United States Antimony Corp S-3, filed Jan 14, 2022
United States Antimony Corp (UAMY)
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 14, 2022
Registration No. 333-_______
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
| United States Antimony Corporation |
| (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) |
| Montana |
| 81-0305822 |
| (State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
| (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
47 Cox Gulch
P.O. Box 643
Thompson Falls, Montana 59873
(406) 827-3523
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices)
John Gustavsen
Interim Chief Executive Officer
49 Steamboat Way
Thompson Falls, Montana 59873
(406) 827-3523
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
Copies to:
M. Ali Panjwani, Esq.
Michael T. Campoli, Esq.
Pryor Cashman LLP
7 Times Square
New York, New York 10036
(212) 326-0820
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
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, or a smaller reporting 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 ☒ |
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| 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. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
| Title of Each Class of Securities To Be Registered(1) |
| Amount |
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| Proposed |
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| Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share |
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| Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share |
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| Debt Securities |
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| Warrants |
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| Rights |
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| TOTAL |
| $ | 25,000,000 |
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| N/A |
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| $ | 25,000,000 |
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| $ | 2,727.50 |
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| (1) | There are being registered under this Registration Statement such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock, such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities, such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities, such indeterminate number of rights to purchase common stock or preferred stock and such indeterminate number of units as may be sold by the Registrant from time to time, which together shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $25,000,000. If the Registrant issues any debt securities at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount at maturity as shall result in an aggregate offering price not to exceed $25,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder. The Registrant may sell any securities it is registering under this Registration Statement separately or as units with the other securities it is registering under this Registration Statement. The Registrant will determine, from time to time, the proposed maximum offering price per unit in connection with its issuance of the securities it is registering under this Registration Statement. The securities it is registering under this Registration Statement also include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock and such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities as the Registrant may issue upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock or debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants or rights or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any of such securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), the shares the Registrant is registering under this Registration Statement include such indeterminate number of shares of common stock and preferred stock as may be issuable with respect to the shares the Registrant is registering as a result of stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. |
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| (2) | The Registrant will determine the proposed maximum aggregate offering price per class of security from time to time in connection with its issuance of the securities the Registrant is registering under this Registration Statement and the Registrant is not specifying such price as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. |
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| (3) | Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act, which permits the registration fee to be calculated on the basis of the maximum aggregate offering price of all securities listed. |
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 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JANUARY 14, 2022
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION
$25,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Rights
Units
We may offer from time to time shares of our common stock, preferred stock, senior debt securities (which may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock), subordinated debt securities (which may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock), warrants, rights and units that include any of these securities. The aggregate initial offering price of the securities sold under this prospectus will not exceed $25,000,000. We will offer the securities in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of the offering.
Each time we sell securities hereunder, we will attach a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the terms of the offering, including the price at which we are offering the securities to the public. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained or incorporated in this prospectus. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you in connection with these offerings. You should read this prospectus, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the applicable prospectus supplement and any applicable free writing prospectus carefully before you invest in our securities.
The securities hereunder may be offered directly by us, through agents designated from time to time by us or to or through underwriters or dealers. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the section entitled “About This Prospectus” for more information.
Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “UAMY”. The last reported sales price of our common stock on the NYSE American on January 7, 2022 was $0.50 per share.
Investing in our securities involves certain risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page __ of this prospectus and in the applicable prospectus supplement, as updated in our future filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should carefully read and consider these risk factors 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 passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is January 12, 2022
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The distribution of this prospectus may be restricted by law in certain jurisdictions. You should inform yourself about and observe any of these restrictions. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to sell, or solicitations of offers to purchase, the securities offered by this document are unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the offer presented in this prospectus does not extend to you.
We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about us that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this prospectus, including in any of the materials that we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectus prepared or authorized by us. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it as authorized by us. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.
You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus is accurate on any date subsequent to the date set forth on the front of the document or that any information we have incorporated by reference is correct on any date subsequent to the date of the document incorporated by reference, even though this prospectus and any accompanying supplement to this prospectus is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Neither the delivery of this prospectus, nor any sale made hereunder, shall under any circumstances create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date hereof or that the information incorporated by reference herein is correct as of any time subsequent to the date of such information.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold under this prospectus will not exceed $25,000,000.
This prospectus provides certain general information about the securities that we may offer hereunder. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering and the offered securities. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings. In each prospectus supplement, we will include the following information:
| ● | the number and type of securities that we propose to sell; |
| ● | the public offering price; |
| ● | the names of any underwriters, agents or dealers through or to which the securities will be sold; |
| ● | any compensation of those underwriters, agents or dealers; |
| ● | any additional risk factors applicable to the securities or our business and operations; and |
| ● | any other material information about the offering and sale of the securities. |
In addition, the prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. The prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will supersede this prospectus to the extent it contains information that is different from, or that conflicts with, the information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. You should read and consider all information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, in making your investment decision. You should also read and consider the information contained in the documents identified under the heading “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” and “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.
We further note that the representations, warranties and covenants made by us in any agreement that is filed as an exhibit to any document that is incorporated by reference in this prospectus were made solely for the benefit of the parties to such agreement, including, in some cases, for the purpose of allocating risk among the parties to such agreements, and should not be deemed to be a representation, warranty or covenant to you. Moreover, such representations, warranties or covenants were accurate only as of the date when made. Accordingly, such representations, warranties and covenants should not be relied on as accurately representing the current state of our affairs.
Unless the context otherwise required, “United States Antimony Corporation,” “UAMY,” “USAC,” “the Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and similar terms refer to United States Antimony Corporation and its subsidiaries.
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Some of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and may involve material risks, assumptions and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “believe,” “might,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “estimate” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently.
Although we believe that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, these statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and which may cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly release the results of any revision or update of these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. If we do update or correct one or more forward-looking statements, you should not conclude that we will make additional updates or corrections with respect thereto or with respect to other forward-looking statements. A detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and events to differ materially from our forward-looking statements is included in our periodic reports filed with the SEC and in the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus.
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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 deciding to invest in our company. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, including the information in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
Overview
United States Antimony Corporation, or USAC, was incorporated in Montana in January 1970 to mine and produce antimony products. In December 1983, we suspended antimony mining operations but continued to produce antimony products from domestic and foreign sources. In April 1998, we formed United States Antimony SA de CV or USAMSA, to mine and smelt antimony in Mexico. Bear River Zeolite Company, or BRZ, was incorporated in 2000, and it is mining and producing zeolite in southeastern Idaho. On August 19, 2005, USAC formed Antimonio de Mexico, S. A. de C. V. to explore and develop antimony, silver and gold deposits in Mexico. Our principal business is the production and sale of antimony, silver, gold and zeolite products. On May 16, 2012, we started trading on the NYSE MKT (now NYSE AMERICAN) under the symbol UAMY.
Corporate Information
Our corporate offices are located at 47 Cox Gulch, P.O. Box 643, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873. Our telephone number is (406) 827-3523. Our Internet address is www.usantimony.com. On this web site, we post the following filings as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”): our Annual Reports on Form 10-K; our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q; our Current Reports on Form 8-K; our proxy statements related to our annual stockholders’ meetings; and any amendments to those reports or statements. All such filings are available on our web site free of charge. We do not incorporate the information on or accessible through our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website as a part of this prospectus. Our company is a “smaller reporting company” as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act, and we have elected to take advantage of certain of the scaled disclosure available to smaller reporting companies under the Exchange Act.
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making any investment decision, you should carefully consider the risk factors set forth below, the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement, any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you and the information under the caption “Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act.
These risks could materially affect our business, results of operation or financial condition and affect the value of our securities. Additional risks and uncertainties that are not yet identified may also materially harm our business, operating results and financial condition and could result in a complete loss of your investment. You could lose all or part of your investment. For more information, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Risks Related to Our Securities and the Offering
Future sales or other dilution of our equity could depress the market price of our common stock.
Sales of our common stock, preferred stock, warrants, rights or convertible debt securities, or any combination of the foregoing, in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could negatively impact the price of our common stock.
In addition, the issuance of additional shares of our common stock, securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock, other equity-linked securities, including preferred stock, warrants or rights or any combination of these securities pursuant to this prospectus will dilute the ownership interest of our common shareholders and could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.
We may need to seek additional capital. If this additional financing is obtained through the issuance of equity securities, debt securities convertible into equity securities or options, warrants or rights to acquire equity securities, our existing shareholders could experience significant dilution upon the issuance, conversion or exercise of such securities.
Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the proceeds we receive from the sale our securities pursuant to this prospectus and might not apply the proceeds in ways that increase the value of your investment.
Our management will have broad discretion to use the net proceeds from any offerings under this prospectus, and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of these proceeds. Except as described in any prospectus supplement or in any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you, the net proceeds received by us from our sale of the securities described in this prospectus will be added to our general funds and will be used for general corporate purposes. Our management might not apply the net proceeds from offerings of our securities in ways that increase the value of your investment and might not be able to yield a significant return, if any, on any investment of such net proceeds. You may not have the opportunity to influence our decisions on how to use such proceeds.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
If we offer debt securities and/or preference equity securities under this prospectus, we will, if required at that time, provide a ratio of earnings to fixed charges and/or ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends to earnings, respectively, in the applicable prospectus supplement for such offering.
Except as may be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you, we intend to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, repayment of debt, repurchases of common stock, capital expenditures, the financing of possible acquisitions or business expansions, increasing our working capital and the financing of ongoing operating expenses and overhead.
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The following is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock and certain provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws as amended and restated to date. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our articles of incorporation and our bylaws, each as amended and restated to date, and the applicable provisions of the Montana Business Corporation Act, or the Montana Act. See “Where You Can Find More Information” elsewhere in this prospectus for information on where you can obtain copies of our articles of incorporation and our bylaws, which have been filed with, and are publicly available from, the SEC.
Our articles of incorporation, as amended and restated to date, authorize us to issue up to 150,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share. As of September 30, 2021, we had 106,117,844 shares of common stock outstanding, 750,000 shares of Series B preferred stock outstanding (non-convertible), 177,904 shares of Series C preferred stock outstanding (non-convertible), 1,751,005 shares of Series D preferred stock outstanding (convertible to common stock on a 1:1 basis), and outstanding warrants to purchase up to 12,489,922 shares of common stock.
We are authorized to issue up to 150,000,000 shares of common stock. As of September 30, 2021, we had 106,117,844 shares of common stock outstanding. Our common stock is listed for trading on NYSE American under the symbol “UAMY.” The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Direct Transfer, LLC, Issuer Direct Corporation, One Glenwood Avenue, Suite 1001, Raleigh, North Carolina 27603.
Shares of our common stock have the following rights, preferences and privileges:
Voting
Each holder of common stock is entitled to one vote for each share of common stock held on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Any action at a meeting at which a quorum is present will be decided by a majority of the voting power present in person or represented by proxy, except in the case of any election of directors, which will be decided by a plurality of votes cast. Cumulative voting is allowed.
Dividends
Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for payment, subject to the rights of holders, if any, of any class of stock having preference over the common stock. Any decision to pay dividends on our common stock will be at the discretion of our board of directors. Our board of directors may or may not determine to declare dividends in the future. The board’s determination to issue dividends will depend upon our profitability and financial condition, any contractual restrictions, restrictions imposed by applicable law and the SEC, and other factors that our board of directors deems relevant.
Liquidation Rights
In the event of a voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the company, the holders of our common stock will be entitled to share ratably on the basis of the number of shares held in any of the assets available for distribution after we have paid in full, or provided for payment of, all of our debts and after the holders of all outstanding series of any class of stock that have preference over the common stock, if any, have received their liquidation preferences in full.
Other
Our issued and outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and non-assessable, and the shares of our common stock that may be offered, from time to time, under this prospectus will be fully paid and non-assessable. Holders of shares of our common stock are not entitled to preemptive rights. Shares of our common stock are not convertible into shares of any other class of capital stock, nor are they subject to any redemption or sinking fund provisions.
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
Our board of directors has the authority to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to determine the rights and preferences of the shares of any such series without stockholder approval. Our board of directors may issue preferred stock in one or more series and has the authority to fix the designation and powers, rights and preferences and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions with respect to each class or series of such class without further vote or action by the stockholders, unless action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange on which our securities may be listed. The ability of our board of directors 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. Further, our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing the market price of our common stock.
As of September 30, 2021, we had 750,000 shares of Series B preferred stock outstanding (non-convertible), 177,904 shares of Series C preferred stock outstanding (non-convertible), and 1,751,005 shares of Series D preferred stock outstanding (convertible to common stock on a 1:1 basis).
Shares of our Series B, Series C and Series D preferred stock have the following rights, preferences and privileges:
Voting
Our Series B preferred stock is non-voting, except if and when dividends payable on any of the Series B preferred stock is in default. Holders of our Series C preferred stock have the right to that number of votes equal to the number of shares of common stock issuable upon conversion of such Series C shares, and holders of our Series D preferred stock may vote equally with the shares of our common stock and not as a separate class, and each holder of shares of Series D preferred stock is entitled to such number of votes as shall be equal to the whole number of shares of common stock into which such holder’s aggregate number of shares of Series D preferred stock are convertible immediately after the close of business on the record date fixed for such meeting or the effective date of such written consent.
Dividends and Liquidation Rights
Holders of our Series B preferred stock are entitled to receive out of the net profits of our company, when and if declared by our Board of Directors, cumulative dividends at the annual rate of one cent ($0.01) per share, payable on the 31st day of December. In the event of the liquidation of our company, holders of our Series B preferred stock shall be entitled to receive, subject to the preference of the holders of our Series A preferred stock, $1.00 per share plus all accumulated dividends before any amounts shall be distributed among the holders of our common stock.
Holders of our C preferred stock have no dividend rights. In the event of any liquidation or winding up of our company, the holders of Series C shares shall be entitled to receive in preference to the holders of common stock an amount per share equal to $0.55, subject to the preferences of the holders of our outstanding Series B preferred stock.
Holders of our Series D preferred stock have no dividend rights. In the event of (i) any merger, sale, liquidation, or winding up of our company, or (ii) any sale of all or substantially all of our assets (including subsidiaries, joint ventures, or partnerships), or (iii) any other corporate change as defined in our articles of incorporation, the holders of Series D preferred stock are entitled to be paid out of the assets of our company in preferences to the holders of common stock but after payment and satisfaction of the liquidation preferences of the holders of our outstanding Series B and Series C preferred stock, an amount per share equal to the greater of $2.50 or the equivalent market value of the number of shares of common stock into which each share of Series D preferred is convertible. Additional rights for holders of Series D preferred stock are outlined in tour articles of incorporation.
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We will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of any certificate of designation (or amendment of our articles of incorporation) that describes the terms of the series of preferred stock we are offering before the issuance of that series of preferred stock. This description will include, but not be limited to, the following:
| ● | the title and stated value; |
| ● | the number of shares we are offering; |
| ● | the liquidation preference per share; |
| ● | the purchase price; |
| ● | the dividend rate, period and payment date and method of calculation for dividends; |
| ● | whether dividends will be cumulative or non-cumulative and, if cumulative, the date from which dividends will accumulate; |
| ● | the provisions for a sinking fund, if any; |
| ● | the provisions for redemption or repurchase, if applicable, and any restrictions on our ability to exercise those redemption and repurchase rights; |
| ● | whether the preferred stock will be convertible into our common stock, and, if applicable, the conversion price, or how it will be calculated, and the conversion period; |
| ● | whether the preferred stock will be exchangeable into debt securities, and, if applicable, the exchange price, or how it will be calculated, and the exchange period; |
| ● | voting rights, if any, of the preferred stock; |
| ● | preemptive rights, if any; |
| ● | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
| ● | a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the preferred stock; |
| ● | the relative ranking and preferences of the preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; |
| ● | any limitations on the issuance of any class or series of preferred stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the series of preferred stock as to dividend rights and rights if we liquidate, dissolve or wind up our affairs; and |
| ● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock. |
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. When we offer to sell debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of any debt securities offered from time to time in a supplement to this prospectus, which may supplement or change the terms outlined below. Senior debt securities will be issued under one or more senior indentures, dated as of a date prior to such issuance, between us and a trustee to be named in a prospectus supplement, as amended or supplemented from time to time. Any subordinated debt securities will be issued under one or more subordinated indentures, dated as of a date prior to such issuance, between us and a trustee to be named in a prospectus supplement, as amended or supplemented from time to time. The indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
Before we issue any debt securities, the form of indentures will be filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K. For the complete terms of the debt securities, you should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement and the form of indentures for those particular debt securities. We encourage you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and the form of indenture for those particular debt securities before you purchase any of our debt securities.
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of debt securities being offered, including:
| ● | the title; |
| ● | whether or not such debt securities are guaranteed; |
| ● | the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding; |
| ● | any limit on the amount that may be issued; |
| ● | whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, the terms and who the depositary will be; |
| ● | the maturity date; |
| ● | the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates; |
| ● | whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt; |
| ● | the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt; |
| ● | the place where payments will be payable; |
| ● | restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any; |
| ● | our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period; |
| ● | the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemption provisions; |
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| ● | the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable; |
| ● | any restrictions on our ability and/or the ability of our subsidiaries to: |
| ● | incur additional indebtedness; |
| ● | issue additional securities; |
| ● | create liens; |
| ● | pay dividends and make distributions in respect of our capital stock and the capital stock of our subsidiaries; |
| ● | redeem capital stock; |
| ● | place restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets; |
| ● | make investments or other restricted payments; |
| ● | sell or otherwise dispose of assets; |
| ● | enter into sale-leaseback transactions; |
| ● | engage in transactions with stockholders and affiliates; |
| ● | issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; or |
| ● | effect a consolidation or merger; |
| ● | whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios; |
| ● | a discussion of any material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities; |
| ● | information describing any book-entry features; |
| ● | provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any; |
| ● | the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities; |
| ● | the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; and |
| ● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided with respect to the debt securities, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations. |
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Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.
We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of warrant agreement, including a form of warrant certificate, that describes the terms of the particular series of warrants we are offering before the issuance of the related series of warrants. The following summaries of material provisions of the warrants and the warrant agreements are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of warrants that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as any related free writing prospectuses, and the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.
General
We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants being offered, including:
| ● | the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered; |
| ● | the currency for which the warrants may be purchased; |
| ● | if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security; |
| ● | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable; |
| ● | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at which, and the currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| ● | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise; |
| ● | the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants; |
| ● | the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants; |
| ● | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; |
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| ● | the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire; |
| ● | the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified; |
| ● | a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants; |
| ● | the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and |
| ● | any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants. |
Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:
| ● | in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or |
| ● | in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any. |
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to the specified time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.
If any warrants represented by the warrant certificate are not exercised, we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.
Enforceability of Rights By Holders of Warrants
Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action the holder’s right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants in accordance with their terms.
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We may issue rights to purchase our common stock or preferred stock, in one or more series. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with any rights offering to our stockholders, we may enter into a standby underwriting arrangement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which such underwriters will purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed after such rights offering. In connection with a rights offering to our stockholders, we will distribute certificates evidencing the rights and a prospectus supplement to our stockholders on the record date that we set for receiving rights in such rights offering. The applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus will describe the following terms of rights in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
| ● | the title of such rights; |
| ● | the securities for which such rights are exercisable; |
| ● | the exercise price for such rights; |
| ● | the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution; |
| ● | the number of such rights issued to each security holder; |
| ● | the extent to which such rights are transferable; |
| ● | if applicable, a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of such rights; |
| ● | the date on which the right to exercise such rights shall commence, and the date on which such rights shall expire (subject to any extension); |
| ● | the conditions to completion of the rights offering; |
| ● | any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the rights; |
| ● | the extent to which such rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; |
| ● | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or other purchase arrangement that we may enter into in connection with the rights offering; and |
| ● | any other terms of such rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such rights. |
Each right will entitle the holder thereof the right to purchase for cash such amount of shares of common stock or preferred stock, or any combination thereof, at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the prospectus supplement relating to the rights offered thereby. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date for such rights set forth in the prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void. Rights may be exercised as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the rights offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the proper completion and due execution of the rights certificate at the office of the rights agent, if any, or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the shares of common stock and/or preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. We may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue, in one more series, units consisting of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities and/or warrants or rights for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and/or debt securities in any combination.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
| ● | the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be separately traded; |
| ● | the terms and conditions applicable to the units, including a description of the terms of any applicable unit agreement governing the units; and |
| ● | a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units. |
The securities covered by this prospectus may be offered and sold from time to time pursuant to one or more of the following methods:
| ● | through agents; |
| ● | to or through underwriters; |
| ● | to or through broker-dealers (acting as agent or principal); |
| ● | in “at the market offerings” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange, or otherwise; |
| ● | directly to purchasers, through a specific bidding or auction process or otherwise; or |
| ● | through a combination of any such methods of sale. |
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Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us, from the purchasers of the securities or from both us and the purchasers. Any underwriters, dealers, agents or other investors participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be “underwriters,” as that term is defined in the Securities Act, and compensation and profits received by them on sale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting commissions, as that term is defined in the rules promulgated under the Securities Act.
Each time securities are offered by this prospectus, the prospectus supplement, if required, will set forth:
| ● | the name of any underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities; |
| ● | the terms of the offering; |
| ● | any discounts concessions or commissions and other items constituting compensation received by the underwriters, broker-dealers or agents; |
| ● | any over-allotment option under which any underwriters may purchase additional securities from us; and |
| ● | any initial public offering price. |
The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The distribution of securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, by means of one or more of the following transactions, which may include cross or block trades:
| ● | transactions on the NYSE American or any other organized market where the securities may be traded; |
| ● | in the over-the-counter market; |
| ● | in negotiated transactions; |
| ● | under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments; or |
| ● | a combination of such methods of sale. |
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If underwriters are used in a sale, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions. Our securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. This prospectus and the prospectus supplement will be used by the underwriters to resell the shares of our securities.
If 5% or more of the net proceeds of any offering of our securities made under this prospectus will be received by a FINRA member participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA member, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Rule 5121.
To comply with the securities laws of certain states, if applicable, the securities offered by this prospectus will be offered and sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments they may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their respective affiliates, may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business. We will describe in the prospectus supplement naming the underwriter the nature of any such relationship.
Certain persons participating in the offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that such transactions may have on the price of the securities. For a description of these activities, see the information under the heading “Underwriting” in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The validity of the securities offered in this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Stoel Rives LLP, Boise, Idaho.
The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020 and 2019, and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2020, incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of Assure CPA, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information about us and our financial condition to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC instead of having to repeat the information in this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and later information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. This prospectus incorporates by reference any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, between the date of the filing of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement and the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:
| ● | our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, filed with the SEC on March 31, 2021; |
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| ● | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 14, 2021; |
| ● | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on August 16, 2021; |
| ● | our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on November 15, 2021; |
| ● | our Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the SEC on January 6, 2021, January 15, 2021, February 2, 2021, February 9, 2021, February 12, 2021, February 19, 2021, May 3, 2021, June 28, 2021, August 6, 2021 and December 3, 2021; and |
| ● | the description of our common stock contained in the registration statement on Form 8-A, filed on May 16, 2012, File No. 001-08675, and any other amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference all documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the effective time of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part and prior to the sale of all of the securities registered hereunder or the termination of the registration statement. Nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC.
Any statement contained in this prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement or in any other subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will furnish without charge to you, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, including exhibits to these documents. You should direct any requests for documents to United States Antimony Corporation, Attn: Corporate Secretary, 47 Cox Gulch, P.O. Box 643, Thompson Falls, Montana 59873.
Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract or other documents are not necessarily complete, and in each instance you are referred to the copy of the contract or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or incorporated herein, each such statement being qualified in all respects by such reference and the exhibits and schedules thereto.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC registering the securities that may be offered and sold hereunder. The registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, contains additional relevant information about us and these securities, as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, that we have not included in this prospectus. A copy of the registration statement can be obtained at the address set forth below or at the SEC’s website as noted below. You should read the registration statement, including any applicable prospectus supplement, for further information about us and these securities.
We are a public company and 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 http:/www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.
The following table sets forth all expenses payable by us in connection with the offering of our securities being registered hereby. All amounts shown are estimates except the SEC registration fee.
| SEC registration fee |
| $ | 2,727.50 |
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| Legal fees and expenses |
| * |
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| Accounting fees and expenses |
| * |
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| Printing and miscellaneous expenses |
| * |
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| Total expenses |
| $ | 2,727.50 |
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| * | Estimated expenses are presently not known and cannot be estimated. |
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Montana Business Corporation Act. As a Montana corporation, the Company is subject to the Montana Business Corporation Act (MCA 35-14-101 et seq., the “MBCA”), which provides mandatory indemnification by the Company for a director who was wholly successful in the defense of any proceeding to which the director was a party because the director was a director of the corporation. The MBCA also provides for (i) permissible indemnification in certain circumstances as provided under Section 35-14-851, (ii) an advance for expenses under Section 35-14-853, and (ii) court-ordered indemnification in certain circumstances as provided under Section 35-14-854. All other provisions of the MBCA governing indemnification apply to the Company except when the MBCA allows the Company’s Restated Articles of Incorporation as amended and/or Bylaws to govern.
Amended and Restated Bylaws. Our Bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers and provides a right of reimbursement or advancement of expenses as detailed further in our Bylaws.
Insurance Policies. The Company maintains directors’ and officers’ liability insurance in an amount of $2,000,000. We intend to maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, subject to certain exclusions.
The foregoing discussion of our Bylaws, insurance policies, and the MBCA is not intended to be exhaustive and is qualified in its entirety by such Bylaws, insurance policies, the MBCA or any other applicable law.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have 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.
We have entered into customary indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors, that provide them, in general, with customary indemnification in connection with their service to our company or on behalf of our company, subject to the limitations and conditions specified in such agreements.
At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees in which indemnification is sought, nor are we aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.
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Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Schedule
See the Exhibit Index attached to this registration statement and incorporated herein by reference.
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;
(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 the 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 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 periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in this 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 purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at the 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
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(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 a 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) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(i) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(ii) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
The registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 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.
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. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Thompson Falls, State of Montana, on the ____ day of January, 2022.
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| UNITED STATES ANTIMONY CORPORATION | ||
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| By: | /s/ John C. Gustavsen |
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| John C. Gustavsen |
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| Interim Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
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Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints John C. Gustavsen and Russell C. Lawrence as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including pre-effective and post-effective amendments) to this registration statement on Form S-3 and any subsequent registration statement that the registrant may hereafter file with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act to register additional securities in connection with this registration statement, and to file this registration statement, with all exhibits thereto, and 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 and necessary to be done in order to effectuate the same as fully, to all intents and purposes, as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
| Signature |
| Title |
| Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| /s/ John C. Gustavsen |
| Interim Chief Executive Officer |
|
|
| John C. Gustavsen |
| (Principal Executive Officer) |
| January 14, 2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| /s/ Kelly Stopher |
| Chief Financial Officer |
|
|
| Kelly Stopher |
| (Principal Financial Officer and |
| January 14, 2022 |
|
|
| Principal Accounting Officer) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| /s/ Blaise Aguirre, MD |
| Director |
| January 14, 2022 |
| Blaise Aguirre, MD |
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| /s/ Hartmut W. Baitis |
| Director |
| January 14, 2022 |
| Hartmut W. Baitis |
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| /s/ Russell C. Lawrence |
| Director |
| January 14, 2022 |
| Russell C. Lawrence |
|
| ||
|
|
|
|
|
|
| /s/ Lloyd Joseph Bardswich |
| Director |
| January 14, 2022 |
| Lloyd Joseph Bardswich |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| /s/ Christopher Park |
| Director |
| January 14, 2022 |
| Christopher Park |
|
|
|
|
| 21 |
| Table of Contents |
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit |
| Description |
| 1.1 |
| Form of Underwriting Agreement* |
| 3.1 |
| Second Restated Articles of Incorporation (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 15, 2021, and incorporated herein by reference) |
| 3.2 |
| Amended and Restated Bylaws (filed as Exhibit 3.02 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 20, 2012, and incorporated herein by reference) |
| 4.1 |
| Form of Certificate of Designations of Preferred Stock* |
| 4.2 |
| Form of Preferred Stock Certificate* |
|
| ||
| 4.4 |
| Form of Debt Security* |
| 4.5 |
| Form of Warrant Agreement, including form of Warrant, if any* |
| 4.6 |
| Form of Unit Agreement, including form of Unit Certificate, if any* |
| 4.7 |
| Form of Pledge Agreement* |
| 4.8 |
| Form of Rights Agreement, including form of Rights Certificate, if any* |
|
| ||
| 12.1 |
| Statement Regarding Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges* |
|
| Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm, Assure CPA, LLC** | |
| 23.2 |
| Consent of Stoel Rives LLP (included in legal opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)** |
| 24.1 |
| Powers of Attorney (included on signature page) |
| 25.1 |
| Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended*** |
| * | To be filed, if applicable, by amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| ** | Filed herewith |
|
|
|
| *** | To be filed, if necessary, separately under electronic form type “305B2* in accordance with Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. |
| 22 |
EXHIBIT 4.3
INDENTURE
Dated as of ____________, 20__
Between
United States Antimony Corporation,
as Issuer
And
[__________________________],
as Trustee
___________________
Debt Securities
____________________
TABLE OF CONTENTS
|
|
|
| Page |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE I | DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE |
| 1 |
|
| SECTION 1.01. | Definitions |
| 1 |
|
| SECTION 1.02. | Other Definitions |
| 3 |
|
| SECTION 1.03 | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act |
| 3 |
|
| SECTION 1.04 | Rules of Construction |
| 3 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE II | THE SECURITIES |
| 4 |
|
| SECTION 2.01 | Unlimited in Amount, Issuable in Series, Form and Dating |
| 4 |
|
| SECTION 2.02 | Execution and Authentication |
| 6 |
|
| SECTION 2.03 | Registrar and Paying Agent |
| 6 |
|
| SECTION 2.04 | Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust |
| 7 |
|
| SECTION 2.05 | Holder Lists |
| 7 |
|
| SECTION 2.06 | Registration of Transfer and Exchange |
| 7 |
|
| SECTION 2.07 | Replacement Securities |
| 7 |
|
| SECTION 2.08 | Outstanding Securities |
| 8 |
|
| SECTION 2.09 | Treasury Securities |
| 8 |
|
| SECTION 2.10 | Temporary Securities |
| 8 |
|
| SECTION 2.11 | Cancellation |
| 8 |
|
| SECTION 2.12 | CUSIP Numbers |
| 8 |
|
| SECTION 2.13 | Defaulted Interest |
| 8 |
|
| SECTION 2.14 | Special Record Dates |
| 9 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE III | REDEMPTION |
| 9 |
|
| SECTION 3.01 | Notices to Trustee |
| 9 |
|
| SECTION 3.02 | Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed |
| 9 |
|
| SECTION 3.03 | Notice of Redemption |
| 9 |
|
| SECTION 3.04 | Effect of Notice of Redemption |
| 10 |
|
| SECTION 3.05 | Deposit of Redemption Price |
| 10 |
|
| SECTION 3.06 | Securities Redeemed in Part |
| 10 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE IV | COVENANTS |
| 10 |
|
| SECTION 4.01 | Payment of Securities |
| 10 |
|
| SECTION 4.02 | Maintenance of Office or Agency |
| 10 |
|
| SECTION 4.03 | SEC Reports |
| 11 |
|
| SECTION 4.04 | Compliance Certificate |
| 11 |
|
| SECTION 4.05 | Taxes |
| 11 |
|
| SECTION 4.06 | Corporate Existence |
| 11 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE V | MERGER, ETC. |
| 11 |
|
| SECTION 5.01 | When Company May Merge, etc. |
| 11 |
|
| SECTION 5.02 | Successor Corporation Substituted |
| 11 |
|
| i |
| ARTICLE VI | DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES |
| 12 |
|
| SECTION 6.01 | Events of Default |
| 12 |
|
| SECTION 6.02 | Acceleration |
| 12 |
|
| SECTION 6.03 | Other Remedies |
| 13 |
|
| SECTION 6.04 | Wavier of Past Defaults |
| 13 |
|
| SECTION 6.05 | Control by Majority |
| 13 |
|
| SECTION 6.06 | Limitation on Suits |
| 13 |
|
| SECTION 6.07 | Rights of Holders to Receive Payment |
| 13 |
|
| SECTION 6.08 | Collection Suit by Trustee |
| 13 |
|
| SECTION 6.09 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim |
| 13 |
|
| SECTION 6.10 | Priorities |
| 14 |
|
| SECTION 6.11. | Undertaking for Costs |
| 14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE VII | TRUSTEE |
| 14 |
|
| SECTION 7.01. | Duties of Trustee |
| 14 |
|
| SECTION 7.03. | Individual Rights of Trustee |
| 16 |
|
| SECTION 7.04. | Trustee’s Disclaimer |
| 16 |
|
| SECTION 7.05. | Notice of Defaults |
| 16 |
|
| SECTION 7.06. | Reports by Trustee to Holders |
| 16 |
|
| SECTION 7.07. | Compensation and Indemnity |
| 16 |
|
| SECTION 7.08. | Replacement of Trustee |
| 17 |
|
| SECTION 7.09. | Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. |
| 17 |
|
| SECTION 7.10. | Eligibility; Disqualification |
| 17 |
|
| SECTION 7.11. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company |
| 18 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE VIII | DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE |
| 18 |
|
| SECTION 8.01. | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |
| 18 |
|
| SECTION 8.02. | Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification |
| 18 |
|
| SECTION 8.03. | Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series |
| 19 |
|
| SECTION 8.04. | Covenant Defeasance |
| 20 |
|
| SECTION 8.05. | Repayment to Company |
| 20 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE IX | AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS |
| 21 |
|
| SECTION 9.01. | Without Consent of Holders |
| 21 |
|
| SECTION 9.02. | With Consent of Holders |
| 21 |
|
| SECTION 9.03. | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act |
| 21 |
|
| SECTION 9.04. | Revocation and Effect of Consents |
| 21 |
|
| SECTION 9.05. | Notation on or Exchange of Securities |
| 21 |
|
| SECTION 9.06. | Trustee to Sign Amendment, etc. |
| 22 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| ARTICLE X | MISCELLANEOUS |
| 22 |
|
| SECTION 10.01. | Trust Indenture Act Controls |
| 22 |
|
| SECTION 10.02. | Notices |
| 22 |
|
| SECTION 10.03. | Communication by Holders with Other Holders |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.04. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.05. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.06. | Rules by Trustee and Agents |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.07. | Legal Holidays |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.08. | Duplicate Originals |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.09. | Governing Law |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.10. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.11. | Successors |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.12. | Severability |
| 23 |
|
| SECTION 10.13. | Counterpart Originals |
| 24 |
|
| ii |
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
|
|
| Indenture |
| |
| TIA Section |
| Section |
| |
|
|
|
|
| |
| Section 310 (a)(1) |
| 7.10 |
| |
|
| (a)(2) |
| 7.10 |
|
|
| (a)(3) |
| N.A. |
|
|
| (a)(4) |
| N.A. |
|
|
| (a)(5) |
| 7.10 |
|
|
| (b) |
| 7.08; 7.10 |
|
|
| (c) |
| N.A. |
|
| Section 311 (a) |
| 7.11 |
| |
|
| (b) |
| 7.11 |
|
|
| (c) |
| N.A. |
|
| Section 312(a) |
| 2.05 |
| |
|
| (b)(1) |
| N.A. |
|
|
| (b)(2) |
| 7.06 |
|
|
| (c) |
| 7.06; 12.02 |
|
|
| (d) |
| 7.06 |
|
| Section 314 (a)(1), (2), (3) |
| 4.03 |
| |
|
| (a)(4) |
| 4.04 |
|
|
| (b) |
| N.A. |
|
|
| (c)(1) |
| 10.04 |
|
|
| (c)(2) |
| 10.04 |
|
|
| (c)(3) |
| N.A. |
|
|
| (d) |
| N.A. |
|
|
| (e) |
| 10.05 |
|
|
| (f) |
| N.A. |
|
| Section 315 (a) |
| 7.01(b) |
| |
|
| (b) |
| 7.05; 10.02 |
|
|
| (c) |
| 7.01(a) |
|
|
| (d) |
| 7.01(c) |
|
|
| (e) |
| 6.11 |
|
| Section 316(a) (last sentence) |
| 2.09 |
| |
|
| (a)(1)(A) |
| 6.05 |
|
|
| (a)(1)(B) |
| 6.04 |
|
|
| (a)(2) |
| N.A. |
|
|
| (b) |
| 6.07 |
|
|
| (c) |
| 9.04 |
|
| Section 317 (a)(1) |
| 6.08 |
| |
|
| (a)(2) |
| 6.09 |
|
|
| (b) |
| 2.04 |
|
| Section 318 (a) |
| 10.01 |
| |
N.A. means Not Applicable
NOTE: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the indenture.
| iii |
INDENTURE dated as of __________, 20___, between United States Antimony Corporation, a Montana corporation (the “Company”), as issuer, and [_______________], a [__________] banking corporation, as Trustee (the “Trustee”).
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the “Securities”), as herein provided, up to such principal amount as may from time to time be authorized in or pursuant to one or more resolutions of the Board of Directors or by supplemental indenture.
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of each series of the Securities:
ARTICLE I
.A DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
SECTION 1.01. Definitions.
“Affiliate” means, when used with reference to the Company or another person, any person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, the Company or such other person, as the case may be. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified person means the power to direct or cause the direction of management or policies of such person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting Securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “Controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative of the foregoing.
“Agent” means any registrar, Paying Agent, authenticating agent or co-registrar.
“Board of Directors” means, with respect to any person, the Board of Directors of a person or any duly authorized committee of such Board of Directors.
“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any person, a copy of a resolution certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of such person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such person or any duly authorized committee thereof and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means a day that is not a Legal Holiday as defined in Section 10.07.
“Company” means the party named as such in this Indenture, or any other obligor under this Indenture, until a successor replaces it pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.
“Consolidated” or “consolidated” means, when used with reference to any amount, such amount determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, after the elimination of intercompany items.
“Consolidated Assets” means, at a particular date, all amounts which would be included under total assets on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries as at such date, determined in accordance with GAAP.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate services business shall be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this Indenture is located at [__________________].
“Default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Event of Default” has the meaning provided in Section 6.01.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended any successor Statute.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board or in such other statements by such other entity as have been approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession, which are applicable from time to time.
| 1 |
“Global Security” means a Security issued to evidence all or a part of any series of Securities that is executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to a depositary or pursuant to such depositary’s instructions, all in accordance with this Indenture and pursuant to Section 2.01, which shall be registered as to principal and interest in the name of such depositary or its nominee.
“Holder” means the person in whose name a Security is registered on the registrar’s books.
“Indebtedness” of a Person means all obligations which would be treated as liabilities upon a balance sheet of such Person prepared on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.
“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented or modified from time to time, and shall include the terms of a particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 2.01.
“Lien” means any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind.
“Obligations” means all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements, damages and other liabilities payable under the documentation governing any Indebtedness.
“Officer” of any person means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary or the Controller of such person.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers or by an Officer and an Assistant Treasurer, Assistant Secretary or Assistant Controller of any person.
“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides that an amount less than its principal amount is due and payable upon acceleration after an Event of Default.
“Person” or “person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, association, limited liability company, joint stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Redemption Date” means, with respect to any Security to be redeemed, the date fixed for such redemption pursuant to this Indenture.
“Redemption Price” has the meaning provided in Section 3.03.
“SEC” means the Securities and Exchange Commission and any government agency succeeding to its functions.
“Securities” means the means the securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Series” means a series of Securities established pursuant to this Indenture.
“Subsidiary” of any Person means (i) a corporation a majority of whose capital stock with voting power, under ordinary circumstances, to elect directors is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person or by such Person and a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or by a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or (ii) any other Person (other than a corporation) in which such Person or such Person and a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Person or a subsidiary or subsidiaries of such Persons, at the time, directly or indirectly, own at least a majority voting interest under ordinary circumstances.
| 2 |
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Section 77aaa-77bbbb), as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the TIA is amended after such date, “TIA” means, to the extent required by such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended.
“Trustee” means the party named as such above until a successor becomes such pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means or includes each party who is then a trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such party, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series means the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series. If Trustees with respect to different series of Securities are Trustees under this Indenture, nothing herein shall constitute the Trustees co-Trustees of the same trust, and each Trustee shall be the Trustee of a trust separate and apart from any trust administered by any other Trustee with respect to a different series of Securities.
“Trust Officer” means any officer in the corporate trust department of the Trustee or any other officer of the Trustee assigned by the Trustee to administer this Indenture.
“U.S. Government Obligations” means (i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America and which in either case, are non-callable at the option of the issuer thereof.
SECTION 1.02. Other Definitions.
|
|
| Defined in |
| Term |
| Section |
|
|
|
|
| “Bankruptcy Law” |
| 6.01 |
| “Custodian” |
| 6.01 |
| “Legal Holiday” |
| 10.07 |
| “Paying Agent” |
| 2.03 |
| “Registrar” |
| 2.03 |
SECTION 1.03. 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:
“indenture Securities” means the Securities;
“indenture Security holder” means a Holder;
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;
“indenture Trustee” or “institutional Trustee” means the Trustee; and
“obligor” on the Securities means the Company and any other obligor on the indenture Securities.
All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
SECTION 1.04. Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires: (i) a term has the meaning assigned to it; (ii) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP; (iii) “or” is not exclusive; (iv) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular; (v) provisions apply to successive events and transactions; and (vi) statements relating to the payment of principal and interest shall include the payment, premium (if any) and interest.
| 3 |
ARTICLE II
THE SECURITIES
SECTION 2.01. Unlimited in Amount, Issuable in Series, Form and Dating.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established pursuant to a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:
(a) The title, ranking and authorized denominations of such Securities;
(b) The aggregate principal amount of such Securities and any limit on such aggregate principal amount;
(c) The price (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount thereof) at which such Securities will be issued and, if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount thereof payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(d) The date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, on which the principal of such Securities will be payable;
(e) The rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, at which such Securities will bear interest, if any;
(f) The date or dates, or the method for determining such date or dates, from which any such interest will accrue, the dates on which any such interest will be payable, the record dates for such interest payment dates, or the method by which such dates shall be determined, the persons to whom such interest shall be payable, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
(g) The place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on such Securities will be payable, where such Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served;
(h) The period or periods, if any, within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may, pursuant to any optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
(i) The obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(j) If other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which such Securities are denominated and payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and the terms and conditions relating thereto;
(k) Whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may, but need not be, based on the yield on or trading price of other Securities, including United States Treasury Securities, or on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies) and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
| 4 |
(l) Whether the principal of or interest on the Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or a holder thereof, in a currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies other than that in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of, and identity of the exchange rate agent with responsibility for, determining the exchange rate between the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are denominated or stated to be payable and the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which such Securities are to be so payable;
(m) Provisions, if any, granting special rights to the holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;
(n) Any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to Securities of the series, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants described herein;
(o) Whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay any additional amounts on such Securities in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities in lieu of making such payment;
(p) Whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as registered Securities, bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of bearer Securities and the terms upon which bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged for registered Securities of the series and vice versa (if permitted by applicable laws and regulations), whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable initially in temporary global form and whether any Securities of the series are to be issuable in permanent global form with or without coupons and, if so, whether beneficial owners of interests in any such permanent Global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of such series and of like tenor or any authorized form and denomination and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner provided in this Indenture, and, if registered Securities of the series are to be issuable as a Global Security, the identity of the depositary for such series;
(q) The date as of which any bearer Securities of the series and any temporary Global Security representing outstanding Securities of the series shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;
(r) The person to whom any interest on any registered Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the person in whose name that Security (or one or more predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, the manner in which, or the person to whom, any interest on any bearer Security of the series shall be payable, if otherwise than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as they severally mature, and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary Global Security on an interest payment date will be paid if other than in the manner provided in this Indenture;
(s) Whether such Securities will be issued in certificated or book entry form;
(t) The applicability, if any, of the legal defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of this Indenture to the Securities of the series;
(u) If the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;
(v) Whether the Securities will be listed for trading on an exchange and the identity of such exchange;
(w) Whether any underwriters will act as market makers for the Securities;
(x) Any guarantees of such Securities by the Company’s Subsidiaries or others;
(y) The date or dates, if any, after which the Securities may be converted or exchanged into or for shares of the Company’s common stock or another company’s securities or properties or cash and the terms for any such conversion or exchange;
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(z) Any other terms of the series.
The Securities of any series shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a written order of the Company, in each case with such insertions, omission, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed or of the depository, or to conform to usage.
The Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
“This is one of the Securities of the series designated in accordance with, and referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Dated:
[____________________], as Trustee
By:
Authorized Signatory”
SECTION 2.02. 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 be valid nevertheless.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee. The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
The Trustee shall authenticate Securities for original issue upon a written order of the Company signed by one Officer of the Company.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, 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.
If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of all of the Securities of such series to be issued in the form of Global Securities and not yet canceled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such depositary or pursuant to such depositary’s instructions, and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary to the nominee of the depositary or by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary or by the depositary or any such nominee to a successor depositary or a nominee of such successor depositary.”
Each depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.01 must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it services as depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act.
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SECTION 2.03. Registrar and Paying Agent. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities of a particular series may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the “Registrar”) and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (the “Paying Agent”). The registrar for a particular series of Securities shall keep a register of the Securities of that series and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents for each series of Securities. The term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent and the term “Registrar” includes any additional registrar. The Company may change any Paying Agent or registrar without prior notice to any Holder.
The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Agent not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA and implement the terms of this Indenture which relate to such Agent. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address of any Agent who is not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any Affiliate of the Company may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company hereby initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent for each series of Securities unless another Registrar or Paying Agent, as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time the Securities of that series are first issued.
SECTION 2.04. Paying Agent to Hold Assets in Trust. The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Trustee all assets held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities (whether such money has been paid to it by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities) and shall notify the Trustee of any failure by the Company (or any other obligor on the Securities) in making any such payment. While any such failure continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed. 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 so paid over to the Trustee. 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 the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent.
SECTION 2.05. Holder 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 Holders, separately by series, and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a). If the Trustee is not the registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee on or before each interest payment date for the Securities 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 Holders, separately by series, relating to such interest payment date or request, as the case may be.
SECTION 2.06. Registration of Transfer and Exchange. When Securities of a series are presented to the registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register their transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the registrar or co-registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transaction are met. To permit registrations of transfer and exchanges, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the registrar’s or co-registrar’s request. No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with registration, transfer or exchange of Securities other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.10, 3.06 or 9.05 not involving any transfer.
The registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer or exchange of (i) any Security of a particular series selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security of that series being redeemed in part, or (ii) any Security of a particular series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Securities of that series for redemption under Section 3.02 and ending at the close of business on the date of selection.
Any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall, by acceptance of such beneficial interest, agree that transfers of beneficial interest in such Global Security may be effected only through a book entry system maintained by the holder of such Global Security (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest in the Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry system.
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SECTION 2.07. Replacement Securities. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security of the same series if the requirements of the Trustee and the Company are met; provided that, if any such Security has been called for redemption in accordance with the terms thereof, the Trustee may pay the Redemption Price thereof on the Redemption Date without authenticating or replacing such Security. The Trustee or the Company may, in either case, require the Holder to provide an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of each of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced or if the Redemption Price therefor is paid pursuant to this Section. The Company may charge the Holder who has lost a Security for its expenses in replacing a Security.
Every replacement Security is an obligation of the Company and shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series.
SECTION 2.08. Outstanding Securities. The Securities of any series outstanding at any time are all the Securities of that series authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding and interest ceases to accrue unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
If all principal of and interest on any of the Securities are considered paid under Section 4.01, such Securities shall cease to be outstanding and interest on them shall cease to accrue.
Except as provided in Section 2.09, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds such Security.
For each series of Original Issue Discount Securities, the principal amount of such Securities that shall be deemed to be outstanding and used to determine whether the necessary Holders have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, shall be the principal amount of such Securities that could be declared to be due and payable upon acceleration upon an Event of Default as of the date of such determination. When requested by the Trustee, the Company will advise the Trustee of such amount, showing its computations in reasonable detail.
SECTION 2.09. Treasury Securities. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of any series have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or an Affiliate of the Company shall be considered as though they are not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which such Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
SECTION 2.10. Temporary Securities. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and execute and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. 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 shall authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities. Holders of temporary Securities shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.
SECTION 2.11. Cancellation. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or repurchase. The Trustee shall cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, repurchase, redemption, replacement or cancellation and shall destroy such Securities (subject to the record retention requirements of the Exchange Act). Certification of the destruction of all cancelled Securities shall be promptly delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.12. CUSIP Numbers. The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice shall state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any such notice and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
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SECTION 2.13. Defaulted Interest. If the Company fails to make a payment of interest on any series of Securities, it shall pay such defaulted interest plus (to the extent lawful) any interest payable on the defaulted interest, in any lawful manner. It may elect to pay such defaulted interest, plus any such interest payable on it, to the Persons who are Holders of such Securities on which the interest is due on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each such Security. The Company shall fix any such record date and payment date for such payment. At least 15 days before any such record date, the Company shall mail to Holders affected thereby a notice that states the record date, payment date, and amount of such interest to be paid.
SECTION 2.14. Special Record Dates. 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 Securities of that series 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 Securities of that series required hereunder for such amendment or waiver to be effective shall have also been given and not revoked within such 90-day period.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION
SECTION 3.01. Notices to Trustee. If the Company elects to redeem Securities of any series pursuant to any optional redemption provisions thereof, it shall notify the Trustee of the intended Redemption Date and the principal amount of Securities of that series to be redeemed.
The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section and an Officers’ Certificate at least 45 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).
SECTION 3.02. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed. If fewer than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities of that series to be redeemed from the outstanding Securities of that series to be redeemed by a method that complies with the requirements of any exchange on which the Securities of that series are listed, or, if the Securities of that series are not listed on an exchange, on a pro rata basis or by lot, which in any case shall be in accordance with a method the Trustee considers fair and appropriate.
Except as otherwise provided as to any particular series of Securities, Securities and portions thereof that the Trustee selects shall be in amounts equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of the series to be redeemed or any integral multiple thereof. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly in writing of the Securities or portions of Securities to be called for redemption.
SECTION 3.03. Notice of Redemption. At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed at the address of such Holder appearing in the register.
The notice shall identify the Securities of the series to be redeemed and shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date;
(2) the redemption price fixed in accordance with the terms of the Securities of the series to be redeemed, plus accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption (the “Redemption Price”);
(3) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued;
(4) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(5) that Securities called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the Redemption Price;
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(6) that, unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price, interest on Securities called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the Redemption Date; and
(7) the CUSIP number, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed.
At the Company’s written request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense. The notice mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security shall not affect the validity of the proceeding for the redemption of any other Security.
SECTION 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption. Once notice of redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the Redemption Date at the Redemption Price. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the Redemption Price.
SECTION 3.05. Deposit of Redemption Price. On or before the Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent (or if the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, the Company or such Subsidiary shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price on all Securities to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions thereof called for redemption on that date which have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation. The Paying Agent shall promptly return to the Company any money not required for that purpose.
SECTION 3.06. Securities Redeemed in Part. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.01. Payment of Securities. The Company shall pay or cause to be paid the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in this Indenture and the Securities. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or an Affiliate, holds as of 11:00 a.m. New York time on that date immediately available funds designated for and sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due. To the extent lawful, the Company shall pay interest on overdue principal and overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum borne by the applicable series of Securities.
SECTION 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency. The Company shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, the City of New York, or in [_______________], an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee or registrar) where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in the Borough of [___________], the City of [___________], or [___________], for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
The Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.03.
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SECTION 4.03. SEC Reports. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 15 days after it files them with the SEC copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents, and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by the SEC. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314 (a).
SECTION 4.04. Compliance Certificate. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an Officers’ Certificate stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company, they would normally have knowledge of any failure by the Company to comply with all conditions, or default by the Company with respect to any covenants, under this Indenture, and further stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such failure or default and, if so, specifying each such failure or default and the nature thereof. For purposes of this Section, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided for in this Indenture. The certificate need not comply with Section 10.04.
SECTION 4.05. Taxes. The Company shall pay prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies except as contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.
SECTION 4.06. Corporate Existence. Subject to Article V hereof, the Company shall do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect (i) its corporate existence and (ii) the material rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise if the Board of Directors or management of the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer in the best interests of the Company, and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
ARTICLE V
MERGER, ETC.
SECTION 5.01. When Company May Merge, etc. (a) The Company shall not consolidate or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets to, any Person unless: (i) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition has been made, is a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company), or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition has been made, assumes by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture; and (iii) immediately after such transaction, and giving effect thereto, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may merge with another Person or acquire by purchase or otherwise all or any part of the property or assets of any other corporation or Person in a transaction in which the surviving entity is the Company.
(b) In connection with any consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer or lease contemplated by this Section 5.01, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer or lease and the supplemental indenture in respect thereof comply with Article V and the TIA and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
SECTION 5.02. Successor Corporation Substituted. Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into 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, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein. In the event of any such sale or conveyance, but not any such lease, the Company or any successor corporation which thereafter shall have become such in the manner described in this Article V shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may be dissolved, wound up or liquidated.
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ARTICLE VI
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
SECTION 6.01. Events of Default. An “Event of Default” occurs with respect to Securities of any particular series, unless in the establishing Board Resolutions, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto, it is provided that such series shall not have the benefit of any such Event of Default, when any of the following occurs:
(i) the Company defaults in the payment of interest on any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days;
(ii) the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of any Security of that series when the same becomes due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise;
(iii) the Company fails to comply with any of its other agreements or covenants in, or provisions of, the Securities of that series or this Indenture and the Default continues for the period and after the notice specified below;
(iv) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law: (A) commences a voluntary case or proceeding, (B) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding, (C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or (D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(v) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that: (A) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding, (B) appoints a Custodian for the Company or for all or substantially all of the Company’s property, or (C) orders the liquidation of the Company;
and in case of (v) the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11 of the U.S. Code or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, Trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
A Default under clause (iii) of this Section 6.01 is not an Event of Default with respect to a particular series of Securities until the Trustee notifies the Company in writing, or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series notify the Company and the Trustee, in writing, of the Default, and the Company does not cure the Default within 30 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”.
SECTION 6.02. Acceleration. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (iv) or (v) of Section 6.01) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company may declare due and payable 100% of the principal amount (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, such lesser amount as may be provided for in such Securities) of the Securities of that series plus any accrued interest to the date of payment. Upon a declaration of acceleration, such principal (or such lesser amount) and accrued interest to the date of payment shall be due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (iv) or (v) of Section 6.01 occurs, all unpaid principal and accrued interest on the Securities shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
The Holders of a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities of that series by written notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration and its consequences if (i) all existing Events of Default other than the nonpayment of principal (or such lesser amount) of or interest on the Securities of that series which have become due solely because of the acceleration, have been cured or waived and (ii) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction.
SECTION 6.03. Other Remedies. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to any series of Securities, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy by proceeding at law or in equity to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities of that series or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities of that series or this Indenture.
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The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon the Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. No remedy is exclusive of any other remedy. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults. Subject to Sections 6.07 and 9.02, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any series by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences with respect to that series, except a Default in the nonpayment of the principal of or interest on any Security of that series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration) . When a Default or Event of Default is waived, it is cured and ceases.
SECTION 6.05. Control by Majority. The Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture, that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability. The Trustee may take any other action which it deems proper which is not inconsistent with any such direction.
SECTION 6.06. Limitation on Suits. A Holder of Securities of any series may not pursue a remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities of that series unless: (i) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to such series; (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy; (iii) such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability, cost or expense; (iv) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and (v) during such 60-day period the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.
SECTION 6.07. Rights of Holders To Receive Payment. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder of a Security to receive payment of principal of or interest, if any, on the Security on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the Security, 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 the Holder.
SECTION 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(i) or (ii) occurs and is continuing with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as Trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal (or such portion of the principal as may be specified as due upon acceleration at that time in the terms of that series of Securities) and accrued interest, if any, remaining unpaid on the outstanding Securities of that series, together with (to the extent lawful) interest on overdue principal and interest, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and, to the extent lawful, expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07.
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SECTION 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Holders allowed in any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to participate as a member, voting or otherwise, of any official committee of creditors appointed in such matter and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same, and any custodian in any such judicial proceedings is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.10. Priorities. If the Trustee 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 Section 7.07, including payment of all compensation, expense and liabilities incurred, and all advances made by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
SECOND: to Holders of any particular series of Securities for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities of such series for principal and interest, if any, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities of such series for principal and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: to the Company or any other obligors on the Securities of that series, as their interests may appear, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.
The Trustee, upon prior written notice to the Company, may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders pursuant to this Section 6.10. The Trustee shall notify the Company in writing reasonably in advance of any such record date and payment date.
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 the 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 and expenses, 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 pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series.
ARTICLE VII
TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.01. Duties of Trustee. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent 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: (1) the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture or the TIA, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee and (2) 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 certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture. However, in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine the certificates and opinions to determine whether or not, on their face, 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: (1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01, (2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer or other officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts and (3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) of this Section 7.01.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability. The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability, cost or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable fees of counsel).
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(f) The Trustee shall not be obligated to pay interest on any money or other assets received by it unless otherwise agreed in writing with the Company. Assets held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
SECTION 7.02. Rights of Trustee. Subject to Section 7.01:
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) reasonably 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. The Trustee shall receive and retain financial reports and statements of the Company as provided herein, but shall have no duty to review or analyze such reports or statements to determine compliance under covenants or other obligations of the Company.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate and/or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care.
(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, unless the Trustee’s conduct constitutes willful misconduct or negligence.
(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, omitted or suffered by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.
(f) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Trust 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 and this Indenture.
(g) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and to each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder.
(h) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred therein or thereby.
(i) Whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may request, and in the absence of bad faith or willful misconduct on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel.
(j) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officers’ Certificate setting for the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such times to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officers’ Certificate may be signed by any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded.
SECTION 7.03. 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. However, the Trustee is subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
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SECTION 7.04. 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 certificate of authentication.
SECTION 7.05. Notice of Defaults. If a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, and if it is known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall mail to Holders a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after the occurrence thereof. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of any such Security, the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as it in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders.
SECTION 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders. The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required by TIA Section 3.13 at the times and in the manner provided by the TIA, which shall initially be not less than every twelve months commencing on and may be dated as of a date up to 75 days prior to such transmission.
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Holders shall be filed with the SEC, if required, and each stock exchange, if any, on which the Securities are listed. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities of any series are listed on any stock exchange.
SECTION 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity. The Company shall be liable for paying to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree 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 be liable for reimbursing the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, costs of preparing and reviewing reports, certificates and other documents, costs of preparation and mailing of notices to Securityholders and reasonable costs of counsel retained by the Trustee in connection with the delivery of an Opinion of Counsel or otherwise, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee’s agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability, damages, claims or expense (including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses) incurred by it without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on its part in connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expense of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.07) and of defending itself against any claims (whether asserted by any Securityholder, the Company or otherwise). Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim, and the Trustee shall provide reasonable cooperation at the Company’s expense in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel, provided that the Company shall not be required to pay such fees and expenses if it assumes the Trustee’s defense, and, in the reasonable judgment of outside counsel to the Trustee, there is no conflict of interest between the Company and the Trustee in connection with such defense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense which is finally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to have been incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee’s own willful misconduct, negligence or bad faith.
To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities. Such lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. The Trustee’s right to receive payment of any amounts due under this Section 7.07 shall not be subordinate to any other liability or Indebtedness of the Company.
The Company’s and the Subsidiary Guarantors’ payment obligations pursuant to this Section shall survive the discharge of this Indenture. When the Trustee incurs expenses after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in clause (iv) or clause (v) of Section 6.01 with respect to the Company, the expenses are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
SECTION 7.08. 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 7.08.
The Trustee may resign and be discharged from the trust hereby created with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by so notifying the Company in writing. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any series may remove the Trustee with respect to that series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to one or more or all series of Securities if: (i) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 or TIA Section 310; (ii) 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; (iii) a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or (iv) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
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If, as to any series of Securities, the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of the Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee for that series of Securities. The Trustee shall be entitled to payment of its fees and reimbursement of its expenses while acting as Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of then outstanding Securities of that series may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
Any Holder of Securities of that series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee if the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10.
A successor Trustee as to any series of Securities shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon 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 under this Indenture. The Company shall mail a notice of the successor Trustee’s succession to the Holders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee with respect to expenses, losses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee; provided, however, that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees to be co-Trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust hereunder separate and apart from any trust hereunder administered by any other such Trustee.
Upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.
SECTION 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, Etc. Subject to Section 7.10, if the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation or national banking association, the successor entity without any further act shall be the successor Trustee as to that series of Securities.
SECTION 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification. Each series of Securities shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a) (1), (2) and (5). The Trustee as to any series of Securities shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at least $100 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 310(b).
SECTION 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311 (b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
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ARTICLE VIII
DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE
SECTION 8.01. Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(a) either
(i) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(1) have become due and payable, or
(2) will become due and payable at their stated maturity within one year, or
(3) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or
(4) are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to Section 8.03, as applicable;
and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the stated maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and
(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section or if money or obligations shall have been deposited with or received by the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 8.02 and Section 8.05 shall survive.
SECTION 8.02. Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
(a) Subject to the provisions of Section 8.05, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.01, all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.03 and 8.04.
(b) The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.03 or 8.04 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
(c) The Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or money held by it as provided in Sections 8.03 or 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or money were deposited or received. This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
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SECTION 8.03. Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series. Unless this Section 8.03 is otherwise specified to be inapplicable to Securities of any series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of any such series on the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall, upon the request of the Company, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
(i) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (x) payment of the principal of an each installment of principal of or interest on the outstanding Securities of such series on the stated maturity of such principal of or interest and (y) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such series;
(ii) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities of such series under Sections 2.03, 2.06 and 2.07; and
(iii) the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the duties of the Trustee under Section 8.02 and the duty of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued on registration of transfer of exchange;
provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as Security for and dedicated solely to the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, cash in U.S. Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest, if any, on all the Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
(b) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture;
(c) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default specified in Section 6.0l(iv) or (v) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;
(d) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
(e) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;
(f) such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and
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(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
SECTION 8.04. Covenant Defeasance. Unless this Section 8.04 is otherwise inapplicable to Securities of any series, on and after the 91st day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.03, 4.04 and 4.05 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.01 (and the failure to comply with any such provisions shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (e) of Section 6.01 shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
(a) With reference to this Section 8.04, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.03) with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as Security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, cash in U.S. Dollars and/or U.S. Government Obligations which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Trustee), not later than one day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
(b) Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture;
(c) No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred on the date of such deposit and 91 days shall have passed after the deposit has been made, and, during such 91 day period, no Default specified in Section 6.01(iv) or (v) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of such period;
(d) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and 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 deposit and defeasance had not Occurred;
(e) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
SECTION 8.05. Repayment to Company. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such payment shall have become due. After payment to the Company, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another Person.
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ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS, SUPPLEMENTS AND WAIVERS
SECTION 9.01. Without Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without the consent of any Holder: (i) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency or make any change required to qualify the indenture under the TIA, provided that such change does not adversely affect the rights hereunder of any Holder in any material respect; (ii) to comply with Section 5.01; (iii) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to certificated Securities; (iv) to make any change that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights hereunder of any Holder; (v) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided, however, that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provisions; or (vi) to establish additional series of Securities as permitted by Section 2.01.
SECTION 9.02. With Consent of Holders. The Company and the Trustee as to any series of Securities may amend this Indenture or the Securities of that series or waive compliance in any particular instance with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of that series, in each case with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that series.
Without the consent of each Holder affected, an amendment or waiver under this Section may not: (i) reduce the principal amount of Securities, whose Holders must consent to an amendment or waiver; (ii) reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest on any Security; (iii) change the date on which any Security may be subject to redemption or repurchase, or reduce the redemption or repurchase price therefor; (iv) make any Security payable in currency other than that stated in the Security; or (v) make any change in Section 6.04, 6.07 or this sentence.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.
An amendment or waiver under this Section which waives, changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
The Company will mail supplemental indentures to Holders upon request. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
SECTION 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
SECTION 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents. Until an amendment 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; provided, however, that unless a record date shall have been established pursuant to Section 2.14, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. An amendment or waiver becomes effective on receipt by the Trustee of consents from the Holders of the requisite percentage principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any series, and thereafter shall bind every Holder of Securities of that series.
SECTION 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities. If an amendment or waiver changes the terms of a Security: (a) the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver such Security to the Trustee, the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder and the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on any Security thereafter authenticated; or (b) if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms.
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SECTION 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendment, etc. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article IX if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may, but need not sign it. In signing or refusing to sign such amendment, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such amendment, supplement or waiver is the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions, and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.03).
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 10.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA which are required to be part of this Indenture, and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
SECTION 10.02. Notices. Any notice or communication to the Company or the Trustee is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail to the address set forth below:
If to the Company:
| United States Antimony Corporation |
| 47 Cox Gulch |
| P.O. Box 643 |
| Thompson Falls, Montana 59873 |
| Attn: Chief Executive Officer 406-827-3523 |
with a copy to:
Pryor Cashman LLP
7 Times Square
New York, New York 10036
Attention: Ali Panjwani, Esq.
If to the Trustee:
[____________________]
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
Attention: ____________
With a copy to:
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
Attention: ____________
The Company or the Trustee by notice to the other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the registrar. Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in such notice or communication shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
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If a notice or communication is mailed or sent in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it, except that notice to the Trustee shall only be effective upon receipt thereof by the Trustee.
If the Company mails a notice or communication to Holders, it shall mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
SECTION 10.03. Communication by Holders with Other Holders. Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312 (c)
SECTION 10.04. 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: (1) an Officers’ Certificate (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 10.05) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel (which shall include the statements set forth in Section 10.05) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been complied with.
SECTION 10.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. Each certificate (other than certificates provided pursuant to Section 4.04) or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include: (i) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) 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; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he or she 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 (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with; provided, however, that with respect to matters of fact, an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers’ Certificate or certificate of public officials.
SECTION 10.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or for a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
SECTION 10.07. Legal Holidays. A “Legal Holiday” is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the City of New York are not required or authorized to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
SECTION 10.08. Duplicate Originals. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.
SECTION 10.09. Governing Law. The internal laws of the State of [___________] shall govern this Indenture and the Securities, without regard to the conflicts of Law rules thereof.
SECTION 10.10. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or any subsidiary. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
SECTION 10.11. Successors. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their respective successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
SECTION 10.12. Severability. In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
SECTION 10.13. Counterpart Originals. This Indenture may be signed in one or more counterparts. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement.
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EXHIBIT 5.1
| 101 S Capitol Boulevard, Suite 1900 208.389.9000 |
January 12, 2022
United States Antimony Corporation
47 Cox Gulch, P.O. Box 643
Thompson Falls, Montana 59873
| Re: | Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to United States Antimony Corporation, a Montana corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Company’s registration of such indeterminate number of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”), such indeterminate number of shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Preferred Stock”), such indeterminate principal amount of debt securities (“Debt Securities”), such indeterminate number of warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (“Warrants”), such indeterminate number of rights to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock (“Rights”), and such indeterminate number of units consisting of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants or Rights in any combination (“Units,” and together with the Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants and Rights, the “Securities”) as may be sold by the Company from time to time, which together shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $25,000,000, pursuant to the Company’s registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
This opinion letter is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
In connection with the preparation of this opinion letter and as the basis for the opinion set forth below (the “Opinion”), we have examined and relied on originals or copies of such corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and public officials and such other documents as we have deemed necessary for the purpose of rendering the Opinion.
United States Antimony Corporation
Page 2
Based upon the examination described above, subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that:
1. The shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable when: (i) the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) shall have duly adopted final resolutions authorizing the amount, terms and issuance of such shares of Common Stock; and (ii) certificates representing such shares of Common Stock shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor in an amount not less than the aggregate par value thereof;
2. The shares of each series of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable when: (i) the Board shall have duly adopted final resolutions authorizing the designations, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series of Preferred Stock and authorizing the issuance and sale of such series of Preferred Stock; (ii) the Company shall have filed, if required under applicable law, with the Secretary of State of the State of Montana a certificate of designation (or articles of amendment to the Company’s articles of incorporation) with respect to such series of Preferred Stock in accordance with applicable law; and (iii) certificates representing such series of Preferred Stock shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor in an amount not less than the aggregate par value thereof;
3. The Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Board shall have duly adopted final resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of an indenture relating to such Debt Securities and the execution, delivery, and issuance of such Debt Securities; (ii) such indenture shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; and (iii) such Debt Securities shall have been duly executed, authenticated and issued and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof in accordance with such indenture and applicable law upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor;
4. The Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Board shall have duly adopted final resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of a warrant agreement relating to such Warrants and the issuance and sale of such Warrants; (ii) such warrant agreement shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; (iii) if such Warrants are exercisable for Common Stock, the actions described in paragraph 1 above shall have been taken; (iv) if such Warrants are exercisable for Preferred Stock, the actions described in paragraph 2 above shall have been taken; (v) if such Warrants are exercisable for Debt Securities, the actions described in paragraph 3 above shall have been taken; and (vi) certificates representing such Warrants shall have been duly executed, countersigned and issued in accordance with such warrant agreement and shall have been duly delivered in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor;
United States Antimony Corporation
Page 3
5. The Rights will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Board shall have duly adopted final resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of a rights agreement relating to such Rights and the execution, delivery, issuance and sale of such Rights; (ii) such rights agreement shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; (iii) if such Rights relate to the issuance and sale of Common Stock, the actions described in paragraph 1 above shall have been taken; (iv) if such Rights relate to the issuance and sale of Preferred Stock, the actions described in paragraph 2 above shall have been taken; and (v) certificates representing such Rights shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered in accordance with such rights agreement and shall have been duly delivered to the purchasers thereof in accordance with such rights agreement upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor; and
6. The Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company when: (i) the Board shall have duly adopted final resolutions authorizing the execution and delivery of a units agreement relating to such Units and the execution, delivery, issuance and sale of such Units; (ii) such unit agreement shall have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; (iii) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Common Stock, the actions described in paragraph 1 above shall have been taken; (iv) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Preferred Stock, the actions described in paragraph 2 above shall have been taken; (v) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Debt Securities, the actions described in paragraph 3 above shall have been taken; (vi) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Warrants, the actions described in paragraph 4 above shall have been taken; (vii) if such Units relate to the issuance and sale of Rights, the actions described in paragraph 5 above shall have been taken; and (viii) certificates representing such Units shall have been duly executed, countersigned and registered and shall have been duly delivered to the purchasers thereof in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement upon payment of the agreed consideration therefor.
In rendering the Opinion, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies, and the authenticity of all originals of such latter documents. We also have assumed that (i) the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto shall have become effective and will remain effective at the time of issuance of any Securities thereunder, (ii) after the issuance of any Securities offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, the total number of issued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, as applicable, together with the total number of shares of such stock issuable upon the exercise, exchange, conversion or settlement, as the case may be, of any exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security (including without limitation any Unit or Right), as the case may be, then outstanding, will not exceed the total number of authorized shares of common stock or preferred stock of the Company, as applicable, under the Company’s articles of incorporation, (iii) resolutions authorizing the Company to register, offer, sell and issue the Securities shall have been duly adopted and shall remain in full force and effect, (iv) with respect to each action taken by the Company, such action is taken in accordance with all applicable law and the articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company, in each case as in effect at the time such action is taken, (v) a prospectus supplement describing each class or series of the Securities, to the extent required by applicable law and the relevant rules and regulations of the SEC, will be timely filed with the SEC, (vi) the Securities shall have been issued in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, and (vii) the Company is and will remain duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under Montana law.
United States Antimony Corporation
Page 3
We do not express any opinion in this letter covering any law other than the Montana Business Corporation Act, the law of the State of New York and the federal laws of the United States, in each case as in effect on the date hereof.
For purposes of this letter, “law of the State of New York” means and is limited to present published statutes of the State of New York, the administrative rules and regulations of agencies of the State of New York as contained in the present published Official Compilation of Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York, and the present published decisions of the courts of the State of New York that in each instance are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Registration Statement.
We hereby authorize and consent to the use of this opinion letter as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and authorize and consent to the references to our firm in the Registration Statement and in the prospectus constituting a part thereof. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required pursuant to Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC.
| Respectfully submitted, | ||
| /s/ Stoel Rives LLP | ||
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| STOEL RIVES LLP |
EXHIBIT 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this registration statement of our report dated March 31, 2021, relating to the consolidated financial statements of United States Antimony Corporation (the “Company”) appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.
/s/ Assure CPA, LLC
Spokane, Washington
January 14, 2022