or interest on any such Securities following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE
IX.
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
Section 9.1. Without Consent of Holders.
Notwithstanding Section 9.2 of this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
(a) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
(c) to provide for the assumption of the Company’s obligations to the Holders of the Securities by a successor to the Company pursuant to Article V hereof;
(d) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any Series of Securities outstanding hereunder;
(e) to secure the Securities pursuant to the requirements of any covenant on liens in respect of such series of Securities or otherwise;
(f) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, or to add any new provision to this Indenture, in respect of one or more series of Securities; provided, however, that any such change, elimination or addition (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security outstanding on the date of such indenture supplemental hereto nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision in effect prior to the date of such indenture supplemental hereto or (B) shall become effective only when no Security of such series remains outstanding;
(g) to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the Holders of Securities or that does not adversely affect the Holders’ rights hereunder in any material respect;
(h) to comply with requirements of the SEC in order to effect or maintain the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(i) to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;
(j) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more Series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee;
(k) to add an additional Guarantor or obligor under this Indenture; or
(l) to conform any provision of this Indenture, the Securities of any Series or any related guarantees or security documents to the description of such Securities contained in the Company’s prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum or similar document with respect to the offering of the Securities of such Series to the extent that such description was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision in the Indenture, such Securities or any related guarantees or security documents.
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Upon the request of the Company and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 12.4 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.2. With Consent of Holders.
The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series. Except as provided in Section 6.4, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series by notice to the Trustee (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. Upon the request of the Company and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Securities as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 12.4 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.
After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby and, if any Bearer Securities affected thereby are outstanding, publish on one occasion in an Authorized Newspaper, a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver. Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
Section 9.3. Limitations.
Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment, supplement or waiver may not (with respect to any Securities held by a non-consenting Holder):
(a) change the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest (including default interest) on any Security;
(c) reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
(d) reduce the principal amount of Discount Securities payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(e) waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
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(f) make the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security payable in any currency other than that stated in the Security;
(g) make any change in Sections 6.4, 6.7 or 9.3; or
(h) waive a redemption payment with respect to any Security.
Section 9.4. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.5. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
(a) Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder subject to Section 9.5(d) may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.
(b) An amendment, supplement or waiver effective in accordance with its terms will thereafter bind every Holder.
(c) For purposes of this Indenture, the consent of the Holder of a Global Security shall be deemed to include any consent delivered by any member of, or participant in, any Depository, any nominees thereof and their respective successors and assigns, or such other depository institution hereinafter appointed by the Company (“Depository Entity”) by electronic means in accordance with the Automated Tender Offer Procedures system or other customary procedures of, and pursuant to authorization by, such Depository Entity.
(d) The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders entitled to consent to any amendment, supplement or waiver. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the last sentence of the immediately preceding paragraph, those persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date. The Company shall inform the Trustee of the fixed record date, if applicable.
(e) Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (h) of Section 9.3. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
Section 9.6. Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment or waiver.
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Section 9.7. Trustee Protected.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE
X.
GUARANTEES
Section 10.1. Guarantees.
Any Series of Securities may be guaranteed by one or more of the Guarantors. The terms and the form of any such guarantee will be established in the manner contemplated by Section 2.2 for that particular Series of Securities.
ARTICLE
XI.
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
Section 11.1. Satisfaction and Discharge.
This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect as to a Series of Securities issued hereunder, when:
(a) either:
(i) all such Securities that have been authenticated, except lost, stolen or destroyed Securities that have been replaced or paid and Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid to the Company, have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all such Securities that have not been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise or will become due and payable within one year and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, cash in Dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal, premium, if any, and accrued interest to the date of maturity or redemption;
(b) no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith) and the deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other material instrument to which the Company or any Guarantor of such Securities is a party or by which the Company or any such Guarantor is bound (other than a breach, violation or default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit or the grant of any lien securing such borrowing or any similar and simultaneous deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of liens in connection therewith);
(c) the Company or any Guarantor of such Securities has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and
(d) the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee for such Securities under this Indenture to apply the deposited money toward the payment of such Securities at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.
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In addition, the Company must deliver an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee for such Securities stating that all conditions precedent to satisfaction and discharge have been satisfied, and all fees and expenses of the Trustee shall have been paid.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (ii) of clause (a) of this Section 11.1, the provisions of Sections 11.2 and 8.6 hereof will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 11.1 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.7 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
Section 11.2. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.6 hereof, all money or Government Securities deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.1 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities with respect to with such deposit was made and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as such Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 11.1 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and any applicable Guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the applicable Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 11.1 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE
XII.
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 12.1. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
Section 12.2. Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the other, or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee, is duly given if in writing and (a) delivered in person, (b) mailed by first-class mail or overnight mail, (c) sent by overnight air courier with next Business Day delivery or (d) delivered electronically (in .pdf or similar format) if, in case of electronic notices, receipt is confirmed:
if to the Company:
PSQ
Holdings, Inc.
250 S. Australian Avenue, Suite 1300
West
Palm Beach, Florida 33401
Telephone No.: (877) 776-2402
Facsimile No.: (___) ___-____
Attention: James M. Giudice
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With a copy to:
Nelson
Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP
101 Constitution Avenue NW, Suite 900
Washington,
DC 20001
Telephone No.: (202) 689-2800
Facsimile No.: ((202) 689-2952
Attention: Jonathan H. Talcott
if to the Trustee:
[Name
of Trustee]
[Address of Trustee]
Telephone No.:
Facsimile No.:
Attention: _________
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) will be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier for next Business Day delivery; and when receipt is confirmed, if delivered electronically.
Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar and, if any Bearer Securities are outstanding, published in an Authorized Newspaper, unless otherwise provided with respect to the applicable Series. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.
If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Where the Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depository for such Global Security (or its designee), pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depository, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.
Section 12.3. Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
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Section 12.4. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers’ Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.
Section 12.5. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.5 hereof and TIA § 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and shall include:
(a) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) 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;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
Section 12.6. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series. Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 12.7. Legal Holidays.
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, a “Legal Holiday” is any day that is not a Business Day. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
Section 12.8. No Recourse Against Others.
No past, present or future director, officer, stockholder or employee, as such, of the Company or any successor corporation shall have any liability for any obligation of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. Each Holder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.
Section 12.9. Counterparts.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
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Section 12.10. Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury.
THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND ANY GUARANTEES OF THE SECURITIES. EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED THEREBY.
Section 12.11. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt or other agreement of the Company or its Subsidiaries or of any other person. Any such indenture, loan or debt or other agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
Section 12.12. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
Section 12.13. Severability.
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 12.14. Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 12.15. Securities in a Foreign Currency.
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.2 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars, then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time. For purposes of this Section 12.15, “Market Exchange Rate” shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York as of the most recent available date, or quotations from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question or such other quotations as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate. The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, to the extent permitted by law, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.
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ARTICLE
XIII.
SINKING FUNDS
Section 13.1. Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article XIII shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment” and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 13.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the Securities of such Series.
Section 13.2. Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (a) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (b) apply as a credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been repurchased by the Company or redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received by the Trustee, together with an Officers’ Certificate with respect thereto, not later than 15 days prior to the date on which the Trustee begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 13.2, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
Section 13.3. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 45 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 13.2, and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 30 days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.3. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 3.4, 3.5 and 3.6.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| PSQ HOLDINGS, INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| [TRUSTEE] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
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Exhibit 5.1
 |
NELSON MULLINS RILEY & SCARBOROUGH LLP ATTORNEYS AND COUNSELORS AT LAW |
|
101 Constitution Ave, NW, Suite 900 Washington, DC 20001 T: 202.689.2800 F: 202.689.2860 nelsonmullins.com | |
| May 9, 2025 |
PSQ HOLDINGS, INC.
313 Datura Street, Suite 200
West Palm Beach, Florida 33401
| RE: | Shelf Registration Statement of PSQ Holdings, Inc. on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to PSQ Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (including the prospectus constituting a part thereof (the “Prospectus”)) (the “Registration Statement”) by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Registration Statement, including the Prospectus (as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements) will provide for the registration by the Company of the sale of:
| (i) | shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”) of the Company (“Prospectus Shares”); |
| (ii) | shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), in one or more series; |
| (iii) | debt securities of the Company (the “Debt Securities”), in one or more series that will be issued under one or more indentures (each, an “Indenture”) between the Company and a trustee to be named therein (the “Trustee”); |
| (iv) | warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”) that will be issued under one or more warrant agreements (each, a “Warrant Agreement”) between the Company and a warrant agent to be named therein (the “Warrant Agent”); |
| (v) | rights to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (“Rights”) as may be designated at the time of the offering at a future date or dates that will be issued under one or more purchase agreements (each, a “Rights Agreement”) between the Company and a rights agent to be named therein (the “Rights Agent”); and |
| (vi) | units consisting of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Rights or any combination of the foregoing (the “Units”), that will be issued under one or more unit agreements (each, a “Unit Agreement”) between the Company and a unit agent to be named therein (the “Unit Agent”). |
CALIFORNIA | COLORADO | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA | FLORIDA | GEORGIA | ILLINOIS | MARYLAND | MASSACHUSETTS | MINNESOTA
NEW YORK | NORTH CAROLINA | OHIO | PENNSYLVANIA | SOUTH CAROLINA | TENNESSEE | TEXAS | VIRGINIA | WEST VIRGINIA
The Prospectus Shares, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Rights, and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act.
For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of such agreements, instruments and documents as we have deemed relevant and necessary to form a basis on which to render the opinions hereinafter expressed. In such examination, we have assumed (i) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (ii) the legal power and authority of all persons signing on behalf of other parties, (iii) the genuineness of all signatures, (iv) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (v) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, facsimile, conformed, digitally scanned or photostatic copies and (vi) the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents. In making our examination of documents executed or to be executed, we have assumed that the parties thereto other than the Company had or will have the requisite power to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity and binding effect of such documents on such parties. As to facts material to the opinions, statements and assumptions expressed herein, we have, with your consent, relied upon oral or written statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company, public officials and others. We have not independently verified such factual matters.
This opinion letter is based as to matters of law solely on the applicable provisions of the federal laws of the United States and the laws of the States of Delaware and New York that, in our experience, are applicable to the Securities (but not including any laws, statutes, ordinances, administrative decisions, rules or regulations of any political subdivision of either of the State of Delaware or New York). We express no opinion herein as to any other laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations (and in particular, we express no opinion as to any effect that such laws, statutes, ordinances, rules or regulations may have on the opinions expressed herein).
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions, limitations and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
| 1. | The Prospectus Shares (including any Prospectus Shares duly issued (i) upon the exchange or conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock that are exchangeable for or convertible into Common Stock, (ii) upon the exchange or conversion of Debt Securities which are exchangeable or convertible into Common Stock, (iii) upon the exercise of any duly issued Warrants exercisable for Common Stock, (iv) pursuant to a Right or (v) as a component of a Unit), upon issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) for such Common Stock against payment therefor of such lawful consideration as the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) (or a duly authorized committee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
| 2. | The Preferred Stock (including any Preferred Stock duly issued (i) upon the exchange or conversion of any shares of Preferred Stock that are exchangeable or convertible into another series of Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the exchange or conversion of Debt Securities that are exchangeable or convertible into Preferred Stock, (iii) upon the exercise of any duly issued Warrants exercisable for Preferred Stock, (iv) pursuant to a Right or (v) as a component of a Unit), upon issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) for such Preferred Stock against payment therefor of such lawful consideration as the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
| 3. | The Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued (i) upon the exercise of any duly issued Warrants exercisable for Debt Securities, (ii) pursuant to a Right or (iii) as a component of a Unit), upon (x) due execution and delivery of an Indenture relating thereto on behalf of the Company and the Trustee named therein and due authentication of the Debt Securities by such Trustee, and (y) issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) for such Debt Securities against payment therefor of such lawful consideration as the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof), will be validly issued and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms. |
| 4. | The Warrants, upon their issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) for such Warrants against payment therefor of such lawful consideration as the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued and constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms. |
2
| 5. | The Rights, upon their issuance and delivery of certificates (or book-entry notation if uncertificated) for such Rights against payment therefor of such lawful consideration therefor as the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the Rights that they represent and in the Rights Agreement pursuant to which they are issued. |
| 6. | The Units, upon receipt by the Company of such lawful consideration therefor as the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) may determine, will be validly issued, constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in the Unit Agreement pursuant to which they are issued. |
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 (A) resolutions duly adopted by the Board (or a duly authorized committee thereof) (each, a “Board Action”), (B) the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the “Charter”) and (C) applicable law; (iv) the Company will issue and deliver the Securities in the manner contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the applicable Prospectus Supplement and any applicable underwriting, purchase or similar agreement; (v) any Securities issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security will have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance, in each case within the limits of the then remaining authorized but unreserved and unissued amounts of such Securities; (vi) the total number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock issuable (including upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Security) will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, as the case may be, that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter; (vii) the Board Action authorizing the Company to issue, offer and sell the Securities will have been adopted by the Board (or a duly 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 (viii) all Securities will be issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws.
With respect to any Securities consisting of any series of Preferred Stock, we have further assumed that appropriate certificate of amendment to the Charter establishing the designations, preferences, rights and other terms of such series of Preferred Stock being issued and delivered shall have been duly approved by the Board and filed with and accepted for record by the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Debt Securities, we have further assumed that (i) an Indenture relating to such Debt Securities shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and the Trustee in substantially the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; (ii) all terms of such Debt Securities not provided for in such Indenture shall have been established in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and reflected in appropriate documentation approved by us and, if applicable, executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee; (iii) the Company has filed respective Forms T-1 for the Trustee with the Commission and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (iv) such Debt Securities shall have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Indenture; (v) such Debt Securities, as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company (including, without limitation, laws regulating the maximum rate of interest rate payable on the Debt Securities) or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (vi) such Debt Securities, as executed and delivered, comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, in any case whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
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With respect to any Securities consisting of Warrants, we have further assumed that (i) such Warrants will be issued and delivered after due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company of a Warrant Agreement, approved by us, relating to the Warrants; (ii) all terms of such Warrants shall have been established in accordance with the provisions of such Warrant Agreement(s); (iii) such Warrants shall have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Warrant Agreement(s); (iv) such Warrants and the related Warrant Agreement(s), as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (v) such Warrants and the related Warrant Agreement(s), as executed and delivered, comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, in any case whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Rights, we have further assumed that (i) such Rights will be issued and delivered after due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company of a Rights Agreement, approved by us, relating to the Rights; (ii) all terms of such Rights shall have been established in accordance with the provisions of such Rights Agreement(s); (iii) such Rights shall have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Rights Agreement(s); (iv) such Rights and the related Rights Agreement(s), as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (v) such Rights and the related Rights Agreement(s), as executed and delivered, comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, in any case whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
With respect to any Securities consisting of Units, we have further assumed that (i) each component of such Units will be duly authorized, validly issued and fully paid (to the extent applicable) as contemplated by the Registration Statement and the applicable Unit Agreement, if any; (ii) such Units will be issued and delivered after due authorization, execution and delivery by the Company of a Unit Agreement relating to the Units; (iii) all terms of such Units shall have been established in accordance with the provisions of such Unit Agreement(s); (iv) such Units shall have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of such Unit Agreement(s); (v) such Units and the related Unit Agreement(s), as executed and delivered, do not violate any law applicable to the Company or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company; and (vi) such Units and the related Unit Agreement(s), as executed and delivered, comply with all requirements and restrictions, if any, applicable to the Company, in any case whether imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company.
To the extent that the obligations of the Company with respect to the Securities may depend on such matters, we further have assumed for purposes of this opinion letter that (i) any Trustee, Warrant Agent, Rights Agent or Unit Agent (x) is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of organization and; and (y) will be duly qualified to engage in the activities contemplated by such Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Rights Agreement or Unit Agreement, as applicable; (ii) any Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Rights Agreement or Unit Agreement, as applicable, will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Trustee, Warrant Agent, Rights Agent or Unit Agent, as applicable, and will constitute the legally valid and binding obligation of such party enforceable against such party in accordance with its terms; (iii) such Trustee, Warrant Agent, Rights Agent or Unit Agent will be in compliance, with respect to the performance of its obligations under such Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Rights Agreement or Unit Agreement, as applicable, and with all applicable laws and regulations; and (iv) such Trustee, Warrant Agent, Rights Agent or Unit Agent will have the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under such Indenture, Warrant Agreement, Rights Agreement or Unit Agreement, as applicable.
4
The opinions set forth in numbered paragraphs 3 through 6 above, insofar as they relate to the valid and binding nature of obligations, may be limited by the following exceptions, limitations and qualifications: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, receivership, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors (including, without limitation, the effect of statutory and other law regarding fraudulent conveyances, fraudulent transfers, preferential transfers and voidable transactions); (ii) the exercise of judicial discretion and the application of general principles of equity (including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing and the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies), regardless of whether considered in a proceeding at law or in equity, and (iii) the effect of public policy considerations that may limit the rights of the parties to obtain further remedies. The opinions rendered herein do not include opinions with respect to compliance with laws relating to permissible rates of interest.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter with the Commission as an exhibit 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 Prospectus 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.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP | |
| Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough LLP |
5
Exhibit 23.1
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of PSQ Holdings, Inc. (the “Company”) on Form S-3 of our report dated March 13, 2025, with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2024. We also consent to the reference to our Firm under the heading “Experts” in such Registration Statement.
Melville, NY
May 9, 2025
An Independent Member of Urbach Hacker Young International