ALKALINE WATER Co INC S-3/A, filed Mar 22, 2022
ALKALINE WATER Co INC (WTER)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3/A
AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
The Alkaline Water Company Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
99-0367049
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
8541 E Anderson Drive, Suite 100/101
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
Telephone: (480) 656-2423
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
Incorp Services, Inc.
3773 Howard Hughes Pkwy., Suite 500S
Las Vegas, NV 89169-6014
Telephone: (702) 866-2500
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
Copy of Communications To:
Clark Wilson LLP
Suite 900 - 885 West Georgia Street
Vancouver, British Columbia V6C 3H1, Canada
Telephone: (604) 687-5700
Attention: Mr. Virgil Z. Hlus
From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
(Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public)
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: ☐
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If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box: ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box: ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company" and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
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Large accelerated filer ☐ |
Accelerated filer ☐ |
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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 to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class |
Proposed Maximum |
Amount of |
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Common Stock |
$50,000,000(5) |
$0(5) |
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Preferred Stock |
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Debt Securities |
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Warrants |
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Subscription Receipts |
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Units(4) |
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Total |
$50,000,000(5) |
$0(5) |
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(1) |
There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, warrants, subscription receipts and units of the registrant and an indeterminate amount of debt securities of the registrant, consisting of some or all of these securities, as may be sold from time to time by the registrant. Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. There are also being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, warrants, subscription receipts and units and an indeterminate amount of debt securities as shall be issuable upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any securities that provide for such issuance. The registrant may offer and sell any of such securities or any combination of such securities in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $50,000,000. |
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(2) |
In U.S. dollars or the equivalent thereof for any security denominated in one or more, or units of two or more, foreign currencies or composite currencies based on the exchange rate at the time of sale. |
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(3) |
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933. |
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(4) |
Consists of some or all of the securities listed above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and subscription receipts. |
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(5) |
Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the securities being registered hereunder include $38,500,000 of unsold securities (collectively, the "Unsold Securities") previously registered by the registrant's registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-229428) (the "Prior Registration Statement"), which was declared effective on February 15, 2019. The filing fee paid in connection with such Unsold Securities was $4,666.20 and will continue to apply to the Unsold Securities registered hereby. To the extent that, after the filing date hereof and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, the registrant sells any such Unsold Securities pursuant to the Prior Registration Statement, the registrant will identify in a pre-effective amendment to this registration statement the updated amount of Unsold Securities from the Prior Registration Statement to be included in this registration statement pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6). Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of the Unsold Securities under the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this registration statement. |
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The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
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Prospectus |
Subject to Completion, Dated March 22, 2022 |
The Alkaline Water Company Inc.
$50,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Receipts
Units
_________________________________
We may offer and sell, from time to time, our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants to purchase debt or equity securities, subscription receipts for debt or equity securities or units of such securities at prices and on terms that will be determined at the time of any such offering. We may offer and sell any of such securities or any combination of such securities in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $50,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer our securities under this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing more specific information about the particular offering. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, together with the documents we incorporate by reference, before you invest in our securities. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers, on a delayed or continuous basis. The prospectus supplement for each offering will provide the specific terms of the plan of distribution for that offering. For more detailed information, see "Plan of Distribution" beginning on page 22 of this prospectus.
Our common stock is listed for trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market and the Canadian Securities Exchange under the symbol "WTER". We have not yet determined whether any of the other securities that may be offered by this prospectus will be listed on any exchange or other public market. If we decide to seek a listing for any of those securities, that will be disclosed in a prospectus supplement.
Investing in our securities involves significant risks. See "Risk Factors" beginning on page 3.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is _____________, 2022.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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About This Prospectus
This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission or SEC using a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, offer and sell any of the securities or any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $50,000,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering and the securities being offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus under the heading "Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference" and the additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information".
Unless we otherwise indicate or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus to:
- the terms "we", "us", "our", "Company" and "Alkaline" refer to The Alkaline Water Company Inc., a Nevada corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries: A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc. (a Nevada Corporation), A88 International, Inc. (a Nevada Corporation), A88 Infused Products, Inc. (a Nevada corporation), Alkaline 88, LLC (an Arizona Limited Liability Company), and AWC Acquisition Company Inc. (a Nevada corporation), and The Clean Beverage Company Inc. (a Nevada corporation), unless otherwise specified. All dollar amounts refer to U.S. dollars unless otherwise indicated;
- the term "securities" means the common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, subscription receipts and units described in this prospectus; and
- all reference to "dollars", "$", "USD" or "US$" are to U.S. dollars and all reference to "CDN$" are to Canadian dollars.
The information contained in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. You should rely only on the information provided in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized any dealer, salesman or other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer of any securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference, is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document in which such information is contained or such other date referred to in such document, regardless of the time of any sale or issuance of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
About The Alkaline Water Company Inc.
Our Business
Overview
Founded in 2012, our company is headquartered in Scottsdale, Arizona. Our flagship product, Alkaline88®, is a leading premier alkaline water brand available in bulk and single-serve sizes along with eco-friendly aluminum packaging options. With its innovative, state-of-the-art proprietary electrolysis process, Alkaline88® delivers perfect 8.8 pH balanced alkaline drinking water with trace minerals and electrolytes and boasts our trademarked label 'Clean Beverage.' Quickly being recognized as a growing lifestyle brand, Alkaline88® launched A88 Infused™ in 2019 to meet consumer demand for flavor-infused products. A88 Infused™ flavored water is available in six unique all-natural flavors, with new flavors coming soon. Additionally, in 2020, our company launched A88 Infused Beverage Division Inc., which includes our CBD water and flavor-infused water. For our company's topical and ingestible offerings, A88 Infused Products Inc. includes both our lab-tested full-spectrum hemp salves, balms, lotions, essential oils, and bath salts, along with broad-spectrum hemp, powder packs, oil tinctures, capsules, and gummies under the brand name "A88CBD™". Our hemp-derived CBD products are produced and sold in compliance with the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill, Public Law 115-334).
Our bottled alkaline water product is presently available in over 75,000 stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the Caribbean and in Mexico. We distribute our product through several channels. We sell through large national distributors (UNFI, KeHE, C&S, and Core-Mark), which together represent over 150,000 retail outlets. We also sell our products directly to retail clients, including convenience stores, natural food products stores, large ethnic markets and national retailers and through Direct Store Distributors in selected markets, including Mahaska, Nevada Beverage, and Hensley, covering Nevada, Arizona, and the Midwest region. Combined, they service over 16,000 customers in five states. Each one carries our full line of non-CBD waters. Some examples of retail clients are: Walmart, CVS, Rite-Aid Family Dollar, Food Lion, Albertson's/Safeway, Kroger companies, Schnucks, Smart & Final, Jewel-Osco, Sprouts, Bashas', Stater Bros. Markets, Unified Grocers, Bristol Farms, Publix, Vallarta, Superior Foods, Ingles, Shaw's, Raley's, Harris Teeter, Festival Foods, HEB and Brookshire's. The majority of our sales to retail clients are through brokers and distributors, however, sales to our larger retail clients are often direct to the client's own warehouse distribution network. Our CBD products are presently available for purchase on our E-commerce websites, www.a88cbd.com and www.a88hemp.com, in addition to a growing number of brick and mortar retail locations.
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Our operating subsidiary, Alkaline 88, LLC, operates primarily as a marketing, distribution, and manufacturing company for our alkaline bottled water products. It has entered into co-packing agreements with nine different bottling companies located in Virginia, Georgia, California, Texas, Nevada, Florida and Arizona to act as co-packers for our product. Our current capacity at all plants exceeds approximately $14.0 million per month wholesale.
Our component materials are readily available through multiple vendors. Our principal suppliers are Vav Plastics Inc., Amcor Inc., Smurfit, and Goodpac.
A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc.
In August 2018, we formed A88 Infused Beverage Division, Inc., or "A88 Infused," a Nevada corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of our company. A88 Infused's focus is brand extension and product innovations in the wellness water category. We formed A88 Infused to meet what we believe is increasing consumer demand for enhanced and functional (value-added) beverages. We expect A88 Infused to capitalize on this and potential consumer demand with the development and launch of new products focused on growing trends in the beverage space.
Our first infused water products were launched in 2019 and consist of A88 Infused's flavored water products, which are now available in Blood Orange, Lemon, Lemon-Lime, Peach Mango, Watermelon and Raspberry. They are produced in Waco Texas at Waco Bottling. Currently A88 Infused's flavored water products are on thousands of shelves nationwide in many of the same retailers that carry our flagship brand Alkaline88,including, 99 Cent Only Stores, Albertson and national distributors UNFI and KEHE.
A88 Infused Products, Inc.
In September 2019, we formed A88 Infused Products, Inc., or "A88 Products," a Nevada corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of our company. A88 Product's focus is brand extension and product innovations in the CBD infused products category, which include ingestibles and topical products. For its ingestibles line, the A88™ Infused Beverage Division Inc. currently produces CBD infused tinctures, gummies, fruit chews and capsules, and will produce CBD infused drinks, beverage shots, and powder packs. For its topicals line, A88™ Infused Products Inc. currently produces salves, balms, lotions, bath bombs, essential oils, and bath-salt all made with lab-tested full-spectrum hemp. We formed A88 Products to meet what we believe is increasing consumer demand for a variety of CBD infused wellness products. We expect A88 Products to capitalize on this and potential consumer demand with the development and launch of new products focused on growing trends in the space. On February 20, 2020, A88 Products began selling its line of CBD infused topical products through ecommerce at www.a88cbd.com. Currently, all of A88 Products' CBD products are available for purchase on its E-commerce websites, www.a88cbd.com and www.a88hemp.com, various third party ecommerce sites, and a growing number of brick and mortar retail locations throughout the United States. As of the date of this prospectus, the FDA has not made a determination that the use of hemp extract in food is safe. The FDA has evaluated Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) notices for four hemp seed-derived food ingredients and determined that the agency has no questions that those ingredients are GRAS under their intended conditions of use. In the event the FDA issues appropriate regulations or guidance or determines that it has no questions that hemp extract is GRAS under intended conditions of use that would permit A88 Infused to market hemp extract in water without food additive approval, we expect to produce and sell A88CBD water as still water in bottles. We may also decide to market Soothe™ in any states, districts or territories if applicable laws allow for such sale or if a supplier meets and complies with the FDA's GRAS regulations with respect to a self-certification regarding the safety and GRAS status of the use of hemp extract. We expect to produce A88CBD water as a low calorie or no calorie, hemp extract-infused water in three flavors and 5 functional formulas (Relax, Revive, Recover etc.). We may change the composition of our planned hemp-extract-infused product as necessary to comply with federal, state or local laws, regulations or guidance.
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Corporate Information
The principal offices of our company are located at 8541 E. Anderson Drive, Suite 100/101, Arizona 85255. Our telephone number is (480) 656-2423. Our corporate website address is www.thealkalinewaterco.com.
The information contained on, or that may be accessed through, our corporate website and our ecommerce website is not part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus.
Risk Factors
An investment in our common stock involves a number of very significant risks. You should carefully consider the following risks and uncertainties in addition to other information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus in evaluating our company and our business before making an investment decision about our company. Our business, operating results and financial condition could be seriously harmed as a result of the occurrence of any of the following risks. You could lose all or part of your investment due to any of these risks.
Risks Related to Our Business
Because we have a limited operating history, we may have difficulty realizing consistent and meaningful revenues and achieving profitability.
We were incorporated on June 6, 2011, and we began producing and distributing alkaline bottled water in 2013. Since we have a limited operating history, our ability to successfully develop our products and to realize consistent and meaningful revenues and to achieve profitability has not been established and cannot be assured. For us to realize consistent, meaningful revenues and to achieve profitability, our products must receive broad market acceptance by consumers. Without this market acceptance, we will not be able to generate sufficient revenue to continue our business operation. If our products are not widely accepted by the market, our business may fail.
Our ability to achieve and maintain profitability and positive cash flow is dependent upon our ability to generate revenues, manage development costs and expenses, and compete successfully with our direct and indirect competitors. We anticipate operating losses in upcoming future periods. This will occur because there are expenses associated with the development, production, marketing, and sales of our products.
Our financial statements are prepared using generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applicable to a going concern, which contemplates the realization of assets and liquidation of liabilities in the normal course of business. We have not yet established an ongoing source of revenues sufficient to cover our operating costs. As of December 31, 2021, we had an accumulated deficit of $98,471,352. Our ability to continue as a going concern is dependent on our company obtaining adequate capital to fund operating losses until we become profitable. If we are unable to obtain adequate capital, we could be forced to significantly curtail or cease operations.
Our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting are not effective, which may cause our financial reporting to be unreliable and lead to misinformation being disseminated to the public.
Our management evaluated our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31, 2021 and concluded that as of that date, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective. In addition, our management evaluated our internal control over financial reporting as of March 31, 2021 and concluded that that there were material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting as of that date and that our internal control over financial reporting was not effective as of that date. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.
We have not yet remediated these material weaknesses and we believe that our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting continue to be ineffective. Until these issues are corrected, our ability to report financial results or other information required to be disclosed on a timely and accurate basis may be adversely affected and our financial reporting may continue to be unreliable, which could result in additional misinformation being disseminated to the public. Investors relying upon this misinformation may make an uninformed investment decision.
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We will need additional funds to continue producing, marketing, and distributing our products.
We will have to spend additional funds to continue producing, marketing and distributing our products. If we cannot raise sufficient capital, we may have to cease operations. We will need additional funds to continue to produce our products for distribution to our target market.
We will have to continue to spend substantial funds on distribution, marketing and sales efforts before we will know if we have commercially viable and marketable/sellable products.
There is no guarantee that sufficient sale levels will be achieved.
There is no guarantee that the expenditure of money on distribution and marketing efforts will translate into sufficient sales to cover our expenses and result in profits. Consequently, there is a risk that you may lose all of your investment.
Our development, marketing, and sales activities are limited by our size.
Because of our relative size, we must limit our product development, marketing, and sales activities to the amount of capital we raise. As such, we may not be able to complete our production and business development program in a manner that is as thorough as we would like. We may not ever generate sufficient revenues to cover our operating and expansion costs.
Changes in the non-alcoholic beverage business environment and retail landscape could adversely impact our financial results.
The non-alcoholic beverage business environment is rapidly evolving as a result of, among other things, changes in consumer preferences, including changes based on health and nutrition considerations and obesity concerns; shifting consumer tastes and needs; changes in consumer lifestyles; and competitive product and pricing pressures. In addition, the non-alcoholic beverage retail landscape is very dynamic and constantly evolving, not only in emerging and developing markets, where modern trade is growing at a faster pace than traditional trade outlets, but also in developed markets, where discounters and value stores, as well as the volume of transactions through e-commerce, are growing at a rapid pace. If we are unable to successfully adapt to the rapidly changing environment and retail landscape, our share of sales, volume growth and overall financial results could be negatively affected.
Intense competition and increasing competition in the commercial beverage market could hurt our business.
The commercial retail beverage industry, and in particular its non-alcoholic beverage segment, is highly competitive. Market participants are of various sizes, with various market shares and geographical reach, some of whom have access to substantially more sources of capital.
We compete generally with all liquid refreshments, including bottled water and numerous specialty beverages, such as: CORE® Hydration, SOBE®, Snapple®, AriZona® Iced Tea, Vitaminwater®, Gatorade Perform®, and POWERADE®.
We compete indirectly with major international beverage companies including but not limited to: The Coca-Cola Company®, PepsiCo, Inc., The Nestlé Group, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, Inc, Danone S.A., The Kraft Heinz Company, and Unilever PLC. These companies have established market presence in the United States and globally, and offer a variety of beverages that are competitors to our products. We face potential direct competition from such companies, because they have the financial resources, and access to manufacturing and distribution channels to rapidly enter the alkaline water market. We compete directly with other alkaline water producers and brands focused on the emerging alkaline beverage market including: Eternal Naturally Alkaline® Spring Water, Essentia®, CORE® Hydration, Icelandic Glacial™, Real Water®, AQUAhydrate®, Mount Valley Spring Water™, QURE Water®, Penta® Water, and Alka Power™. These companies could bolster their position in the alkaline water market through additional expenditure and promotion.
As a result of both direct and indirect competition, our ability to successfully distribute, market and sell our products, and to gain sufficient market share in the United States and around the world to realize profits may be limited, greatly diminished, or totally diminished, which may lead to partial or total loss of your investments in our company.
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Alternative non-commercial beverages or processes could hurt our business.
The availability of non-commercial beverages, such as tap water, and machines capable of producing alkaline water at the consumer's home or at store-fronts could hurt our business, market share, and profitability.
Expansion of the alkaline beverage market or sufficiency of consumer demand in that market for operations to be profitable are not guaranteed.
The alkaline water market is an emerging market and there is no guarantee that this market will expand or that consumer demand will be sufficiently high enough to allow our company to successfully market, distribute and sell our products, or to successfully compete with current or future competition, all of which may result in total loss of your investment.
A failure to introduce new products or product extensions into new marketplaces successfully could prevent us from achieving long-term profitability.
We compete in an industry characterized by rapid changes in consumer preferences, so our ability to continue developing new products to satisfy our consumers' changing preferences will determine our long-term success. A failure to introduce new products or product extensions into new marketplaces successfully could prevent us from achieving long-term profitability. In addition, customer preferences are also affected by factors other than taste, such as the publicity. If we do not adjust to respond to these and other changes in customer preferences, our sales may be adversely affected. In addition, a failure to obtain any required regulatory approvals for our proposed products could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our growth and profitability depends on the performance of third-party brokers and distributors and on our ongoing relationships with them.
Our distribution network and its success depend on the performance of third parties. Any non-performance or deficient performance by such parties may undermine our operations, profitability, and result in total loss of your investment. To distribute our products, we use a broker-distributor-retailer network whereby brokers represent our products to distributors and retailers who will in turn sell our products to consumers. The success of this network will depend on the performance of the brokers, distributors and retailers within this network. There is a risk that a broker, distributor, or retailer may refuse to or cease to market or carry our products. There is a risk that the mentioned entities may not adequately perform their functions within the network by, without limitation, failing to distribute to sufficient retailers or positioning our products in localities that may not be receptive to our products. Furthermore, such third-parties' financial position or market share may deteriorate, which could adversely affect our distribution, marketing and sale activities. We also need to maintain good commercial relationships with third-party brokers, distributors and retailers so that they will promote and carry our products. Any adverse consequences resulting from the performance of third-parties or our relationship with them could undermine our operations, profitability and may result in total loss of your investment.
The loss of one or more of our major customers or a decline in demand from one or more of these customers could harm our business.
We had 2 major customers that together account for 32% (17% and 15%, respectively) of accounts receivable at December 31, 2021 and 2 customers that together account for 34% (17% and 17% respectively) of the total revenues earned for the nine months ended December 31, 2021. There can be no assurance that such customers will continue to order our products at the same level or at all. A reduction or delay in orders from such customers, including reductions or delays due to market, economic or competitive conditions, could have a material adverse effect on our business, operating results and financial condition.
Our dependence on a limited number of vendors leaves us vulnerable to having an inadequate supply of required products, price increases, late deliveries, and poor product quality.
We had 3 vendors that accounted for 49% (25%, 14% and 10%, respectively) of purchases for the nine months ended December 31, 2021. Like other companies in our industry, we occasionally experience shortages and are unable to purchase our desired volume of products. Increasingly, our vendors are combining and merging together, leaving us with fewer alternative sources. If we are unable to maintain an adequate supply of products, our revenue and gross profit could suffer considerably. Finally, we cannot provide any assurance that our products will be available in quantities sufficient to meet customer demand. Any limits to product access could materially and adversely affect our business and results of operations.
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Our business is sensitive to public perception. If any product proves to be harmful to consumers or if scientific studies provide unfavorable findings regarding their safety or effectiveness, then our image in the marketplace would be negatively impacted.
Our results of operations may be significantly affected by the public's perception of our company and similar companies. Our business could be adversely affected if any of our products or similar products distributed by other companies proves to be harmful to consumers or if scientific studies provide unfavorable findings regarding the safety or effectiveness of our products or any similar products. If our products suffer from negative consumer perception, it is likely to adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Consumers may have preconceptions about the health benefits of alkaline water; such health benefits are not guaranteed or proven.
Health benefits of alkaline water are not guaranteed and have not been proven. Although we do not market our alkaline water products as having any potential health benefits, there is a consumer perception that drinking alkaline water has beneficial health effects. Consequently, negative changes in consumers' perception of the benefits of alkaline water or negative publicity surrounding alkaline water may result in loss of market share or potential market share and hence, loss of your investment. We are also prohibited from touting unconfirmed health benefits in our advertising and promotional activities for the products, both directly and indirectly through claims made by third-party endorsers when those endorsers have a material connection to our company.
Water scarcity and poor quality could negatively impact our production costs and capacity.
Water is the main ingredient in our products. It is also a limited resource, facing unprecedented challenges from overexploitation, increasing pollution, poor management, and climate change. As demand for water continues to increase, as water becomes scarcer, and as the quality of available water deteriorates, we may incur increasing production costs or face capacity constraints that could adversely affect our profitability or net operating revenues in the long run.
Increase in the cost, disruption of supply or shortage of ingredients, other raw materials or packaging materials could harm our business.
We and our bottlers will use water, 84 trace minerals from Himalayan salts and packaging materials for bottles such as plastic and paper products. The prices for these ingredients, other raw materials and packaging materials fluctuate depending on market conditions. Substantial increases in the prices of our or our bottlers' ingredients, other raw materials and packaging materials, to the extent they cannot be recouped through increases in the prices of finished beverage products, could increase our operating costs and could reduce our profitability. Increases in the prices of our finished products resulting from a higher cost of ingredients, other raw materials and packaging materials could affect the affordability of our products and reduce sales.
An increase in the cost, a sustained interruption in the supply, or a shortage of some of these ingredients, other raw materials, or packaging materials and containers that may be caused by a deterioration of our or our bottlers' relationships with suppliers; by supplier quality and reliability issues; or by events such as natural disasters, power outages, labor strikes, political uncertainties or governmental instability, or the like, could negatively impact our net revenues and profits.
Unfavorable general economic conditions in the United States could negatively impact our financial performance.
Unfavorable general economic conditions, such as a recession or economic slowdown, in the United States could negatively affect the affordability of, and consumer demand for, our products in the United States. Under difficult economic conditions, consumers may seek to reduce discretionary spending by forgoing purchases of our products or by shifting away from our beverages to lower-priced products offered by other companies, including non-alkaline water. Consumers may also cease purchasing bottled water and consume tap water. Lower consumer demand for our products in the United States could reduce our profitability.
Adverse weather conditions could reduce the demand for our products.
The sales of our products are influenced to some extent by weather conditions in the markets in which we operate. Unusually cold or rainy weather during the summer months may have a temporary effect on the demand for our products and contribute to lower sales, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations for such periods.
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Our business could be adversely affected by the effects of health epidemics, including the global COVID-19 pandemic.
In December 2019, a novel strain of coronavirus known as COVID-19 was reported in China. Since then, COVID-19 has spread globally including across North America and the United States. The spread of COVID-19 from China to other countries has resulted in the World Health Organization (WHO) declaring the outbreak of COVID-19 as a "pandemic," or a worldwide spread of a new disease, on March 11, 2020. Many countries around the world, including the United States, have imposed quarantines and restrictions on travel and mass gatherings to slow the spread of the virus, and have closed non-essential businesses.
Specifically, at the time this prospectus is prepared, we caution that our business could be materially and adversely affected by the risks, or the public perception of the risks, related to the outbreak of COVID-19. Although retailers which carry our products may be considered essential businesses and therefore be allowed to remain operational, they may experience significantly reduced demand. The risk of a pandemic, or public perception of the risk, could cause customers to avoid public places, including retail properties, and could cause temporary or long-term disruptions in our supply chains and/or delays in the delivery of our inventory to our customers. Further, such risks could also adversely affect retail customers' financial condition, resulting in reduced spending on our products, which are marketed as premium products. "Shelter-in-place" or other such orders by governmental entities could also disrupt our operations, if our employees or the employees of our sourcing partners who cannot perform their responsibilities from home, are not able to report to work. Risks related to an epidemic, pandemic or other health crisis, such as COVID-19, could also lead to the complete or partial closure of one or more of our co-packing facilities or operations of our sourcing partners.
The spread of COVID-19, which has caused a broad impact globally, may materially affect us economically. While the potential economic impact brought by, and the duration of, COVID-19 may be difficult to assess or predict, a widespread pandemic could result in significant disruption of global financial markets, reducing our ability to access capital, which could in the future negatively affect our liquidity. In addition, a recession or market correction resulting from the spread of COVID-19 could materially affect our business and the value of our common stock.
The global outbreak of COVID-19 continues to rapidly evolve. The extent to which COVID-19 may impact our business, operations and financial performance will depend on future developments, including the duration of the outbreak, travel restrictions and social distancing in the United States and other countries, changes to the regulatory regimes under which we operate, the effectiveness of actions taken in United States and other countries to contain and treat the disease and whether the United States and additional countries are required to move to complete lock-down status. The ultimate long-term impact of COVID-19 is highly uncertain and cannot be predicted with confidence.
We rely on third parties to produce and bottle our products, which creates additional risk.
We do not own or operate bottling or co-packing facilities used for the production of the various water products in our portfolio. We rely on those third parties to ensure the quality, safety and integrity of our products. If the third parties that we engage to produce and bottle our products fail to meet our demands or are found by government agencies to be out of compliance with applicable regulatory requirements, our supplies of those products and our future profit margins could be adversely affected.
Product contamination or tampering or issues or concerns with respect to product quality, safety and integrity could adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations.
Product contamination or tampering, the failure to maintain high standards for product quality, safety and integrity, including with respect to raw materials and ingredients obtained from suppliers, or allegations (whether or not valid) of product quality issues, mislabeling, misbranding, spoilage, allergens, adulteration or contamination with respect to products in our portfolio may reduce demand for such products, and cause production and delivery disruptions or increase costs, each of which could adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations. If any of the products in our portfolio are mislabeled or become unfit for consumption or cause injury, illness or death, or if appropriate resources are not devoted to product quality and safety (particularly as we expand our portfolio into new categories) or to comply with changing food safety requirements, we could decide to, or be required to, recall products or withdraw from the marketplace and/or we may be subject to liability or government action, which could result in payment of damages or fines, cause certain products in our portfolio to be unavailable for a period of time, result in destruction of product inventory, or result in adverse publicity (whether or not valid), which could reduce consumer demand and brand equity. Moreover, even if allegations of product contamination or tampering or suggestions that our products were not fit for consumption are meritless, the negative publicity surrounding assertions against us or products in our portfolio or processes could adversely affect our reputation or brands. Our business could also be adversely affected if consumers lose confidence in product quality, safety and integrity generally, even if such loss of confidence is unrelated to products in our portfolio. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business, reputation, financial condition or results of operations. In addition, if we do not have adequate insurance, if we do not have enforceable indemnification from suppliers, bottlers, distributors or other third parties or if indemnification is not available, the liability relating to such product claims or disruption as a result of recall efforts could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.
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Our products are considered premium beverages and are being sold at premium prices compared to our competitors' products; we cannot provide any assurances as to consumers' continued market acceptance of our current and future products.
We will compete directly with other alkaline water producers and brands focused on the emerging alkaline beverage market including Eternal, Essentia, Core, Icelandic, Real Water, AQUAHydrate, Mountain Valley, Qure, Penta, and Alka Power. Products offered by our direct competitors are sold in various volumes and prices with prices ranging from approximately $0.99 for a half-liter bottle to $4.99 for a one-gallon bottle, and volumes ranging from half-liter bottles to one-gallon bottles. We currently offer our product in a one-gallon bottle for a suggested resale price of $4.99, three-liter bottle for an SRP of $3.99, 2-liter at an SRP of $2.99, 1.5 liter at an SRP of $2.49, 1 liter at an SRP of $1.99, 700 milliliter single serving at an SRP of $1.19, and a 500 milliliter at an SRP of $0.99. Our competitors may introduce larger sizes and offer them at an SRP that is lower than our products. We can provide no assurances that consumers will continue to purchase our products or that they will not prefer to purchase a competitive product.
We are subject to periodic claims and litigation that could result in unexpected expenses and could ultimately be resolved against us.
From time to time, we are involved in litigation and other proceedings, including matters related to product liability claims, stockholder class action and derivative claims, commercial disputes and intellectual property, as well as trade, regulatory, employment, and other claims related to our business. Any of these proceedings could result in significant settlement amounts, damages, fines or other penalties, divert financial and management resources, and result in significant legal fees. An unfavorable outcome of any particular proceeding could exceed the limits of our insurance policies or the carriers may decline to fund such final settlements and/or judgments and could have an adverse impact on our business, financial condition, and results of operations. In addition, any proceeding could negatively impact our reputation among our guests and our brand/image.
We regularly evaluate potential expansion into international markets, and any expansion into such international operations could subject us to risks and expenses that could adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We have recently expanded into the Caribbean, Mexico and Canada. However, we have not undertaken substantial commercial activities outside of the United States. We have evaluated, and continue to evaluate, potential expansion into certain other international markets. Our international sales and operations would be subject to a variety of risks, including fluctuations in currency exchange rates, tariffs, import restrictions and other trade barriers, unexpected changes in legal and regulatory requirements, longer accounts receivable payment cycles, potentially adverse tax consequences, and difficulty in complying with foreign laws and regulations, as well as U.S. laws and regulations that govern foreign activities. Economic uncertainty in some of the geographic regions in which we might operate could result in the disruption of commerce and negatively impact our operations in those areas. Also, if we choose to pursue international expansion efforts, it may be necessary or desirable to contract with third parties, and we may not be able to enter into such agreements on commercially acceptable terms or at all. Further, such arrangements may not perform to our expectations, and we may be exposed to various risks as a result of the activities of our partners.
We rely on key executive officers who have extensive knowledge of our business and the industry in which we operate; the loss of any of these key executive officers would be difficult to replace and may adversely affect our business.
We are highly dependent on two executive officers, Richard A. Wright and David A. Guarino, who have extensive knowledge of our business and the industry in which we operate. We do not have "key person" life insurance policies for either of these officers. The loss of Richard A. Wright and/or David A. Guarino could result in delays in product development, loss of any future customers and sales and diversion of management resources, which could adversely affect our operating results.
If we are unable to protect our information systems against service interruption, misappropriation of data or breaches of security, our operations could be disrupted, we may suffer financial losses and our reputation may be damaged.
We rely on networks and information systems and other technology ("information systems"), including the Internet and third-party hosted services, to support a variety of business processes and activities, including procurement and supply chain, manufacturing, distribution, invoicing and collection of payments, employee processes and consumer marketing. We use information systems to process financial information and results of operations for internal reporting purposes and to comply with regulatory financial reporting and legal and tax requirements. In addition, we depend on information systems for digital marketing activities and electronic communications between our company and our bottlers and other customers, suppliers and consumers. Because information systems are critical to many of our operating activities, our business may be impacted by system shutdowns, service disruptions or security breaches. These incidents may be caused by failures during routine operations such as system upgrades or by user errors, as well as network or hardware failures, malicious or disruptive software, unintentional or malicious actions of employees or contractors, cyberattacks by common hackers, criminal groups or nation-state organizations or social-activist (hacktivist) organizations, geopolitical events, natural disasters, failures or impairments of telecommunications networks, or other catastrophic events. In addition, such incidents could result in unauthorized or accidental disclosure of material confidential information or regulated individual personal data. If our information systems suffer severe damage, disruption or shutdown and our business continuity plans do not effectively resolve the issues in a timely manner, we could experience delays in reporting our financial results, and we may lose revenue and profits as a result of our inability to timely manufacture, distribute, invoice and collect payments for concentrate or finished products. Unauthorized or accidental access to, or destruction, loss, alteration, disclosure, falsification or unavailability of, information could result in violations of data privacy laws and regulations, damage to the reputation and credibility of our company and, therefore, could have a negative impact on net operating revenues. In addition, we may suffer financial and reputational damage because of lost or misappropriated confidential information belonging to us, our current or former employees, our bottling partners, other customers or suppliers, or consumers or other data subjects, and may become exposed to legal action and increased regulatory oversight. We could also be required to spend significant financial and other resources to remedy the damage caused by a security breach or to repair or replace networks and information systems.
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In addition, third-party providers of data hosting or cloud services, as well as our bottling partners, distributors, retailers or suppliers, may experience cybersecurity incidents that may involve data we share with them. Although we have taken steps to prevent cybersecurity incidents, there can be no assurance that such steps will be adequate. In order to address risks to our information systems, we continue to make investments in personnel, technologies and training of our personnel.
Risks Related to Regulations Applicable to Our Industry
Changes in laws and regulations relating to beverage containers and packaging could increase our costs and reduce our net operating revenues or profitability.
We and our bottlers offer our products in non-refillable, recyclable containers in the United States. Regulations have been enacted in various jurisdictions in the United States requiring that deposits or certain eco-taxes or fees be charged for the sale, marketing and use of certain non-refillable beverage containers. Other proposals relating to beverage container deposits, recycling, eco-tax and/or product stewardship have been introduced in various jurisdictions in the United States and overseas, and we anticipate that similar legislation or regulations may be proposed in the future at local, state and federal levels in the United States. Consumers' increased concerns and changing attitudes about solid waste streams and environmental responsibility and the related publicity could result in the adoption of such legislation or regulations. Current regulations or the adoption of future regulations in the geographical regions in which we currently operate or intend to operate could adversely affect our costs or require changes in our distribution model, which could reduce our net operating revenues or profitability.
Significant additional labeling or warning requirements or limitations on the availability of our products may inhibit sales of affected products.
Various jurisdictions may seek to adopt significant additional product labeling or warning requirements or limitations on the availability of our products relating to the content or perceived adverse health consequences of our products. Federal laws may pre-empt some or all of these attempts by state or localities to impose additional labeling or warning requirements. If these types of requirements become applicable to our products under current or future environmental or health laws or regulations, they may inhibit sales of our products. Moreover, if we fail to meet compliance deadlines for any such new requirements, our products may be deemed misbranded or mislabeled and could be subject to enforcement action, or we could be exposed to private lawsuits alleging misleading labels or product promotion.
Changes in, or failure to comply with, the laws and regulations applicable to our products or our business operations could increase our costs or reduce our net operating revenues.
The advertising, distribution, labeling, production, safety, sale, and transportation in the United States of our currently marketed products are subject to: the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; the Federal Trade Commission Act; the Lanham Act; state food and drug laws; state consumer protection laws; competition laws; federal, state, and local workplace health and safety laws, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Act; various federal, state and local environmental protection laws; and various other federal, state, and local statutes and regulations. Changes to such laws and regulations could increase our costs or reduce our net operating revenues.
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In addition, failure to comply with environmental, health or safety requirements and other applicable laws or regulations could result in the assessment of damages, the imposition of penalties, suspension of production, changes to equipment or processes, or a cessation of operations at our or our bottlers' facilities, as well as damage to our image and reputation, all of which could harm our profitability.
If we fail to comply with personal data protection laws, we could be subject to adverse publicity, government enforcement actions and/or private litigation, which could negatively affect our business and operating results.
In the ordinary course of our business, we receive, process, transmit and store information relating to identifiable individuals ("personal data"), primarily employees and former employees. As a result, we are subject to various U.S. federal and state and foreign laws and regulations relating to personal data. These laws have been subject to frequent changes, and new legislation in this area may be enacted in other jurisdictions at any time. There is no assurance that our security controls over personal data, the training of employees and vendors on data privacy and data security, and the policies, procedures and practices we implemented or may implement in the future will prevent the improper disclosure of personal data. Improper disclosure of personal data in violation of applicable personal data protection laws could harm our reputation, cause loss of consumer confidence, subject us to government enforcement actions (including fines), or result in private litigation against us, which could result in loss of revenue, increased costs, liability for monetary damages, fines and/or criminal prosecution, all of which could negatively affect our business and operating results.
If we produce, market and/or sell beverages infused with hemp, as defined under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, we will be subject to a myriad of different laws and regulations governing the use of hemp in food and beverages and if we are unable to comply with such laws in a cost-effective manner, our business could be adversely affected.
The production of a beverage infused with hemp, as "hemp" is defined in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill, Public Law 115-334), is contingent on U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or the FDA, and state laws, regulations, and guidance. While the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 removed hemp from Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, the law did not change the FDA's authorities with respect to food or drugs. As of the date of this prospectus, the FDA has not made a determination that the use of hemp in food is safe. The FDA has evaluated Generally Recognized as Safe or GRAS notices for three hemp seed-derived food ingredients and determined that the agency has no questions that those ingredients are GRAS under their intended conditions of use.
Laws and regulations governing the use of hemp in food and beverages in the United States are broad in scope; subject to evolving interpretations; and subject to enforcement by a myriad of regulatory agencies and law enforcement entities. Under the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, a state or Indian tribe that desires to have primary regulatory authority over the production of hemp in the state or territory of the Indian tribe must submit a plan to monitor and regulate hemp production to the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture or USDA. The Secretary must then approve the state or tribal plan after determining if the plan complies with the requirements set forth in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The Secretary may also audit the state or Indian tribe's compliance with the federally-approved plan. If the Secretary does not approve the state or Indian tribe's plan, then the production of hemp in that state or territory of that Indian tribe will be subject to a plan established by USDA. USDA has not yet established such a plan. We anticipate that many states will seek to have primary regulatory authority over the production of hemp. States that seek such authority may create new laws and regulations that permit the use of hemp in food and beverages.
Federal and state laws and regulations on hemp may address production, monitoring, manufacturing, distribution, and laboratory testing to ensure that that the hemp has a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis. Federal laws and regulations may also address the transportation or shipment of hemp or hemp products, as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 prohibits states and Indian tribes from prohibiting the transportation or shipment of hemp or hemp products produced in accordance with that law through the state or territory of the Indian tribe, as applicable. Because we rely on a nationwide broker-distributor-retailer network whereby brokers represent our products to distributors and retailers in turn sell our product to consumers in the fifty states and the District of Columbia, we may be subject to many different state-based regulatory regimens for hemp, all of which could require us to incur substantial costs associated with compliance requirements. In addition, violations of these laws, or allegations of such violations, could disrupt our business and result in a material adverse effect on our operations, as well as adverse publicity and potential harm to our reputation. We and our suppliers and vendors must take significant enterprise risk management steps to ensure that there is no commingling of hemp and marihuana, as "marihuana" is defined in the federal Controlled Substances Act. Marihuana remains subject to the Controlled Substances Act and related regulations.
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Furthermore, if we decide to produce, market and sell beverages infused with hemp outside of the United States, we will be subject to applicable laws and regulations in those non-U.S. jurisdictions, which would require us to expend significant costs associated with compliance.
In addition, it is possible that additional regulations may be enacted in the future in the United States and globally that will be directly applicable to our current and proposed product offerings infused with hemp. We cannot predict the nature of any future laws, regulations, interpretations, or applications, nor can we determine what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative policies and procedures, when and if promulgated, could have on our business.
FDA's current position is that the sale of food and beverages that contain hemp-derived cannabidiol or CBD is prohibited under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; therefore, if we decide to produce, market and/or sell beverages infused with hemp-derived cannabidiol, we may be subject to federal enforcement actions which could adversely affect our business and harm our reputation and brand.
The FDA has jurisdiction over drugs and foods that contain CBD, including CBD derived from hemp. Under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act or the FDCA, it is a prohibited act to introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any food (which the FDCA defines to include beverages) that is adulterated. The FDCA therefore prohibits the introduction or delivery for introduction of a food that contains CBD, because the FDCA deems a food to be adulterated if it bears or contains any food additive that is unsafe and CBD is presently an unsafe food additive under the FDCA and FDA regulations. The FDCA also states that it is a prohibited act to introduce or deliver for introduction into interstate commerce any food to which an FDA-approved drug has been added, unless certain exceptions are met. The FDA has approved a drug in which CBD is an active ingredient, and the agency has stated that based on available evidence, none of the exceptions apply to CBD. One of the exceptions addresses whether the drug was marketed in food before the FDA approved the drug and before the institution of any substantial clinical investigations involving the drug. The FDA has stated that interested parties may present the agency with evidence that has bearing on the issue of whether CBD was marketed in food before the FDA approved the CBD drug in 2018 or before the institution of substantial clinical investigations involving the CBD drug. FDA's current position is that this provision of the FDCA also prohibits the introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of a food to which CBD has been added.
Congress may decide to amend the FDCA to permit the use of hemp-derived CBD in food. The FDA may also decide to issue regulations or guidance that address the use of hemp-derived CBD in food or use its enforcement discretion with respect to hemp-derived CBD products. On May 31, 2019, the FDA held a public hearing, as well as providing a broader opportunity for written public comment, for stakeholders to share their experiences and challenges with CBD products, including information and views related to product safety. Based on this hearing, any legislative or regulatory action could take years to implement or finalize and may not include provisions that would enable our company to produce, market and/or sell hemp beverages that contain hemp-derived CBD. We risk becoming subject to adverse publicity and costly federal enforcement actions should we decide to produce, market and/or sell beverages infused with hemp-derived CBD in the United States. We may be required to expend significant resources in defending our company from such actions which could adversely affect our business and results of operations and divert the attention of management. We may also incur the risk of sustaining considerable damage to our reputation and brand should we become party to federal enforcement actions resulting from the production, marketing or sale of hemp-derived CBD infused beverages.
Accordingly, if Congress amended federal laws or FDA issued regulations or guidance permitting the use of hemp-derived CBD in food or announcing the agency's decision to use its enforcement discretion with respect to hemp-derived CBD products, we and our suppliers and vendors would be required to implement significant enterprise risk management measures to ensure that there is no commingling of CBD derived from marihuana, as "marihuana" is defined in the federal Controlled Substances Act, with any future commercial supply of hemp-derived CBD that is used to produce our products.
The FDA could force the removal of our products from the U.S. market.
The FDA has broad authority over the regulation of our products. The FDA could, among other things, force us to remove our products from the U.S. market, levy fines or change their regulations on advertising. Any adverse action by the FDA could have a material adverse impact on our business.
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Government reviews, inquiries, investigations, and actions could harm our business or reputation.
As our product portfolio evolves, the regulatory environment with regard to our business is also evolving. Government officials often exercise broad discretion in deciding how to interpret and apply applicable laws or regulations. We may in the future receive formal and informal inquiries from various governmental regulatory authorities, as well as self-regulatory organizations or consumer protection watchdog groups, about our business and compliance with local laws, regulations, or standards. Any determination that our products, operations or activities, or the activities of our employees, contractors or agents, are not in compliance with existing laws, regulations or standards, could adversely affect our business in a number of ways. Even if such an inquiry does not result in the imposition of fines, interruptions to our business, loss of suppliers or other third-party relationships, terminations of necessary licenses and permits, or similar direct results, the existence of the inquiry alone could potentially create negative publicity that could harm our business and/or reputation.
Risks Related to Our Intellectual Property
It is difficult and costly to protect our intellectual property.
Our commercial success will depend in part on obtaining and maintaining trademark protection and trade secret/know-how protection of our products and brands, as well as successfully defending that intellectual property against third-party challenges. We will only be able to protect our intellectual property related to our trademarks and brands to the extent that we have rights under valid and enforceable trademarks, know-how or trade secrets that cover our products and brands. Changes in either the trademark laws or in interpretations of trademark and laws in the U.S. and other countries may diminish the value of our intellectual property. Accordingly, we cannot predict the breadth of claims that may be allowed or enforced in our issued trademarks. The degree of future protection for our proprietary rights is uncertain because legal means afford only limited protection and may not adequately protect our rights or permit us to gain or keep our competitive advantage.
We may face intellectual property infringement claims that could be time-consuming and costly to defend, and could result in our loss of significant rights and the assessment of treble damages.
From time to time we may face intellectual property claims from third parties. Some of these claims may lead to litigation. The outcome of any such litigation can never be guaranteed, and an adverse outcome could affect us negatively. For example, were a third party to succeed on an infringement claim against us, we may be required to pay substantial damages (including up to treble damages if such infringement were found to be willful). In addition, we could face an injunction, barring us from conducting the allegedly infringing activity. The outcome of the litigation could require us to enter into a license agreement which may not be under acceptable, commercially reasonable, or practical terms or we may be precluded from obtaining a license at all. It is also possible that an adverse finding of infringement against us may require us to dedicate substantial resources and time in developing non-infringing alternatives, which may or may not be possible.
Finally, we may initiate claims to assert or defend our own intellectual property against third parties. Any intellectual property litigation, irrespective of whether we are the plaintiff or the defendant, and regardless of the outcome, is expensive and time-consuming, and could divert our management's attention from our business and negatively affect our operating results or financial condition.
We may be subject to claims by third parties asserting that our employees or our company has misappropriated their intellectual property, or claiming ownership of what we regard as our own intellectual property.
Although we try to ensure that our company, our employees, and independent contractors (suppliers/vendors/distributors) do not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may be subject to claims that our company, our employees, or independent contractors (suppliers/vendors/distributors) have used or disclosed intellectual property in violation of others' rights. These claims may cover a range of matters, such as challenges to our trademarks, as well as claims that our employees or independent contractors are using trade secrets or other proprietary information of any such employee's former employer or independent contractors. As a result, we may be forced to bring claims against third parties, or defend claims they may bring against us, to determine the ownership of what we regard as our intellectual property. If we fail in prosecuting or defending any such claims, in addition to paying monetary damages, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel. Even if we are successful in prosecuting or defending against such claims, litigation could result in substantial costs and be a distraction to management.
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Risks Related to Our Stock
Because we can issue additional shares of common stock, our stockholders may experience dilution in the future.
We are authorized to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of common stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, of which 109,725,353 shares of common stock are issued and outstanding as of March 22, 2022. Our board of directors has the authority to cause us to issue additional shares of common stock and preferred stock, and to determine the rights, preferences and privileges of shares of our preferred stock, without consent of our stockholders. Consequently, the stockholders may experience more dilution in their ownership of our stock in the future.
Trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market or Canadian Securities Exchange may be volatile, which could depress the market price of our common stock and make it difficult for our stockholders to resell their shares.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market and the Canadian Securities Exchange. Trading of our common stock may experience wide fluctuations in trading prices, due to many factors that may have little to do with our operations or business prospects. This volatility could depress the market price of our common stock for reasons unrelated to operating performance.
A prolonged and substantial decline in the price of our common stock could affect our ability to raise further working capital, thereby adversely impacting our ability to continue operations.
A prolonged and substantial decline in the price of our common stock could result in a reduction in the liquidity of our common stock and a reduction in our ability to raise capital. Because we plan to acquire a significant portion of the funds we need in order to conduct our planned operations through the sale of equity securities, a decline in the price of our common stock could be detrimental to our liquidity and our operations because the decline may cause investors not to choose to invest in our stock. If we are unable to raise the funds we require for all our planned operations and to meet our existing and future financial obligations, we may be forced to reallocate funds from other planned uses and may suffer a significant negative effect on our business plan and operations, including our ability to develop new products and continue our current operations. As a result, our business may suffer, and we may go out of business.
Because we do not intend to pay any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.
We intend to retain any future earnings to finance the development and expansion of our business. We do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on our common stock in the near future. The declaration, payment and amount of any future dividends will be made at the discretion of our board of directors, and will depend upon, among other things, the results of operations, cash flows and financial condition, operating and capital requirements, and other factors as the board of directors considers relevant. There is no assurance that future dividends will be paid, and if dividends are paid, there is no assurance with respect to the amount of any such dividend. Unless we pay dividends, our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their shares unless they sell them.
An adverse rating of our debt securities may cause their trading price to fall.
If a rating agency rates our debt securities, if any, it may assign them a low rating. Rating agencies also may lower ratings on our debt securities, if any, in the future. If rating agencies assign a lower-than-expected rating or reduce, or indicate that they may reduce, their ratings in the future, the trading price of our debt securities, if any, could significantly decline.
We cannot assure you that an active trading market will develop for the securities.
There is currently no public market for any of our securities other than our common stock. We do not know if an active market will develop for our other securities, or if developed, whether such a market will continue. If an active market is not developed or maintained, the market price and the liquidity of our other securities may be adversely affected.
Forward-Looking Statements
This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the information and documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus contain or will contain forward-looking statements which relate to future events or our future financial performance. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "expect", "plan", "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "predict", "potential" or "continue" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are based on material factors and assumptions made by our company in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that we believe are appropriate in the circumstances, including but not limited to, general economic conditions, product pricing levels and competitive intensity, supply constraints, the timing and success of new product introductions, our expectations regarding our business, strategy, opportunities and prospects, including our ability to implement meaningful changes to address business challenges, and our expectations regarding the cash flow from operations. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks in the section entitled "Risk Factors", uncertainties and other factors, that may cause our company's or our industry's actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.
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While these forward-looking statements, and any assumptions upon which they are based, are made in good faith and reflect our current judgment regarding the direction of our business, actual results will almost always vary, sometimes materially, from any estimates, predictions, projections, assumptions or other future performance suggested herein. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Except as required by applicable law, including the securities laws of the United States and Canada, we disclaim any obligation subsequently to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of such statements or to reflect the occurrence of anticipated or unanticipated events.
Use of Proceeds
Unless we specify otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from sales of securities by us for general corporate purposes, which may include reducing any outstanding indebtedness, increasing our working capital or financing acquisitions and capital expenditures. Pending such use, we may temporarily invest the proceeds.
Description of Capital Stock
The aggregate number of shares that we have the authority to issue is 300,000,000, of which 200,000,000 shares are common stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share, and 100,000,000 shares are preferred stock, with a par value of $0.001 per share. 3,000,000 shares of our authorized preferred stock are designated as "Series C Preferred Stock" and have conversion rights. 5,000,000 shares of our authorized preferred stock are designated as "Series D Preferred Stock" and have conversion rights. 6,681,090 shares of our authorized preferred stock are designated as "Series S Preferred Stock" and have conversion rights.
As of March 22, 2022, there were 109,725,353 shares of our common stock issued and outstanding, no shares of Series C Preferred Stock issued and outstanding, no shares of Series D Preferred Stock issued and outstanding and 4,454,060 shares of Series S Preferred Stock issued and outstanding.
Common Stock
Our common stock is entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a vote of our stockholders, including the election of directors. Except as otherwise provided by law or as provided in any resolution adopted by our board of directors providing for the issuance of any series of preferred stock, the holders of our common stock possess all voting power. There is no cumulative voting in the election of directors. Stockholders holding at least 33⅓% of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the articles of incorporation. When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the stockholders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy will be sufficient to elect members of our board of directors or to decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of statute or of the articles of incorporation, a different vote is required in which case such express provision will govern and control the decision of such question. Except as otherwise required by law, any action required to be taken at a meeting of our stockholders, or any other action which may be taken at a meeting of our stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if written consents are signed by our stockholders representing a majority of the shares entitled to vote at such a meeting.
Our board of directors has the power to amend our bylaws. As a result, our board of directors can change the quorum and voting requirements at a meeting of our stockholders, subject to the applicable laws.
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Subject to any preferential rights of any outstanding series of preferred stock created by our board of directors from time to time, the holders of our common stock are entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available therefore, dividends payable in cash, stock or otherwise. Our board of directors is not obligated to declare a dividend. Any future dividends will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors and will depend upon, among other things, future earnings, the operating and financial condition of our company, its capital requirements, general business conditions and other pertinent factors. It is not anticipated that dividends will be paid in the foreseeable future.
Upon any liquidation of our company, and after holders of any outstanding series of preferred stock have been paid in full the amounts to which they respectively are entitled or a sum sufficient for such payment in full has been set aside, the remaining net assets of our company are to be distributed pro rata to the holders of our common stock, to the exclusion of holders of our preferred stock.
Our common stock is not convertible or redeemable and has no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights. There are no conversions, redemption, sinking fund or similar provisions regarding our common stock.
Preferred Stock
Our preferred stock may be divided into and issued in series. Our board of directors is authorized to divide the authorized shares of preferred stock into one or more series, each of which will be so designated as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other series and classes. Our board of directors is authorized to fix and determine the designations, rights, qualifications, preferences, limitations and terms of the shares of any series of preferred stock including but not limited to the following.
- The rate of dividend, the time of payment of dividends, whether dividends are cumulative, and the date from which any dividends will accrue;
- Whether shares may be redeemed, and, if so, the redemption price and the terms and conditions of redemption;
- The amount payable upon shares in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation;
- Sinking fund or other provisions, if any, for the redemption or purchase of shares;
- The terms and conditions on which shares may be converted, if the shares of any series are issued with the privilege of conversion;
- Voting powers, if any, provided that if any of the preferred stock or series thereof will have voting rights, such preferred stock or series will vote only on a share for share basis with the common stock on any matter, including but not limited to the election of directors, for which such preferred stock or series has such rights; and
- Subject to the foregoing, such other terms, qualifications, privileges, limitations, options, restrictions, and special or relative rights and preferences, if any, of shares or such series as our board of directors may, at the time so acting, lawfully fix and determine under the laws of the State of Nevada.
We must not declare, pay or set apart for payment any dividend or other distribution (unless payable solely in shares of common stock or other class of stock junior to the preferred stock as to dividends or upon liquidation) in respect of common stock, or other class of stock junior to the preferred stock, nor must we redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any of the foregoing, unless dividends, if any, payable to holders of preferred stock for the current period (and in the case of cumulative dividends, if any, payable to holders of preferred stock for the current period and in the case of cumulative dividends, if any, for all past periods) have been paid, are being paid or have been set aside for payment, in accordance with the terms of the preferred stock, as fixed by our board of directors.
In the event of the liquidation of our company, holders of preferred stock are entitled to receive, before any payment or distribution on the common stock or any other class of stock junior to the preferred stock upon liquidation, a distribution per share in the amount of the liquidation preference, if any, fixed or determined in accordance with the terms of such preferred stock plus, if so provided in such terms, an amount per share equal to accumulated and unpaid dividends in respect of such preferred stock (whether or not earned or declared) to the date of such distribution. Neither the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of our company, nor any consolidation or merger of our company, will be deemed to be a liquidation for this purpose.
Series C Preferred Stock
3,000,000 shares of our authorized preferred stock are designated as "Series C Preferred Stock."
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Series D Preferred Stock
5,000,000 shares of our authorized preferred stock are designated as "Series D Preferred Stock."
Series S Preferred Stock
6,681,090 shares of our authorized preferred stock are designated as "Series S Preferred Stock."
Anti-Takeover Provisions
Some features of the Nevada Revised Statutes, which are further described below, may have the effect of deterring third parties from making takeover bids for control of our company or may be used to hinder or delay a takeover bid. This would decrease the chance that our stockholders would realize a premium over market price for their shares of common stock as a result of a takeover bid.
Combination with Interested Stockholder
The Nevada Revised Statutes contain provisions governing combination of a Nevada corporation that has 200 or more stockholders of record with an interested stockholder. As of March 22, 2022, we had approximately 41 stockholders of record. Therefore, we believe that these provisions governing combination of a Nevada corporation do not apply to us and will not until such time as these requirements have been met. At such time as they may apply to us, these provisions may also have effect of delaying or making it more difficult to effect a change in control of our company.
A corporation affected by these provisions may not engage in a combination within three years after the interested stockholder acquires his, her or its shares unless the combination or purchase is approved by the board of directors before the interested stockholder acquired such shares. Generally, if approval is not obtained, then after the expiration of the three-year period, the business combination may be consummated with the approval of the board of directors before the person became an interested stockholder or a majority of the voting power held by disinterested stockholders, or if the consideration to be received per share by disinterested stockholders is at least equal to the highest of:
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the highest price per share paid by the interested stockholder within the three years immediately preceding the date of the announcement of the combination or within three years immediately before, or in, the transaction in which he, she or it became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher;
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the market value per share on the date of announcement of the combination or the date the person became an interested stockholder, whichever is higher; or
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if higher for the holders of preferred stock, the highest liquidation value of the preferred stock, if any.
Generally, these provisions define an interested stockholder as a person who is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly of 10% or more of the voting power of the outstanding voting shares of a corporation. Generally, these provisions define combination to include any merger or consolidation with an interested stockholder, or any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition, in one transaction or a series of transactions with an interested stockholder of assets of the corporation having:
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an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of the assets of the corporation;
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an aggregate market value equal to 5% or more of the aggregate market value of all outstanding shares of the corporation; or
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representing 10% or more of the earning power or net income of the corporation.
Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
There are no provisions in our articles of incorporation or our bylaws that would delay, defer or prevent a change in control of our company and that would operate only with respect to an extraordinary corporate transaction involving our company, such as merger, reorganization, tender offer, sale or transfer of substantially all of its assets, or liquidation.
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Description of Debt Securities
The following describes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities we may offer. When we offer to sell particular 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.
We may issue secured or unsecured and senior or subordinated debt securities. Particular debt securities may have different terms. The 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 United States Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
We have filed with the SEC forms of these documents as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. 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.
If we offer debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of the debt securities in a prospectus supplement, including:
- the title of the debt securities;
- the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities, the percentage of the principal amount at which the debt securities will be issued and the date or dates when the principal of the debt securities will be payable or how those dates will be determined;
- whether the amount of payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities will be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method, which could be based on one or more commodities, equity indices or other indices, and how these amounts will be determined;
- provisions with respect to the subordination of the rights of holders of the debt securities to other security holders or creditors;
- whether such debt securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable and any applicable limitations on ownership or transferability of such other securities received on conversion;
- the person to whom any interest in a debt security will be payable, if other than the registered holder at the close of business on the regular record date;
- the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, that the debt securities will bear, if any, and how the rate or rates will be determined;
- the date or dates from which any interest will accrue or how the date or dates will be determined, the date or dates on which any interest will be payable, any regular record dates for these payments or how these dates will be determined and the basis on which any interest will be calculated, if other than on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
- the place or places of payment, transfer, conversion and exchange of the debt securities and where notices or demands to or upon us in respect of the debt securities may be served;
- any provisions granting special rights to the holders of the debt securities upon the occurrence of specified events, including but not limited to any make-whole amount, which is the amount in addition to principal and interest that is required to be paid to the holder of a debt security as a result of any optional redemption or accelerated payments of such debt security, or the method for determining the make-whole amount;
- any optional redemption provisions;
- provisions relating to subsidiary guarantees, if any;
- any sinking fund or other provisions that would obligate us to repurchase or redeem the debt securities;
- any changes or additions to the events of default under the applicable indenture or our covenants, including additions of any restrictive covenants, with respect to the debt securities;
- any changes or additions to the provisions concerning defeasance and covenant defeasance contained in the indentures that will be applicable to the debt securities;
- if other than the trustee, the name of any paying agent, security registrar and transfer agent for the debt securities;
- if the debt securities are not to be issued in book-entry form only and held by The Depository Trust Company, or DTC, as depositary, the form of such debt securities, including whether such debt securities are to be issuable in permanent or temporary global form, as registered securities, bearer securities or both, any restrictions on the offer, sale or delivery of bearer securities and the terms, if any, upon which bearer securities may be exchanged for registered securities and vice versa, if permitted by applicable law and regulations;
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- the currency or currencies of such debt securities;
- the denomination or denominations that the debt securities will be issued, if other than denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiples in the case of the registered securities and $5,000 or any integral multiples in the case of the bearer securities;
- whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts to holders in respect of any tax assessment or government charge, and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities rather than pay such additional amounts; and
- the name of the trustee and the nature of any material relationship with us or any of our affiliates, and the percentage of debt securities of the class necessary to require the trustee to take action.
Description of Warrants
The following describes the general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer. When we offer to sell particular warrants, we will describe the specific terms of any warrants offered from time to time in a supplement to this prospectus, which may supplement or change the terms outlined below.
We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, additional warrants, units or any combination thereof. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock, debt securities or units and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities. We will evidence warrants by warrant certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into the warrant agreement with a warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of any such warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to particular warrants.
Before we issue any warrants, the forms of warrant agreement, if any, and warrant certificates will be filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K. For the complete terms of the warrants, you should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement and the forms of warrant agreement, if any, and warrant certificate for those particular warrants. We encourage you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and the forms of warrant agreement, if any, and warrant certificate for those particular warrants before you purchase any of our warrants.
If we offer warrants, we will describe the specific terms of the warrants in a prospectus supplement, 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, and currency, in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;
- in the case of warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock, units or additional warrants, the number of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, units or additional warrants purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these securities may be purchased upon such exercise;
- the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on 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;
- the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;
- the manner in which the warrant agreement, if any, and warrants may be modified;
- 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.
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Description of Subscription Receipts
The following describes the general terms and provisions of the subscription receipts that we may offer. When we offer to sell particular subscription receipts, we will describe the specific terms of any subscription receipts offered from time to time in a supplement to this prospectus, which may supplement or change the terms outlined below.
We may issue subscription receipts, which will entitle holders to receive upon satisfaction of certain release conditions and for no additional consideration, common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities or units or any combination thereof. We may issue subscription receipts independently or together with common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities or units. We will evidence subscription receipts by subscription receipt certificates that we may issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into the subscription receipt agreement with a subscription receipt agent. We will indicate the name and address of any such subscription receipt agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to particular subscription receipts.
Before we issue any subscription receipts, the forms of subscription receipt agreement, if any, and subscription receipt certificates will be filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K. For the complete terms of the subscription receipts, you should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement and the forms of subscription receipt agreement, if any, and subscription receipt certificate for those particular subscription receipts. We encourage you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and the forms of subscription receipt agreement, if any, and subscription receipt certificate for those particular subscription receipts before you purchase any of our subscription receipts.
If we offer subscription receipts, we will describe the specific terms of the subscription receipts in a prospectus supplement, including:
- the offering price and aggregate number of subscription receipts offered;
- the currency for which the subscription receipts may be purchased;
- the designation and terms of the securities into which the subscription receipts are convertible;
- if applicable, the date on and after which the subscription receipts and the related securities will be separately transferable;
- in the case of subscription receipts to acquire debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities convertible upon conversion of one subscription receipt;
- in the case of subscription receipts to acquire common stock, preferred stock, warrants or units, the number of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, warrants, units or any combination thereof acquirable upon the conversion of one subscription receipt;
- the conditions that must be met in order for holders of subscription receipts to receive for no additional consideration common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants or units, the number of shares of common stock, preferred stock, warrants or units or the amount of debt securities or any combination thereof;
- the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the subscription receipts;
- the terms of any rights to redeem or call the subscription receipts;
- any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the number of securities issuable upon conversion of the subscription receipts;
- the dates on which the right to convert the subscription receipts will commence and expire;
- the manner in which the subscription receipt agreement, if any, and subscription receipts may be modified;
- the terms of the securities issuable upon conversion of the subscription receipts; and
- any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the subscription receipts.
Description of Units
We may issue units consisting of one or more warrants, subscription receipts, debt securities, shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, or any combination of such securities. When we offer to sell particular units, we will describe the specific terms of any units offered from time to time in a supplement to this prospectus, which may supplement or change the terms outlined below.
Before we issue any units, the form of agreement relating to units 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 units, you should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement and the form of units for those particular units. We encourage you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and the form of units for those particular units before you purchase any of our units.
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If we offer units, we will describe the specific terms of the units in a prospectus supplement, including:
- the terms of the units and of the warrants, subscription receipts, debt securities, common stock and preferred stock comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances the securities comprising the units may be traded separately;
- a description of the terms of any agreement governing the units; and
- a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units.
Plan of Distribution
General
We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus through underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of these methods, and we may engage in "at the market" offerings into an existing trading market as contemplated in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including, without limitation:
- the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, if any;
- the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;
- any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters' compensation;
- any compensation to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering; and
- any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed.
We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at:
- a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
- market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
- varying prices determined at the time of sale related to such prevailing market prices; or
- other negotiated prices.
Underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business. If material, we will describe in the prospectus supplement the nature of any such relationship and the name of the parties involved.
Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement will be underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.
By Underwriters
If we use underwriters in the sale of the securities, they may acquire the securities for their own account and may resell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. We may offer the securities to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. We may agree to pay the underwriters a fee or commission for various services relating to the offering of the securities.
By Dealers
If we use a dealer in the sale of the securities, we may sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may change from time to time.
By Agents
We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time.
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Direct Sales
We may sell the securities directly at such prices and upon such terms as agreed to by us and the purchaser. In this case, no underwriters, dealers or agents would be involved in the offering.
Compensation of Underwriters, Dealers or Agents
In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities, and any institutional investors or others that purchase securities directly and then resell the securities, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the United States Securities Act of 1933.
Delayed Delivery Contracts
We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.
Stabilization and Other Transactions
To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities that we sell to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by exercising their over-allotment option, if any, or making purchases in the open market. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
Derivative Transactions and Hedging
We, the underwriters or other agents may engage in derivative transactions involving the securities. These derivatives may consist of short sale transactions and other hedging activities. The underwriters or agents may acquire a long or short position in the securities, hold or resell the securities acquired and purchase options or futures on the securities and other derivative instruments with returns linked to or related to changes in the price of the securities. In order to facilitate these derivative transactions, we may enter into security lending or repurchase agreements with the underwriters or agents. The underwriters or agents may effect the derivative transactions through sales of the securities to the public, including short sales, or by lending the securities in order to facilitate short sale transactions by others. The underwriters or agents may also use the securities purchased or borrowed from us or others (or, in the case of derivatives, securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives) to directly or indirectly settle sales of the securities or close out any related open borrowings of the securities.
Indemnification
Underwriters, dealers or agents who participate in the distribution of securities may be entitled under agreements to be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under Canadian and United States securities laws, or to contribution with respect to payments which such underwriters, dealers or agents may be required to make in respect thereof.
Experts
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended March 31, 2021 have been audited by Prager Metis CPA, LLC, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph related to The Alkaline Water Company Inc.'s ability to continue as a going concern), which is incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
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Counsel
Clark Wilson LLP, of Suite 900 - 885 West Georgia Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada has provided an opinion on the validity of the shares of our common stock being offered pursuant to this prospectus.
Interest of Named Experts and Counsel
No expert named in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part as having prepared or certified any part thereof (or is named as having prepared or certified a report or valuation for use in connection with such registration statement) or counsel named in this prospectus as having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering such securities was employed for such purpose on a contingency basis. Also at the time of such preparation, certification or opinion or at any time thereafter, through the date of effectiveness of such registration statement or that part of such registration statement to which such preparation, certification or opinion relates, no such person had, or is to receive, in connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in our company or any of its parents or subsidiaries. Nor was any such person connected with our company or any of its parents or subsidiaries as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer or employee.
Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference
The following documents filed by our company with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated into this prospectus by reference:
1. our annual report on Form 10-K filed on July 6, 2021 and our annual report on Form 10-K/A filed on August 31, 2021;
2. our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q filed on August 16, 2021, November 9, 2021 and February 14, 2022;
3. our current reports on Form 8-K filed on April 6, 2021, April 6, 2021, April 8, 2021, April 21, 2021, May 13, 2021, May 19, 2021, May 24, 2021, June 17, 2021, June 25, 2021, July 6, 2021, July 29, 2021, July 30, 2021, August 10, 2021, August 12, 2021, September 3, 2021, September 13, 2021, September 21, 2021, October 1, 2021, October 4, 2021, November 17, 2021, November 19, 2021, November 24, 2021, December 23, 2021 and March 4, 2022 (except, with respect to each of the foregoing, for the portions of such reports which were deemed to be furnished and not filed); and
4. the description of our common stock contained in our Form 8-A filed on December 4, 2018, which refers to the description of our securities contained in the post-effective amendment no. 2 to our registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-209124) filed on November 24, 2017, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
In addition to the foregoing, we incorporate by reference all documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (other than any documents or information furnished and not filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission), including those filed after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to effectiveness of such registration statement, until we file a post-effective amendment that indicates the termination of the offering of the securities covered by this prospectus and such documents will become a part of this prospectus from the date that such documents are filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Information in such future filings updates and supplements the information provided in this prospectus. Any statements in any such future filings will automatically be deemed to modify and supersede any information in any document we previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by reference to the extent that statements in the later filed document modify or replace such earlier statements.
We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, at no cost, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference in this prospectus but not delivered with this prospectus. Requests for documents should be directed to The Alkaline Water Company Inc., 8541 E Anderson Drive, Suite 100/101, Scottsdale, Arizona 85255, Attention: President, telephone number (480) 656-2423. Exhibits to these filings will not be sent unless those exhibits have been specifically incorporated by reference in such filings.
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Where You Can Find More Information
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Such filings are available to the public over the internet at the Securities and Exchange Commission's website at http://www.sec.gov.
We have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 with respect to the securities offered under this prospectus. This prospectus, which forms a part of that registration statement, does not contain all information included in the registration statement. Certain information is omitted and you should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses, other than any underwriting discounts and commission, payable by us in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereunder. All of the amounts shown are estimates, except for the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fees.
| Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee | $ | Nil | |
| Accounting fees and expenses | * | ||
| Legal fees and expenses | * | ||
| Printing fees and expenses | * | ||
| Trustee fees and expenses | * | ||
| Transfer agent and registrar fees and expenses | * | ||
| Miscellaneous fees and expenses | * | ||
| Total | $ | * |
* These fees and expenses depend on the securities offered and the number of issuances and cannot be estimated at this time.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The Nevada Revised Statutes provide that:
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a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, except an action by or in the right of the corporation, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful;
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a corporation may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. Indemnification may not be made for any claim, issue or matter as to which such a person has been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, after exhaustion of all appeals therefrom, to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances of the case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper; and
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- to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation must indemnify him or her against expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense.
The Nevada Revised Statutes provide that we may make any discretionary indemnification only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances. The determination must be made:
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by our stockholders;
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by our board of directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding;
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if a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion;
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if a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding cannot be obtained, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion; or
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by court order.
Our bylaws provide for the mandatory indemnification of our directors and officers to the fullest extent legally permissible under the Nevada Revised Statutes from time to time against all expenses, liability and loss reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with he or she having been or being a party to, threatening to be made a party to, or involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an officer of the company. Advance payment of expenses by the company to such director or officer, as these expenses are incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding, are subject to an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount of such payment if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by our company. The right of indemnification under our bylaws is not exclusive of any other right to indemnification a director or an officer may have.
Our bylaws allow us to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of our company against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in any such capacity or arising out of such status, whether or not we would have the power to indemnify such person.
We have directors and officers liability insurance under which our directors or officers are insured against liability which they may incur in their capacities as such.
Item 16. Exhibits
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(1) |
Underwriting Agreement |
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1.1** |
Form of Underwriting Agreement |
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(4) |
Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures |
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4.1** |
Certificate of Designation for Preferred Stock |
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4.4** |
Form of Warrant Agreement |
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4.5** |
Form of Warrant Certificate |
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4.6** |
Form of Subscription Receipt Agreement |
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4.7** |
Form of Subscription Receipt Certificate |
| 4.8** | Form of Agreement relating to Units |
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(5) |
Opinion regarding Legality |
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Opinion of Clark Wilson LLP regarding the legality of the securities being registered. |
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(23) |
Consents of Experts and Counsel |
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(25) |
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee |
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25.1*** |
Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 |
| (107) | Filing Fee Table |
| 107**** | EX-Filing Fees |
*Filed herewith.
** To be filed, when and if necessary, by an amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein in connection with a specific offering of securities.
*** To be filed, if applicable, pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
**** Previously filed.
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
1. To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
i. To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
ii. To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
iii. To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, That paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;
2. That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
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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; and
4. That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser,
i. each prospectus filed by the undersigned registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
ii. each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
For the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
1. any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
2. 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;
3. 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
4. any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser;
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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 Securities and Exchange Commission under section 305(b)(2) of that Act.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form 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 Scottsdale, State of Arizona, on March 22, 2022.
The Alkaline Water Company Inc.
By:
/s/ Richard A. Wright
Richard A. Wright
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Richard A. Wright
Richard A. Wright
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Date: March 22, 2022
/s/ David A. Guarino
David A. Guarino
Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Director
(Principal Financial Officer and Principal
Accounting Officer)
Date: March 22, 2022
/s/ Aaron Keay
Aaron Keay
Director
Date: March 22, 2022
/s/ Frank Lazaran
Frank Lazaran
Director
Date: March 22, 2022
/s/ Brian Sudano
Brian Sudano
Director
Date: March 22, 2022
FORM OF INDENTURE RELATING TO SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
EXHIBIT 4.2
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.
SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
INDENTURE
Dated as of ♦
♦,
Trustee
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939
and Indenture, dated as of ♦
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Trust Indenture Act Section |
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Indenture Section |
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§310 |
(a)(1) |
6.7(a) |
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(a)(2) |
6.7(a) |
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(b) |
6.8 |
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§312 |
(c) |
7.1 |
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§314 |
(a) |
7.3 |
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(a)(4) |
10.4 |
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(c)(1) |
1.2 |
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(c)(2) |
1.2 |
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(e) |
1.2 |
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§315 |
(b) |
6.1 |
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§316 |
(a)(last sentence) |
1.1 ("Outstanding") |
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(a)(1)(A) |
5.2, 5.12 |
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(a)(1)(B) |
5.13 |
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(b) |
5.8 |
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(c) |
1.4(e) |
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§317 |
(a)(1) |
5.3 |
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(a)(2) |
5.4 |
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(b) |
10.3 |
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§318 |
(a) |
1.11 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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INDENTURE, dated as of ♦, ♦ between THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Nevada (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at 8541 E. Anderson Drive, Suite 100/101, Arizona 85255, and, ♦ a ♦ duly organized and existing under the laws of ♦, as trustee (herein called the "Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its senior debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the "Securities"), which may be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any person (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.
This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
1.1 Definitions
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms "cash transaction" and "self-liquidating paper", as used in TIA Section 311, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission adopted under the Trust Indenture Act;
(c) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term "generally accepted accounting principles" with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles used in the Company's annual financial statements contained in the Company's annual report delivered to its shareholders in respect of the fiscal year immediately prior to the date of such computation;
(d) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
(e) "or" is not exclusive;
(f) "including" or "include" means including or include without limitation; and
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(g) unsecured Debt shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to secured Debt merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Debt.
Certain terms, used principally in Article 3 and Article 5 are defined in those Articles.
(a) "Act", when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.
(b) "Additional Amounts" means any additional amounts which are required by a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain Holders and which are owing to such Holders.
(c) "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and 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 to the foregoing.
(d) "Authenticating Agent" means any Person appointed by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.11 to authenticate Securities.
(e) "Authorized Newspaper" means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not such newspaper is also published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.
(f) "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.
(g) "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
(h) "Business Day", when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(i) "Capital Stock" means (a) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person and (b) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person.
(j) "Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
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(k) "Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor Person.
(l) "Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers, and delivered to the Trustee.
(m) "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office on the date of execution of this Indenture is located at ♦, Attention: ♦, except that with respect to presentation of Securities for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, such term shall mean the office or agency of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate agency business shall be conducted.
(n) "corporation" includes corporations, associations, companies and business trusts.
(o) "covenant defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 14.3.
(p) "Currency" means any currency or currencies, composite currency or currency unit or currency units issued by the government of one or more countries or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.
(q) "Debt" means notes, bonds, debentures or other similar evidences of indebtedness for money borrowed.
(r) "Default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
(s) "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
(t) "defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 14.2.
(u) "Depositary" means a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for the Global Securities. The Company initially appoints DTC as the Depositary.
(v) "Dollar" or "$" means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
(w) "DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.
(x) "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.
(y) "Exchange Act" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(z) "Extension Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
(aa) "Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
(bb) "Final Maturity" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
(cc) "Government Obligations" means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, securities which are (i) direct obligations of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of a particular series are payable or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by such government, which, in either case, are full faith and credit obligations of such government payable in such Currency and are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of a holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
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(dd) "Holder" means the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.
(ee) "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1 and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be part hereof; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, "Indenture" shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.1, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.
(ff) "Indexed Security" means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.
(gg) "interest", when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity at the rate prescribed in such Original Issue Discount Security, and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 10.5, includes such Additional Amounts.
(hh) "Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
(ii) "mandatory sinking fund payment" has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.
(jj) "Maturity", when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.
(kk) "Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of the Company.
(ll) "Officers' Certificate" means a written certificate signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers, and delivered to the Trustee.
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(mm) "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, including an employee of the Company.
(nn) "Optional Reset Date" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
(oo) "optional sinking fund payment" has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.
(pp) "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.
(qq) "Original Stated Maturity" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
(rr) "Outstanding", when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to the terms of this Indenture;
(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefore satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;
(iii) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 14.2 and 14.3, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article 14; and
(iv) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser (as defined in Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code) in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 3.1, and (iii) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.
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(ss) "Paying Agent" means any Person (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company.
(tt) "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
(uu) "Place of Payment" means, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities are payable as specified and as contemplated by or pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 10.2.
(vv) "Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
(ww) "Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
(xx) "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.
(yy) "Repayment Date" means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment pursuant to this Indenture.
(zz) "Repayment Price" means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to this Indenture.
(aaa) "Reset Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
(bbb) "Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, officer or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above-designated officers, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
(ccc) "Security" or "Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, "Securities" with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.
(ddd) "Securities Act" means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(eee) "Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.
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(fff) "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of or within any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.
(ggg) "Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable, as such date may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.8.
(hhh) "Subsequent Interest Period" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
(iii) "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof), (ii) any partnership (a) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (b) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof) or (iii) any other Person not described in clauses (i) and (ii) above in which such Person, or one more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, has a 50% ownership and the power, pursuant to a written contract or agreement, to direct the policies and management or the financial and other affairs thereof.
(jjj) "Trust Indenture Act" or "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 9.5; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" or "TIA" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
(kkk) "Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
(lll) "United States" means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
(mmm) "United States person" means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
(nnn) "Vice President", when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title "vice president".
(ooo) "Yield to Maturity" means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.
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1.2 Compliance Certificates and Opinions
Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Trustee may require an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture (including any covenant compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) relating to the proposed action have been complied with or an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, or both; provided, however, that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 10.4) shall include:
(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.
1.3 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, or a certificate or representations by counsel, unless such Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations by counsel with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel or certificate or representations may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such Officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which such certificate or opinion may be based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of chartered accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.
Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
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1.4 Acts of Holders.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
(c) The principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.
(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefore or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
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1.5 Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,
(a) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, or
(b) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company, Attention: Secretary, addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
1.6 Notice to Holders; Waiver
Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Securities by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Securities. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.
In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to Holders of Securities when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
1.7 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
1.8 Successors and Assigns
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
1.9 Separability Clause
In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security 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.
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1.10 Benefits of Indenture
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities Registrar and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
1.11 Governing Law
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Nevada. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
1.12 Legal Holidays
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date or Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of any Security other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section), payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.
1.13 Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction;
By the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company (i) acknowledges that it has irrevocably designated and appointed ♦ as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities or this Indenture that may be instituted in any United States federal or ♦ state court in ♦ or brought under federal or state securities laws or brought by the Trustee (whether in its individual capacity or in its capacity as Trustee hereunder), (ii) submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit or proceeding, and (iii) agrees that service of process upon ♦ and written notice of said service to the Company (mailed or delivered to the Company, Attention: Secretary, at its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture and in the manner specified in Section 1.5 hereof), shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of ♦ in full force and effect so long as any of the Securities shall be outstanding.
1.14 Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors of the Company Exempt from Individual Liability
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, as such, or against any past, present or future shareholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
1.15 Waiver of Jury Trial
Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby.
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1.16 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act
If and to the extent that any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Section 310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, through operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties control.
ARTICLE 2
SECURITY FORMS
2.1 Forms Generally
(a) The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed 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 the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the forms of Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.
(b) The Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article.
(c) The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel-engraved border or steel-engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
2.2 Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication
Subject to Section 6.11, the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Dated: ______________________
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| as Trustee | |||
| By: | |||
| Authorized Officer | |||
2.3 Securities Issuable in Global Form
If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, then, notwithstanding clause (h) of Section 3.1, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.3 or Section 3.4. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 and, if applicable, Section 3.4, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.3 or Section 3.4 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 1.2 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
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The provisions of the last sentence of Section 3.3 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 1.2 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.3.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.7, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.9 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security the Holder of such permanent global Security.
None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
ARTICLE 3
THE SECURITIES
3.1 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 3.3, set forth in, or determined in the manner provided in, an Officers' Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (a), (b) and (o) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of the series and set forth in such Securities of the series when issued from time to time):
(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other series of Securities);
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(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6, 11.7 or 13.5);
(c) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended, on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;
(d) the rate or rates (whether fixed or variable) at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
(e) the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to The City of ♦, where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, where any Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and, if different than the location specified in Section 1.5, the place or places where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payment or Additional Amounts on a global Security on an Interest Payment Date shall be paid;
(f) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;
(g) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;
(h) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series 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 other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(i) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination or denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(j) if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;
(k) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;
(l) whether the amount of payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
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(m) the applicability, if any, of Sections 14.2 and/or 14.3 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article 14 that shall be applicable to the Securities of the series;
(n) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;
(o) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants (including any deletions from, modifications of or additions to Section 10.7) 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 set forth herein;
(p) whether the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in permanent global form and, in such case, the Depositary for such Securities if other than DTC; the manner in which and the circumstances under which interests in any such permanent global Security may be exchanged for Securities in definitive form, if other than, or in addition to, the manner and circumstances specified in Section 3.4;
(q) the Person to whom any interest on any 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 and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date shall be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 3.4;
(r) if Securities of the 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, the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;
(s) if the Securities of the series are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants, the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;
(t) whether and under what circumstances the Company shall pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 10.5 on the Securities of the series to any Holder who is not a United States person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company shall have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);
(u) the percentage or percentages of principal amount of which the Securities of the series shall be issued;
(v) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exercisable, redeemable or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be so convertible or exchangeable, including whether conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the Holder or at the Company's option, the date on or the period during which conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange may occur, the initial conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange price or rate and the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common shares or preference shares or other securities issuable upon conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange may be adjusted;
(w) if the Securities of the series are subject to mandatory or optional remarketing or other mandatory or optional resale provisions, and, if applicable, the date or period during which such resale may occur, any conditions to such resale and any right of a Holder to substitute securities for the Securities subject to resale; and
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(x) any other terms, conditions, rights and preferences (or limitations on such rights and preferences) relating to the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or the provisions of this Indenture).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution (subject to Section 3.3) and set forth in such Officers' Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. Not all Securities of any one series need be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, such Board Resolutions shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers' Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
3.2 Denominations
The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by or pursuant to Section 3.1. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions, the Securities of such series, other than Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any Officer. The signature of any Officer on the Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized Officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper Officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series, executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If not all of the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Securities and determining the terms of particular Securities of such series such as interest rate, stated maturity, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue.
In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:
(a) that the form or forms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) that the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(c) that such Securities when completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, shall constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights, to general equitable principles and to such other qualifications as such counsel shall conclude do not materially affect the rights of Holders of such Securities;
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(d) that the Company has the corporate power to issue such Securities, and has duly taken all necessary corporate action with respect to such issuance; and
(e) that the issuance of such Securities shall not contravene the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or result in any violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law or regulation.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding two paragraphs, if not all the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs prior to or at the time of issuance of each Security, but such documents shall be delivered prior to or at the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate and deliver any such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture shall affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.10 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 1.2 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
3.4 Temporary Securities
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities (printed or lithographed). Temporary Securities shall be issuable in any authorized denomination and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and shall be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Securities. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving any registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section or Section 3.5, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive form, a global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor depositary.
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If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for Securities of a series shall no longer be a clearing agency registered and in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such global Security or Securities.
If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities of a series, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of such series in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without charge:
(a) to each Person specified by the Depositary a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person's beneficial interest in the global Security; and
(b) to the Depositary a new global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities delivered to Holders thereof.
3.5 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times, the Security Register shall be open to inspection by the Trustee. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed as security registrar (the "Security Registrar") for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided that, no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment by the Company. In the event that the Trustee shall not be or shall cease to be the Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only one Security Register for each series of Securities.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.
At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other replacement Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
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Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.1 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 3.3 and the Company Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more global Securities in temporary or permanent form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by one or more global Securities, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such global Security or Securities or the nominee of such depositary, and (iii) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: "This Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a 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, unless and until this Security is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive form" and such other legend as may be required by the Depositary.
The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more global Securities shall no longer be represented by such global Security or Securities. In such event the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive registered form, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such global Security or Securities.
Upon the exchange of a global Security for Securities in definitive registered form, such global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Securities issued in exchange for a global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the depositary for such global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee in writing. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of that series under Section 11.3 or 12.3 and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part, or (iii) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.
3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with, in proper cases, such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
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If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser (as defined in Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code), the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a replacement Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any replacement Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every replacement Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, if any, shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section, as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
3.7 Payment of Principal and Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset
(a) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest, if any, on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 10.2; provided, however, that each installment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Security may at the Company's option be paid by (i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 3.9, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register or (ii) wire transfer to an account of the person entitled to receive such payment if such person is a Holder of $10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series (with wire transfer instructions provided to the Trustee not less than 15 days prior to payment of interest by wire transfer); provided further, that principal paid in relation to any Security redeemed at the option of the Company pursuant to Article 11, or paid at Maturity, shall be paid to the holder of such Security only upon presentation and surrender of such Security to such office or agency referred to in this Section 3.7(a).
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1, any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest on such defaulted interest (to the extent lawful) at the rate specified in the Securities of such series (such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest thereon herein collectively called "Defaulted Interest") may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:
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(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefore having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose name the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii).
(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
(b) The provisions of this Section 3.7(b) may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 3.1). The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an "Optional Reset Date"). The Company may exercise such option with respect to such Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security. Not later than 40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, to the Holder of any such Security a notice (the "Reset Notice") indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and if so (i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) and (ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity Date of such Security (each such period a "Subsequent Interest Period"), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish an interest rate (or a spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) that is higher than the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice, for the Subsequent Interest Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, shall bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable).
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The Holder of any such Security shall have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article 13 for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 3.5, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
3.8 Optional Extension of Stated Maturity
The provisions of this Section 3.8 may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 3.1). The Stated Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each an "Extension Period") up to but not beyond the date (the "Final Maturity") set forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with respect to any Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the "Original Stated Maturity"). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, to the Holder of such Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the "Extension Notice") indicating (i) the election of the Company to extend the Stated Maturity, (ii) the new Stated Maturity, (iii) the interest rate, if any, applicable to the Extension Period and (iv) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period. Upon the Trustee's transmittal of the Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such Security shall have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the Original Stated Maturity of such Security, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, notice of such higher interest rate to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended shall bear such higher interest rate.
If the Company extends the Maturity of any Security, the Holder shall have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Maturity thereof, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article 13 for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may by written notice to the Trustee revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.
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3.9 Persons Deemed Owners
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 3.5 and 3.7) interest, if any, on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever (other than the payment of Additional Amounts, if any), whether or not such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Depositary for Securities may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever (other than the payment of Additional Amounts, if any). None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any depositary, as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or impair, as between such depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.
3.10 Cancellation
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any current or future sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee. All Securities so delivered to the Trustee shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures and certification of their disposal delivered to the Company unless by Company Order the Company shall direct that cancelled Securities be returned to it.
3.11 Computation of Interest
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any Securities, interest, if any, on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
3.12 CUSIP Numbers
The Company in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall indicate the "CUSIP" numbers of the Securities in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption 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 "CUSIP" numbers.
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ARTICLE 4
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
4.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, this Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto and any right to receive Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 10.5) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when
(a) either
(i) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6, and (ii) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3), have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
(A) have become due and payable, or
(B) shall become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or
(C) if redeemable at the option of the Company, 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,
and the Company, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) 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 as to such series have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.6, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.11 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (ii) of clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and the last paragraph of Section 10.3 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.
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4.2 Application of Trust Money
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 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 premium, if any) and interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
ARTICLE 5
REMEDIES
5.1 Events of Default
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default, and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that series when such interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture; or
(b) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; or
(c) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of the Securities of that series and Article 12; or
(d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture which affects or is applicable to the Securities of that series (other than a default in the performance, or breach, of a covenant or agreement which is specifically dealt with elsewhere in this Section or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or
(e) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under or subject to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, provincial, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws, or the issuance of a sequestration order or the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or in receipt of any substantial part of the property of the Company, and any such decree, order or appointment continues unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
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(f) the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under or subject to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, provincial, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or
(g) (A) there shall have occurred a default by the Company in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) Debt in an amount to be specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture or more outstanding under or evidenced by any single indenture or instrument, when the same becomes due and payable at the stated maturity thereof, and such default shall have continued after any applicable grace period and shall not have been cured or waived or (B) Debt of the Company in an amount to be specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture or more outstanding under or evidenced by any single indenture or instrument shall have been accelerated or otherwise declared due and payable, or required to be prepaid or repurchased (other than by regularly scheduled required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof; or
(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.
5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment
If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1 with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified portion thereof) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 occurs, the principal amount (or if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all Outstanding Securities shall be due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the Holders.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series (or of all series, as the case may be) has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if
(a) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable,
(i) all overdue interest, if any, on all Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be),
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(ii) all unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) any Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, and interest on such unpaid principal at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,
(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue interest, if any, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and
(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and
(b) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), other than the non-payment of amounts of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of a declaration of acceleration in respect of the Securities because of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(g) shall have occurred and be continuing, such declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if the Debt that is the subject of such Event of Default has been discharged or the holders thereof have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Debt, and written notice of such discharge or rescission, as the case may be, shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company and countersigned by the holders of such Debt or a trustee, fiduciary or agent for such holders, within 30 days after such declaration of acceleration in respect of the Securities, and no other Event of Default has occurred during such 30 day period which has not been cured or waived during such period.
5.3 Collection of Debt and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee
The Company covenants that if
(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or
(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,
then the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, and interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series (or of all series, as the case may be) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series (or of all series, as the case may be) by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
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5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal, premium, if any, or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
(a) to file a proof of claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any), or such portion of the principal amount of any series of Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities as may be specified in the terms of such series, and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding 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 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 6.6.
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.
5.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
5.6 Application of Money Collected
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.6;
Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, respectively; and
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Third: The balance, if any, to the Company or any other Person or Persons entitled thereto.
5.7 Limitation on Suits
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or the Securities of any series, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless
(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, or, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities, shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority or more in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, or, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, by the Holders of a majority or more in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities of the same series, in the case of any Event of Default, described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, or of Holders of all Securities in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders of Securities of the same series, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, or, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1.
5.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment, as provided herein (including, if applicable, Article 14) and in such Security, of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.7) interest, if any, on, such Security on the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
5.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Securities shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
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5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
5.12 Control by Holders
With respect to the Securities of any series, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, relating to or arising under clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, and, with respect to all Securities, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, not relating to or arising under clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, provided that in each case:
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction; and
(c) the Trustee need not take any action which might expose the Trustee to personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not consenting.
5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults
Subject to Section 5.2, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1 (or in the case of a default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities may waive any such past default), and its consequences, except a default
(a) in respect of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security, or
(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article 9 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
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Upon any such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
5.14 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
5.15 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, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company.
ARTICLE 6
THE TRUSTEE
6.1 Notice of Defaults
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided further that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(d) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.
6.2 Certain Rights of Trustee
Subject to the provisions of TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d):
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than delivery of any Security, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 3.3 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) 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, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon a Board Resolution, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officers' Certificate;
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(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(h) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; and
(i) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series unless either (1) such Default or Event of Default is known, or ought reasonably to have been known, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee or (2) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of any series or by any Holder of the Securities of any series.
The Trustee shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
6.3 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except for the Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
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6.4 May Hold Securities
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent. A Trustee that has resigned or was removed shall remain subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
6.5 Money Held in Trust
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.
6.6 Compensation and Reimbursement
The Company agrees:
(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses, advances and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and
(c) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate the Trustee, to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances and to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. As security for the performance of such obligations of the Company, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on particular Securities.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, the expenses (including reasonable charges and expense of its counsel) of and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable U.S. or Canadian federal, state or provincial bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
6.7 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility; Conflicting Interests
(a) There shall be at all times a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus (together with that of its parent, if applicable) of at least $50,000,000. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
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(b) The following indenture shall be deemed to be specifically described herein for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in TIA Section 310(b): Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture dated as of ♦, between the Company and the trustee named therein.
6.8 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.9.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.9 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.9 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the delivery of an Act of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(d) If at any time:
(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.7(a) and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (i) the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series). If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
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(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided for in Section 1.6. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
6.9 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Whenever there is a successor Trustee with respect to one or more (but less than all) series of securities issued pursuant to this Indenture, the terms "Indenture" and "Securities" shall have the meanings specified in the provisos to the respective definitions of those terms in Section 1.1 which contemplate such situation.
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(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
6.10 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any successor Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee. In all such cases such certificates shall have the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
6.11 Appointment of Authenticating Agent
At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Authenticating Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6. Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the ♦, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
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Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication substantially in the following form:
Dated: ________________________
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| As Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| as Authenticating Agent | ||
| By: | ||
| Authorized Officer | ||
ARTICLE 7
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
7.1 Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders
Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that none of the Company or the Trustee or any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).
7.2 Reports by Trustee
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit to the Holders, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such May 15 if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
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(b) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of such report shall, at the time of such transmission to the Holders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company (Attention: Secretary), with each securities exchange upon which any of the Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when the Securities become listed on any stock exchange.
7.3 Reports by Company
The Company shall:
(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company has filed the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;
(b) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
(c) transmit to all Holders, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee are for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).
ARTICLE 8
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
8.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms
The Company shall not consolidate, amalgamate or enter into any statutory arrangement with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:
(a) the entity formed by or continuing from such consolidation, amalgamation or arrangement or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall:
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(i) be a corporation, partnership or trust organized and validly existing under the laws of:
(A) Canada or any province or territory thereof;
(B) the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or
(C) if such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger or other transaction would not impair the rights of the Holders of the Securities, in any other country, provided that if such successor entity is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than Canada or any province or territory thereof, or the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, the successor entity assumes by a supplemental indenture the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture to pay Additional Amounts; and
(ii) expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, or assume by operation of law, the Company's obligation for the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on all the Securities and the performance and observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(b) after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(c) the Company and the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
This Section shall only apply to a merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation and to conveyances, leases and transfers by the Company as transferor or lessor.
8.2 Successor Person Substituted
Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or arrangement by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other corporation or any conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation, amalgamation or arrangement or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company (which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor Person which shall theretofore become such in the manner described in Section 8.1), except in the case of a lease, shall be discharged of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may be dissolved and liquidated.
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ARTICLE 9
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained herein and in the Securities; or
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or
(c) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or
(d) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or
(e) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1; or
(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.9(b); or
(g) to close this Indenture with respect to the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities, to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided such action shall not, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series and any related coupons in any material respect; or
(h) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth; or
(i) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 4.1, 14.2 and 14.3; provided that any such action shall not, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or
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(j) to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect.
9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of any series, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture which affect such series of Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series,
(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any) or any installment of principal of or interest on any Security of such series, or reduce the principal amount thereof (or premium, if any) or the rate of interest, if any, thereon, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts contemplated by Section 10.5 (except as contemplated by Section 8.1(a) and permitted by Section 9.1(a)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security of such series that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.4, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of any Holder of any Security of such series, or change any Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any Security of such series or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be), or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1 herein; or
(b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture which affect such series or certain defaults applicable to such series hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or
(c) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.7, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture which affect such series cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series; or
(d) modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the subordination of Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series. Any such supplemental indenture adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture, or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series, shall not affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.
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It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
9.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
9.7 Notice of Supplemental Indentures
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Holders of each Outstanding Security affected, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.
ARTICLE 10
COVENANTS
10.1 Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it shall duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
10.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency
The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.
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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, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agents to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind any such designation; 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 accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series 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. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby designates as a Place of Payment for each series of Securities the office or agency of the Company in the ♦, and initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Paying Agent in such city and as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
10.3 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of such series so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
The Company shall cause each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) for any series of Securities to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent shall:
(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(b) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series; and
(c) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.
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Except as provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on any Security of any series, and remaining unclaimed for two years (or such shorter period as may be specified in the applicable abandoned property statutes) after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.
10.4 Statement as to Compliance
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer(s), principal financial officer(s) or principal accounting officer(s) as to his or her knowledge of the Company's compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 10.4, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.
10.5 Additional Amounts
If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company shall pay to the Holder of a Security of such series Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 3.1 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal, premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers' Certificate, the Company shall furnish the Trustee and the Company's principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers' Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal, premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of the series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers' Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series and the Company shall pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. In the event that the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall not so receive the above-mentioned certificate, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall be entitled (i) to assume that no such withholding or deduction is required with respect to any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Securities of a series until it shall have received a certificate advising otherwise and (ii) to make all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Securities of a series without withholding or deductions until otherwise advised. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers' Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or in reliance on the Company's not furnishing such an Officers' Certificate.
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10.6 Corporate Existence
Subject to Article 8, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as a whole.
10.7 Waiver of Certain Covenants
The Company may, with respect to any series of Securities, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition which affects such series set forth in Section 10.6 or, as specified pursuant to Section 3.1(n) for Securities of such series, in any covenants of the Company added to Article 10 pursuant to Section 3.1(n) or Section 3.1(o) in connection with Securities of such series, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of any series, by Act of such Holders, waive such compliance in such instance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee to Holders of Securities of such series in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
10.8 Calculation of Original Issue Discount
If any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, then the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specified information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE 11
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
11.1 Applicability of Article
Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
11.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 11.3. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
11.3 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 3.1.
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The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.
11.4 Notice of Redemption
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 1.6 not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice in the manner provided in Section 1.6 to the Holder of any Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.
Any notice that is mailed to the Holders in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the Redemption Price and the amount of accrued interest to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 11.6, if any;
(c) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;
(d) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder shall receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed;
(e) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 11.6 shall become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;
(f) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any; and
(g) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price
On or prior to 10:00 a.m., ♦ time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.
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11.6 Securities Payable on Redemption Date
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.
11.7 Securities Redeemed in Part
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article 12) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. However, if less than all of the Securities of any series with differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed, the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities to be redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing thereof at least 45 days prior to the relevant redemption date.
ARTICLE 12
SINKING FUNDS
12.1 Applicability of Article
Retirements of Securities of any series pursuant to any sinking fund shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any mandatory sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities
Subject to Section 12.3, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option (1) deliver to the Trustee Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company, and/or (2) receive credit for the principal amount of Securities of such series which have been previously delivered to the Trustee by the Company or for Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of the same series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided, however, that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
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12.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund
Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering or crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2 (which Securities shall, if not previously delivered, accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make a permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the failure of the Company to deliver such certificate, the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Securities as provided in Section 12.2 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.
Not more than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.6 and 11.7.
Prior to any sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee or a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) in cash a sum equal to any interest that shall accrue to the date fixed for redemption of Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 12.3.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a sinking fund for any series of Securities, if at any time the amount of cash to be paid into such sinking fund on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date, together with any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payment or payments for such series, does not exceed in the aggregate $100,000, the Trustee, unless requested by the Company, shall not give the next succeeding notice of the redemption of Securities of such series through the operation of the sinking fund. Any such unused balance of moneys deposited in such sinking fund shall be added to the sinking fund payment for such series to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date or, at the request of the Company, shall be applied at any time or from time to time to the purchase of Securities of such series, by public or private purchase, in the open market or otherwise, at a purchase price for such Securities (excluding accrued interest and brokerage commissions, for which the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall be reimbursed by the Company) not in excess of the principal amount thereof.
ARTICLE 13
REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS
13.1 Applicability of Article
Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
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13.2 Repayment of Securities
Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof shall, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at the Repayment Price thereof, together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before the Repayment Date it shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.
13.3 Exercise of Option
Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall contain an "Option to Elect Repayment" form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the "Option to Elect Repayment" form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places or which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the Repayment Price of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the portion of the Repayment Price of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. Any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.
13.4 When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable
If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions maturing after the Repayment Date, the Repayment Price of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that installments of interest, if any, whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.
If any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, the Repayment Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.
13.5 Securities Repaid in Part
Upon surrender of any Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.
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ARTICLE 14
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
14.1 Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, the provisions of this Article 14 shall apply to each series of Securities, and the Company may, at its option, effect defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 14.2, or covenant defeasance of or within a series under Section 14.3 in accordance with the terms of such Securities and in accordance with this Article.
14.2 Defeasance and Discharge
Upon the Company's exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.4 are satisfied (hereinafter, "defeasance"). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "Outstanding" only for the purposes of Section 14.5 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (A) and (B) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.4 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company's obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 10.5, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (D) this Article 14. Subject to compliance with this Article 14, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 14.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 14.3 with respect to such Securities.
14.3 Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company's exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Article 8, Section 10.6 and any covenant specified pursuant to Section 3.1, its obligations under any other covenant, with respect to such Outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.4 are satisfied (hereinafter, "covenant defeasance"), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed not to be "Outstanding" for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed "Outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1(d) or Section 5.1(h) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
14.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 14.2 or Section 14.3 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:
(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.7 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article 14 applicable to it) 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, (A) an amount (in such Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), or (B) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms shall provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, under such Securities, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent chartered accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities and on the Stated Maturity (or Redemption Date, if applicable) of such principal (and premium, if any) or installment of principal or interest, if any, and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities; provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to such Securities. Before such a deposit, the Company may give to the Trustee, in accordance with Section 11.2 hereof, a notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of such Outstanding Securities at a future date in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series and Article 11 hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.
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(b) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as clauses (e) and (f) of Section 5.1 are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).
(c) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
(d) In the case of an election under Section 14.2, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable U.S. federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities shall not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and shall 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 defeasance had not occurred.
(e) In the case of an election under Section 14.3, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and shall be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.1.
(g) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 14.2 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.3 (as the case may be) have been complied with.
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(h) Either the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in Canada or a ruling from Canada Revenue Agency to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities shall not recognize income, gain or loss for Canadian federal, provincial or territorial income tax or other tax purpose as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, and shall be subject to Canadian federal or provincial income tax and other tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case had such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, not occurred (and for the purposes of such opinion, such Canadian counsel shall assume that Holders of the Securities include Holders who are not resident in Canada).
14.5 Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 14.5, the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 14.4 in respect of such Outstanding Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 14.4 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities.
Anything in this Article 14 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 14.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article 14.
14.6 Reinstatement
If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 14.5 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company's obligations under this Indenture and such Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 14.2 or 14.3, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 14.5; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture.
[Signatures follow on next page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
FORM OF INDENTURE RELATING TO SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
EXHIBIT 4.3
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.
SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
INDENTURE
Dated as of ♦
♦,
Trustee
THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC.
Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture,
dated as of ♦
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Trust Indenture Act Section |
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Indenture Section |
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§310 |
(a)(1) |
6.7(a) |
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(a)(2) |
6.7(a) |
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(b) |
6.8 |
|
§312 |
(c) |
7.1 |
|
§314 |
(a) |
7.3 |
|
|
(a)(4) |
10.4 |
|
|
(c)(1) |
1.2 |
|
|
(c)(2) |
1.2 |
|
|
(e) |
1.2 |
|
§315 |
(b) |
6.1 |
|
|
(a)(last sentence) |
1.1 ("Outstanding") |
|
§316 |
|
|
|
|
(a)(1)(A) |
5.2, 5.12 |
|
|
(a)(1)(B) |
5.13 |
|
|
(b) |
5.8 |
|
|
(c) |
1.4(e) |
|
§317 |
(a)(1) |
5.3 |
|
|
(a)(2) |
5.4 |
|
|
(b) |
10.3 |
|
§318 |
(a) |
1.11 |
Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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INDENTURE, dated as of ♦, ♦, between THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Nevada (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at 8541 E. Anderson Drive, Suite 100/101, Arizona 85255, and, ♦ a ♦ duly organized and existing under the laws of ♦, as trustee (herein called the "Trustee").
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY
The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its senior debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the "Securities"), which may be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any person (including the Company), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.
This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:
ARTICLE 1
DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
1.1 Definitions
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(b) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein, and the terms "cash transaction" and "self-liquidating paper", as used in TIA Section 311, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the rules of the Commission adopted under the Trust Indenture Act;
(c) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term "generally accepted accounting principles" with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles used in the Company's annual financial statements contained in the Company's annual report delivered to its shareholders in respect of the fiscal year immediately prior to the date of such computation;
(d) the words "herein", "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;
(e) "or" is not exclusive;
(f) "including" or "include" means including or include without limitation; and
(g) unsecured Debt shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to secured Debt merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Debt.
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Certain terms, used principally in Article 3 and Article 5 are defined in those Articles.
(a) "Act", when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.
(b) "Additional Amounts" means any additional amounts which are required by a Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on certain Holders and which are owing to such Holders.
(c) "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and 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 to the foregoing.
(d) "Authenticating Agent" means any Person appointed by the Trustee to act on behalf of the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.11 to authenticate Securities.
(e) "Authorized Newspaper" means a newspaper, in the English language or in an official language of the country of publication, customarily published on each Business Day, whether or not such newspaper is also published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.
(f) "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.
(g) "Board Resolution" means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
(h) "Business Day", when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
(i) "Capital Stock" means:
(i) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of common stock and preferred stock of such Person; and
(ii) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person.
(j) "Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
(k) "Company" means the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Company" shall mean such successor Person.
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(l) "Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers, and delivered to the Trustee.
(m) "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office on the date of execution of this Indenture is located at ♦, Attention: ♦, except that with respect to presentation of Securities for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange, such term shall mean the office or agency of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate agency business shall be conducted.
(n) "corporation" includes corporations, associations, companies and business trusts.
(o) "covenant defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 14.3.
(p) "Currency" means any currency or currencies, composite currency or currency unit or currency units issued by the government of one or more countries or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.
(q) "Debt" means notes, bonds, debentures or other similar evidences of indebtedness for money borrowed.
(r) "Default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
(s) "Default Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 15.3.
(t) "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
(u) "defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 14.2.
(v) "Depositary" means a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for the Global Securities. The Company initially appoints DTC as the Depositary.
(w) "Dollar" or "$" means a dollar or other equivalent unit in such coin or currency of the United States as at the time shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
(x) "DTC" means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.
(y) "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.
(z) "Exchange Act" means the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
(aa) "Extension Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
(bb) "Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
(cc) "Final Maturity" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
(dd) "Government Obligations" means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, securities which are:
(i) direct obligations of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of a particular series are payable; or
(ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the government which issued the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed by such government, which, in either case, are full faith and credit obligations of such government payable in such Currency and are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of a holder of a depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
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(ee) "Holder" means the Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.
(ff) "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1 and the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be part hereof; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, "Indenture" shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.1, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee but to which such Person, as such Trustee, was not a party.
(gg) "Indexed Security" means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.
(hh) "interest", when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity at the rate prescribed in such Original Issue Discount Security, and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 10.5, includes such Additional Amounts.
(ii) "Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
(jj) "mandatory sinking fund payment" has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.
(kk) "Maturity", when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.
(ll) "Officer" means the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer or the Secretary or any Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary of the Company.
(mm) "Officers' Certificate" means a written certificate signed in the name of the Company by any two Officers, and delivered to the Trustee.
(nn) "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for the Company, including an employee of the Company.
(oo) "Optional Reset Date" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
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(pp) "optional sinking fund payment" has the meaning specified in Section 12.1.
(qq) "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.
(rr) "Original Stated Maturity" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8.
(ss) "Outstanding", when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation pursuant to the terms of this Indenture;
(ii) Securities, or portions thereof, for whose payment or redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefore satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;
(iii) Securities, except to the extent provided in Sections 14.2 and 14.3, with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance and/or covenant defeasance as provided in Article 14; and
(iv) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser (as defined in Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code) in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, and for the purpose of making the calculations required by TIA Section 313:
(i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the amount of principal thereof that would be (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable, at the time of such determination, upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2;
(ii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination or calculation and that shall be deemed outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided with respect to such Security pursuant to Section 3.1; and
(iii) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding,
except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making such calculation or in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.
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(tt) "Paying Agent" means any Person (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) authorized by the Company to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities on behalf of the Company.
(uu) "Payment Blockage Period" has the meaning specified in Section 15.3.
(vv) "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
(ww) "Place of Payment" means, when used with respect to the Securities of or within any series, the place or places where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities are payable as specified and as contemplated by or pursuant to Sections 3.1 and 10.2.
(xx) "Redemption Date", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.
(yy) "Redemption Price", when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.
(zz) "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of or within any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.
(aaa) "Repayment Date" means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the date fixed for such repayment pursuant to this Indenture.
(bbb) "Repayment Price" means, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid at the option of the Holder, the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to this Indenture.
(ccc) "Reset Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
(ddd) "Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee, means any vice president, officer or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above-designated officers, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
(eee) "Security" or "Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, "Securities" with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.
(fff) "Securities Act" means the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(ggg) "Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.
(hhh) "Senior Indebtedness" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and unpaid interest on:
(i) indebtedness of the Company (including indebtedness of others guaranteed by the Company), whether outstanding on the date hereof or thereafter created, incurred, assumed or guaranteed, for money borrowed, unless in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is provided that such indebtedness is not senior or prior in right of payment to the Securities; and
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(ii) renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness.
(iii) "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of or within any series means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.
(jjj) "Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable, as such date may be extended pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.8.
(kkk) "Subsequent Interest Period" has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
(lll) "Subsidiary" means, with respect to any Person:
(i) any corporation, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof);
(ii) any partnership:
(A) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person; or
(B) the only general partners of which are such Person or of one or more Subsidiaries of such Person (or any combination thereof); or
(iii) any other Person not described in clauses (i) and (ii) above in which such Person, or one more other Subsidiaries of such Person or such Person and one or more other Subsidiaries thereof, directly or indirectly, has a 50% ownership and the power, pursuant to a written contract or agreement, to direct the policies and management or the financial and other affairs thereof.
(mmm) "Trust Indenture Act" or "TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed, except as provided in Section 9.5; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act is amended after such date, "Trust Indenture Act" or "TIA" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.
(nnn) "Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
(ooo) "United States" means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, the United States of America (including the states and the District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
(ppp) "United States person" means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source.
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(qqq) "Vice President", when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title "vice president".
(rrr) "Yield to Maturity" means the yield to maturity, computed at the time of issuance of a Security (or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such Security) and as set forth in such Security in accordance with generally accepted United States bond yield computation principles.
1.2 Compliance Certificates and Opinions
Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Trustee may require an Officers' Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture (including any covenant compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) relating to the proposed action have been complied with or an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, or both; provided, however, that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 10.4) shall include:
(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein relating thereto;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
(d) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such covenant or condition has been complied with.
1.3 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee
In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, or a certificate or representations by counsel, unless such Officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations by counsel with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel or certificate or representations may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such Officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which such certificate or opinion may be based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of chartered accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.
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Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
1.4 Acts of Holders
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of the Outstanding Securities of all series or one or more series, as the case may be, may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agents duly appointed in writing. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
(c) The principal amount and serial numbers of Securities held by any Person, and the date of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.
(d) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Notwithstanding TIA Section 316(c), such record date shall be the record date specified in or pursuant to such Board Resolution, which shall be a date not earlier than the date 30 days prior to the first solicitation of Holders generally in connection therewith and not later than the date such solicitation is completed. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than eleven months after the record date.
(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefore or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authenticating Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
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1.5 Notices, etc. to Trustee and Company
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:
(a) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office; or
(b) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company, Attention: Secretary, addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
1.6 Notice to Holders; Waiver
Where this Indenture provides for notice of any event to Holders of Securities by the Company or the Trustee, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each such Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Securities. Any notice mailed to a Holder in the manner herein prescribed shall be conclusively deemed to have been received by such Holder, whether or not such Holder actually receives such notice.
In case, by reason of the suspension of or irregularities in regular mail service or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to Holders of Securities when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any manner of giving such notice as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee shall be deemed to be sufficient giving of such notice for every purpose hereunder.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
1.7 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents
The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
1.8 Successors and Assigns
All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
1.9 Separability Clause
In case any provision in this Indenture or in any Security 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.
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1.10 Benefits of Indenture
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Securities Registrar and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
1.11 Governing Law
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of Nevada. This Indenture is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this Indenture and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.
1.12 Legal Holidays
In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date or Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of any Security other than a provision in the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section), payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or sinking fund payment date, or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity; provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date, sinking fund payment date, Stated Maturity or Maturity, as the case may be.
1.13 Agent for Service; Submission to Jurisdiction; Waiver of Immunities
By the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company:
(a) acknowledges that it has irrevocably designated and appointed ♦ as its authorized agent upon which process may be served in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Securities or this Indenture that may be instituted in any United States federal or ♦ state court in ♦ or brought under federal or state securities laws or brought by the Trustee (whether in its individual capacity or in its capacity as Trustee hereunder);
(b) submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any such court in any such suit or proceeding; and
(c) agrees that service of process upon ♦ and written notice of said service to the Company (mailed or delivered to the Company, Attention: Secretary, at its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this Indenture and in the manner specified in Section 1.5 hereof),
shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company in any such suit or proceeding. The Company further agrees to take any and all action, including the execution and filing of any and all such documents and instruments, as may be necessary to continue such designation and appointment of ♦ in full force and effect so long as any of the Securities shall be outstanding.
1.14 Incorporators, Shareholders, Officers and Directors of the Company Exempt from Individual Liability
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, as such, or against any past, present or future shareholder, officer or director, as such, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the Securities by the Holders and as part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
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1.15 Waiver of Jury Trial
Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby.
1.16 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act
If and to the extent that any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by any of Section 310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, through operation of Section 318(c) thereof, such imposed duties control.
ARTICLE 2
SECURITY FORMS
2.1 Forms Generally
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the forms as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed 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 the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. If the forms of Securities of any series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.
The Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article.
The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel-engraved border or steel-engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
2.2 Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication
Subject to Section 6.11, the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
Dated: _____________________
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| as Trustee | |||
| By: | |||
| Authorized Officer | |||
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2.3 Securities Issuable in Global Form
If Securities of or within a series are issuable in global form, as specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, then, notwithstanding clause (h) of Section 3.1, any such Security shall represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities of such series represented thereby may from time to time be increased or decreased to reflect exchanges. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made by the Trustee in such manner and upon instructions given by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.3 or Section 3.4. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 and, if applicable, Section 3.4, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.3 or Section 3.4 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to endorsement or delivery or redelivery of a Security in global form shall be in writing but need not comply with Section 1.2 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.
The provisions of the last sentence of Section 3.3 shall apply to any Security represented by a Security in global form if such Security was never issued and sold by the Company and the Company delivers to the Trustee the Security in global form together with written instructions (which need not comply with Section 1.2 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) with regard to the reduction in the principal amount of Securities represented thereby, together with the written statement contemplated by the last sentence of Section 3.3.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.7, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Security in permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.9 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company and the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities represented by a permanent global Security the Holder of such permanent global Security.
None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
ARTICLE 3
THE SECURITIES
3.1 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the Holders, for issuances of additional Securities of such series. Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness as provided in Article 15 hereof.
The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be established in one or more Board Resolutions or pursuant to authority granted by one or more Board Resolutions and, subject to Section 3.3, set forth in, or determined in the manner provided in, an Officers' Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series, any or all of the following, as applicable (each of which (except for the matters set forth in clauses (a), (b) and (o) below), if so provided, may be determined from time to time by the Company with respect to unissued Securities of the series and set forth in such Securities of the series when issued from time to time):
(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from all other series of Securities);
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(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6, 11.7 or 13.5);
(c) the date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended, on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable;
(d) the rate or rates (whether fixed or variable) at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for the interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;
(e) the place or places, if any, other than or in addition to The City of ♦, where the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall be payable, where any Securities of the series may be surrendered for registration of transfer, where Securities of the series may be surrendered for exchange, where Securities of the series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable, and, if different than the location specified in Section 1.5, the place or places where notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of the series and this Indenture may be served and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payment or Additional Amounts on a global Security on an Interest Payment Date shall be paid;
(f) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;
(g) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;
(h) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase Securities of the series 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 other terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(i) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denomination or denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(j) if other than the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar and/or Paying Agent;
(k) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the method by which such portion shall be determined;
(l) whether the amount of payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(m) the applicability, if any, of Sections 14.2 and/or 14.3 to the Securities of the series and any provisions in modification of, in addition to or in lieu of any of the provisions of Article 14 that shall be applicable to the Securities of the series;
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(n) provisions, if any, granting special rights to the Holders of Securities of the series upon the occurrence of such events as may be specified;
(o) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants (including any deletions from, modifications of or additions to Section 10.7) 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 set forth herein;
(p) whether the Securities of the series shall be issued in whole or in part in permanent global form and, in such case, the Depositary for such Securities if other than DTC; the manner in which and the circumstances under which interests in any such permanent global Security may be exchanged for Securities in definitive form, if other than, or in addition to, the manner and circumstances specified in Section 3.4;
(q) the Person to whom any interest on any 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 and the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary global Security on an Interest Payment Date shall be paid if other than in the manner provided in Section 3.4;
(r) if Securities of the 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, the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;
(s) if the Securities of the series are to be issued upon the exercise of warrants, the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;
(t) whether and under what circumstances the Company shall pay Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 10.5 on the Securities of the series to any Holder who is not a United States person (including any modification to the definition of such term) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether the Company shall have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such Additional Amounts (and the terms of any such option);
(u) the percentage or percentages of principal amount of which the Securities of the series shall be issued;
(v) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exercisable, redeemable or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be so convertible or exchangeable, including whether conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the Holder or at the Company's option, the date on or the period during which conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange may occur, the initial conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange price or rate and the circumstances or manner in which the amount of common shares or preference shares or other securities issuable upon conversion, exercise, redemption or exchange may be adjusted;
(w) if the Securities of the series are subject to mandatory or optional remarketing or other mandatory or optional resale provisions, and, if applicable, the date or period during which such resale may occur, any conditions to such resale and any right of a Holder to substitute securities for the Securities subject to resale; and
(x) any other terms, conditions, rights and preferences (or limitations on such rights and preferences) relating to the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or the provisions of this Indenture).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution (subject to Section 3.3) and set forth in such Officers' Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto. Not all Securities of any one series need be issued at the same time, and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series.
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If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, such Board Resolutions shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers' Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
3.2 Denominations
The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by or pursuant to Section 3.1. With respect to Securities of any series denominated in Dollars, in the absence of any such provisions, the Securities of such series, other than Securities issued in global form (which may be of any denomination), shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.
3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any Officer. The signature of any Officer on the Securities may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the present or any future such authorized Officer and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper Officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series, executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If not all of the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time and if the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing such series shall so permit, such Company Order may set forth procedures acceptable to the Trustee for the issuance of such Securities and determining the terms of particular Securities of such series such as interest rate, stated maturity, date of issuance and date from which interest shall accrue.
In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d)) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating:
(a) that the form or forms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) that the terms of such Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(c) that such Securities when completed by appropriate insertions and executed and delivered by the Company to the Trustee for authentication in accordance with this Indenture, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with this Indenture and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, shall constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights, to general equitable principles and to such other qualifications as such counsel shall conclude do not materially affect the rights of Holders of such Securities;
(d) that the Company has the corporate power to issue such Securities, and has duly taken all necessary corporate action with respect to such issuance; and
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(e) that the issuance of such Securities shall not contravene the articles of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or result in any violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law or regulation.
Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding two paragraphs, if not all the Securities of any series are to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to the preceding two paragraphs prior to or at the time of issuance of each Security, but such documents shall be delivered prior to or at the time of issuance of the first Security of such series.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate and deliver any such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture shall affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.10 together with a written statement (which need not comply with Section 1.2 and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel) stating that such Security has never been issued and sold by the Company, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
3.4 Temporary Securities
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series the Company may execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities (printed or lithographed). Temporary Securities shall be issuable in any authorized denomination and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and shall be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Securities. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities. Such exchange shall be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor except that in case of any such exchange involving any registration of transfer the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities authenticated and delivered hereunder.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section or Section 3.5, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive form, a global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such depositary or by a nominee of such depositary to such depositary or another nominee of such depositary or by such depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor depositary.
If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for Securities of a series shall no longer be a clearing agency registered and in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such global Security or Securities.
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If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to Securities of a series, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of such series in definitive form on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without charge:
(a) to each Person specified by the Depositary a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person's beneficial interest in the global Security; and
(b) to the Depositary a new global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered global Security and the aggregate principal amount of Securities delivered to Holders thereof.
3.5 Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange
The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment a register for each series of Securities (the registers maintained in such Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration and transfer of Securities. The Security Register shall be in written form or any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times, the Security Register shall be open to inspection by the Trustee. The Trustee is hereby initially appointed as security registrar (the "Security Registrar") for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided. The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided that, no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment by the Company. In the event that the Trustee shall not be or shall cease to be the Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only one Security Register for each series of Securities.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at any office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.
At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series may be exchanged for other replacement Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.1 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 3.3 and the Company Order with respect to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more global Securities in temporary or permanent form that:
(a) shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by one or more global Securities;
(b) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such global Security or Securities or the nominee of such depositary; and
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(c) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:
"This Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a 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, unless and until this Security is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive form"
and such other legend as may be required by the Depositary.
The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more global Securities shall no longer be represented by such global Security or Securities. In such event the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive registered form, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange for such global Security or Securities.
Upon the exchange of a global Security for Securities in definitive registered form, such global Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee. Securities issued in exchange for a global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the depositary for such global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee in writing. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities.
The Company shall not be required:
(a) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities of that series under Section 11.3 or 12.3 and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; or
(b) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part; or
(c) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which has been surrendered for repayment at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.
3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company, together with, in proper cases, such security or indemnity as may be required by the Company or the Trustee to save each of them or any agent of either of them harmless, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a replacement Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
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If there shall be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee:
(a) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security; and
(b) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless,
then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser (as defined in Article 8 of the Uniform Commercial Code), the Company shall execute and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a replacement Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
Notwithstanding the provisions of the previous two paragraphs, in case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
Upon the issuance of any replacement Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
Every replacement Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, if any, shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
The provisions of this Section, as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
3.7 Payment of Principal and Interest; Interest Rights Preserved; Optional Interest Reset
(a) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest, if any, on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest at the office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section 10.2; provided, however, that each installment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on any Security may at the Company's option be paid by:
(i) mailing a check for such interest, payable to or upon the written order of the Person entitled thereto pursuant to Section 3.9, to the address of such Person as it appears on the Security Register; or
(ii) wire transfer to an account of the person entitled to receive such payment if such person is a Holder of $10,000,000 or more in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series (with wire transfer instructions provided to the Trustee not less than 15 days prior to payment of interest by wire transfer);
provided further, that principal paid in relation to any Security redeemed at the option of the Company pursuant to Article 11, or paid at Maturity, shall be paid to the holder of such Security only upon presentation and surrender of such Security to such office or agency referred to in this Section 3.7(a).
(b) Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1, any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest on such defaulted interest (to the extent lawful) at the rate specified in the Securities of such series (such defaulted interest and, if applicable, interest thereon herein collectively called "Defaulted Interest") may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:
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(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefore having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose name the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (ii).
(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
(c) The provisions of this Section 3.7(c) may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 3.1). The interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) on any Security of such series may be reset by the Company on the date or dates specified on the face of such Security (each an "Optional Reset Date"). The Company may exercise such option with respect to such Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to an Optional Reset Date for such Security. Not later than 40 days prior to each Optional Reset Date, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, to the Holder of any such Security a notice (the "Reset Notice") indicating whether the Company has elected to reset the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable), and if so:
(i) such new interest rate (or such new spread or spread multiplier, if applicable); and
(ii) the provisions, if any, for redemption during the period from such Optional Reset Date to the next Optional Reset Date or if there is no such next Optional Reset Date, to the Stated Maturity Date of such Security,
(each such period a "Subsequent Interest Period"), including the date or dates on which or the period or periods during which and the price or prices at which such redemption may occur during the Subsequent Interest Period.
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Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days prior to the Optional Reset Date, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice and establish an interest rate (or a spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) that is higher than the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) provided for in the Reset Notice, for the Subsequent Interest Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, notice of such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable) to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the interest rate (or the spread or spread multiplier used to calculate such interest rate, if applicable) is reset on an Optional Reset Date, and with respect to which the Holders of such Securities have not tendered such Securities for repayment (or have validly revoked any such tender) pursuant to the next succeeding paragraph, shall bear such higher interest rate (or such higher spread or spread multiplier, if applicable).
The Holder of any such Security shall have the option to elect repayment by the Company of the principal of such Security on each Optional Reset Date at a price equal to the principal amount thereof plus interest accrued to such Optional Reset Date. In order to obtain repayment on an Optional Reset Date, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article 13 for repayment at the option of Holders except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to such Optional Reset Date and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to the Reset Notice, the Holder may, by written notice to the Trustee, revoke such tender or repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before such Optional Reset Date.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 3.5, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
3.8 Optional Extension of Stated Maturity
The provisions of this Section 3.8 may be made applicable to any series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1 (with such modifications, additions or substitutions as may be specified pursuant to such Section 3.1). The Stated Maturity of any Security of such series may be extended at the option of the Company for the period or periods specified on the face of such Security (each an "Extension Period") up to but not beyond the date (the "Final Maturity") set forth on the face of such Security. The Company may exercise such option with respect to any Security by notifying the Trustee of such exercise at least 50 but not more than 60 days prior to the Stated Maturity of such Security in effect prior to the exercise of such option (the "Original Stated Maturity"). If the Company exercises such option, the Trustee shall transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, to the Holder of such Security not later than 40 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity a notice (the "Extension Notice") indicating:
(a) the election of the Company to extend the Stated Maturity;
(b) the new Stated Maturity;
(c) the interest rate, if any, applicable to the Extension Period; and
(d) the provisions, if any, for redemption during such Extension Period.
Upon the Trustee's transmittal of the Extension Notice, the Stated Maturity of such Security shall be extended automatically and, except as modified by the Extension Notice and as described in the next paragraph, such Security shall have the same terms as prior to the transmittal of such Extension Notice.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, not later than 20 days before the Original Stated Maturity of such Security, the Company may, at its option, revoke the interest rate provided for in the Extension Notice and establish a higher interest rate for the Extension Period by causing the Trustee to transmit, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, notice of such higher interest rate to the Holder of such Security. Such notice shall be irrevocable. All Securities with respect to which the Stated Maturity is extended shall bear such higher interest rate.
If the Company extends the Maturity of any Security, the Holder shall have the option to elect repayment of such Security by the Company on the Original Stated Maturity at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, plus interest accrued to such date. In order to obtain repayment on the Original Stated Maturity once the Company has extended the Maturity thereof, the Holder must follow the procedures set forth in Article 13 for repayment at the option of Holders, except that the period for delivery or notification to the Trustee shall be at least 25 but not more than 35 days prior to the Original Stated Maturity and except that, if the Holder has tendered any Security for repayment pursuant to an Extension Notice, the Holder may by written notice to the Trustee revoke such tender for repayment until the close of business on the tenth day before the Original Stated Maturity.
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3.9 Persons Deemed Owners
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Sections 3.5 and 3.7) interest, if any, on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever (other than the payment of Additional Amounts, if any), whether or not such Security be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
The Depositary for Securities may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such global Security for all purposes whatsoever (other than the payment of Additional Amounts, if any). None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any depositary, as a Holder, with respect to such global Security or impair, as between such depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such global Security.
3.10 Cancellation
All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, repayment at the option of the Holder, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any current or future sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee. All Securities so delivered to the Trustee shall be promptly cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. If the Company shall so acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures and certification of their disposal delivered to the Company unless by Company Order the Company shall direct that cancelled Securities be returned to it.
3.11 Computation of Interest
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any Securities, interest, if any, on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
3.12 CUSIP Numbers
The Company in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall indicate the "CUSIP" numbers of the Securities in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption 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 "CUSIP" numbers.
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ARTICLE 4
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
4.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture
Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, this Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Request (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or pursuant hereto and any right to receive Additional Amounts as contemplated by Section 10.5) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series when:
(a) either:
(i) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than:
(A) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6; and
(B) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust with the Trustee or any Paying Agent or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3),
have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:
(A) have become due and payable; or
(B) shall become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year; or
(C) if redeemable at the option of the Company, 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,
and the Company, in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose an amount in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable, sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) 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 as to such series have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.6, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.11 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to sub-clause 4.1(a)(ii) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and the last paragraph of Section 10.3 shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.
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4.2 Application of Trust Money
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 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 premium, if any) and interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
ARTICLE 5
REMEDIES
5.1 Events of Default
"Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default, whether or not it shall be occasioned by the provisions of Article 15, and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to a supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture:
(a) default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that series when such interest becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture; or
(b) default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of that series at its Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any; or
(c) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of the Securities of that series and Article 12; or
(d) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture which affects or is applicable to the Securities of that series (other than a default in the performance, or breach, of a covenant or agreement which is specifically dealt with elsewhere in this Section or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or
(e) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under or subject to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, provincial, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws, or the issuance of a sequestration order or the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or in receipt of any substantial part of the property of the Company, and any such decree, order or appointment continues unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
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(f) the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under or subject to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (Canada), the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada), the U.S. Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable federal, provincial, state or foreign bankruptcy, insolvency or analogous laws, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of a general assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or
| (g) | (i) | there shall have occurred a default by the Company in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) Debt in an amount to be specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture or more outstanding under or evidenced by any single indenture or instrument, when the same becomes due and payable at the stated maturity thereof, and such default shall have continued after any applicable grace period and shall not have been cured or waived; or | |
| (ii) | Debt of the Company in an amount to be specified in the applicable supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to Section 3.1 of this Indenture or more outstanding under or evidenced by any single indenture or instrument shall have been accelerated or otherwise declared due and payable, or required to be prepaid or repurchased (other than by regularly scheduled required prepayment), prior to the stated maturity thereof; or |
(h) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series.
5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment
If an Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1 with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified portion thereof) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1 occurs, the principal amount (or if any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all Outstanding Securities shall be due and payable immediately, without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the Holders.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to Securities of any series (or of all series, as the case may be) has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
(a) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable:
(i) all overdue interest, if any, on all Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be);
(ii) all unpaid principal of (and premium, if any) any Outstanding Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, and interest on such unpaid principal at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities;
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(iii) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue interest, if any, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities; and
(iv) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and
(b) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be), other than the non-payment of amounts of principal of (or premium, if any, on) or interest on Securities of that series (or of all series, as the case may be) which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, in the event of a declaration of acceleration in respect of the Securities because of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(g) shall have occurred and be continuing, such declaration of acceleration shall be automatically annulled if the Debt that is the subject of such Event of Default has been discharged or the holders thereof have rescinded their declaration of acceleration in respect of such Debt, and written notice of such discharge or rescission, as the case may be, shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company and countersigned by the holders of such Debt or a trustee, fiduciary or agent for such holders, within 30 days after such declaration of acceleration in respect of the Securities, and no other Event of Default has occurred during such 30 day period which has not been cured or waived during such period.
5.3 Collection of Debt and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee
The Company covenants that if:
(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days; or
(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, then the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, and interest on any overdue principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series (or of all series, as the case may be) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series (or of all series, as the case may be) by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim
In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal, premium, if any, or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise:
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(a) to file a proof of claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any), or such portion of the principal amount of any series of Original Issue Discount Securities or Indexed Securities as may be specified in the terms of such series, and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding; and
(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same,
and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding 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 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 6.6.
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.
5.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
5.6 Application of Money Collected
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, upon presentation of the Securities, or both, as the case may be, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
(a) First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.6;
(b) Second: Subject to Section 15.2, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, respectively; and
(c) Third: The balance, if any, to the Company or any other Person or Persons entitled thereto.
5.7 Limitation on Suits
No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or the Securities of any series, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless:
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(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of that series;
(b) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, or, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities, shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;
(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
(d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and
(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority or more in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, or, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, by the Holders of a majority or more in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities;
it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities of the same series, in the case of any Event of Default, described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, or of Holders of all Securities in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all Holders of Securities of the same series, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, or, in the case of any Event of Default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1.
5.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest
Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment, as provided herein (including, if applicable, Article 14) and in such Security, of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to Section 3.7) interest, if any, on, such Security on the Stated Maturity expressed in such Security or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.
5.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies
If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of Securities shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.
5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.
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5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
5.12 Control by Holders
With respect to the Securities of any series, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, relating to or arising under clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, and, with respect to all Securities, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, not relating to or arising under clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1, provided that in each case:
(a) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture;
(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction; and
(c) the Trustee need not take any action which might expose the Trustee to personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders of Securities of such series not consenting.
5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults
Subject to Section 5.2, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default described in clause (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) or (h) of Section 5.1 (or in the case of a default described in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities may waive any such past default), and its consequences, except a default:
(a) in respect of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security; or
(b) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article 9 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.
Upon any such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
5.14 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.
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5.15 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, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company.
ARTICLE 6
THE TRUSTEE
6.1 Notice of Defaults
Within 90 days after the occurrence of any Default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), notice of such Default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a Default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided further that in the case of any Default of the character specified in Section 5.1(d) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof.
6.2 Certain Rights of Trustee
Subject to the provisions of TIA Sections 315(a) through 315(d):
(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than delivery of any Security, to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 3.3 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) 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, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon a Board Resolution, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officers' Certificate;
(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney;
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(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(h) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture; and
(i) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series unless either:
(i) such Default or Event of Default is known, or ought reasonably to have been known, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee; or
(ii) written notice of such Default or Event of Default shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of any series or by any Holder of the Securities of any series.
The Trustee shall not be required to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
6.3 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities
The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except for the Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.
6.4 May Hold Securities
The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent. A Trustee that has resigned or was removed shall remain subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
6.5 Money Held in Trust
Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.
6.6 Compensation and Reimbursement
The Company agrees:
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(a) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses, advances and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and
(c) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.
The obligations of the Company under this Section to compensate the Trustee, to pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances and to indemnify and hold harmless the Trustee shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. As security for the performance of such obligations of the Company, the Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on particular Securities.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 5.1, the expenses (including reasonable charges and expense of its counsel) of and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable U.S. or Canadian federal, state or provincial bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.
The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this Indenture and the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
6.7 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility; Conflicting Interests
(a) There shall be at all times a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as Trustee under TIA Section 310(a)(1) and shall have a combined capital and surplus (together with that of its parent, if applicable) of at least $50,000,000. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of federal, state, territorial or District of Columbia supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
(b) The following indenture shall be deemed to be specifically described herein for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso contained in TIA Section 310(b): Senior Debt Securities Indenture dated as of ♦, between the Company and the trustee named therein.
6.8 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.9.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.9 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
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(c) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.9 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the delivery of an Act of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(d) If at any time:
(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.7(a) and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(iii) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case:
(i) the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series; or
(ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series). If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided for in Section 1.6. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
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6.9 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor
(a) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
(b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which:
(i) 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;
(ii) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee; and
(iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee,
it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates. Whenever there is a successor Trustee with respect to one or more (but less than all) series of securities issued pursuant to this Indenture, the terms "Indenture" and "Securities" shall have the meanings specified in the provisos to the respective definitions of those terms in Section 1.1 which contemplate such situation.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all rights, powers and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
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6.10 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities. In case any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any successor Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee. In all such cases such certificates shall have the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
6.11 Appointment of Authenticating Agent
At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Authenticating Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6. Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Any such appointment shall be evidenced by an instrument in writing signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, and a copy of such instrument shall be promptly furnished to the Company. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the ♦, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent shall serve, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
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The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication substantially in the following form:
Dated: _____________________
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
| as Trustee | |||
| By: | |||
| as Authenticating Agent | |||
| By: | |||
| as Authorized Officer | |||
ARTICLE 7
HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
7.1 Disclosure of Names and Addresses of Holders
Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that none of the Company or the Trustee or any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders in accordance with TIA Section 312, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under TIA Section 312(b).
7.2 Reports by Trustee
(a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, the Trustee shall transmit to the Holders, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such May 15 if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with Sections 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) A copy of such report shall, at the time of such transmission to the Holders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company (Attention: Secretary), with each securities exchange upon which any of the Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when the Securities become listed on any stock exchange.
7.3 Reports by Company
The Company shall:
(a) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company has filed the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of such Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;
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(b) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and
(c) transmit to all Holders, in the manner and to the extent provided in TIA Section 313(c), within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to clauses (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee are for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).
ARTICLE 8
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
8.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms
The Company shall not consolidate, amalgamate or enter into any statutory arrangement with or merge into any other corporation or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person, unless:
(a) the entity formed by or continuing from such consolidation, amalgamation or arrangement or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall:
(i) be a corporation, partnership or trust organized and validly existing under the laws of:
(A) Canada or any province or territory thereof;
(B) the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; or
(C) if such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger or other transaction would not impair the rights of the Holders of the Securities, in any other country, provided that if such successor entity is organized under the laws of a jurisdiction other than Canada or any province or territory thereof, or the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, the successor entity assumes by a supplemental indenture the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture to pay Additional Amounts; and
(ii) expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, or assume by operation of law, the Company's obligation for the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on all the Securities and the performance and observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(b) after giving effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
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(c) the Company and the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, amalgamation, arrangement, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.
This Section shall only apply to a merger, amalgamation, arrangement or consolidation in which the Company is not the surviving corporation and to conveyances, leases and transfers by the Company as transferor or lessor.
8.2 Successor Person Substituted
Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or arrangement by the Company with or merger by the Company into any other corporation or any conveyance, transfer or lease all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety to any Person in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation, amalgamation or arrangement or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and in the event of any such conveyance or transfer, the Company (which term shall for this purpose mean the Person named as the "Company" in the first paragraph of this Indenture or any successor Person which shall theretofore become such in the manner described in Section 8.1), except in the case of a lease, shall be discharged of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may be dissolved and liquidated.
ARTICLE 9
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders
Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(a) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained herein and in the Securities; or
(b) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or
(c) to add any additional Events of Default (and if such Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are being included solely for the benefit of such series); provided, however, that in respect of any such additional Events of Default such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon such default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of that or those series of Securities to which such additional Events of Default apply to waive such default; or
(d) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Security Outstanding of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision; or
(e) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1; or
(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.9(b); or
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(g) to close this Indenture with respect to the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities, to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided such action shall not, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series and any related coupons in any material respect; or
(h) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms, purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth; or
(i) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Sections 4.1, 14.2 and 14.3; provided that any such action shall not, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or
(j) to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect.
9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders
With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of any series, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture which affect such series of Securities or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series:
(a) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of (or premium, if any) or any installment of principal of or interest on any Security of such series, or reduce the principal amount thereof (or premium, if any) or the rate of interest, if any, thereon, or change any obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts contemplated by Section 10.5 (except as contemplated by Section 8.1(a) and permitted by Section 9.1(a)), or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or Indexed Security of such series that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.4, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of any Holder of any Security of such series, or change any Place of Payment where, or the Currency in which, any Security of such series or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption or repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be), or adversely affect any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1 herein; or
(b) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture which affect such series or certain defaults applicable to such series hereunder and their consequences provided for in this Indenture; or
(c) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 5.13 or Section 10.7, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture which affect such series cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series; or
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(d) modify any of the provisions of this Indenture relating to the subordination of Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders.
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series. Any such supplemental indenture adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture, or modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series, shall not affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to consent to any indenture supplemental hereto. If a record date is fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to consent to such supplemental indenture, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that unless such consent shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the date which is 90 days after such record date, any such consent previously given shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be cancelled and of no further effect.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.
9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be provided with, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
9.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act
Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures
Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
9.7 Notice of Supplemental Indentures
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2, the Company shall give notice thereof to the Holders of each Outstanding Security affected, in the manner provided for in Section 1.6, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture.
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9.8 Effect on Senior Indebtedness
No supplemental indenture shall adversely affect the rights of any holder of Senior Indebtedness under Article 15 without the consent of such holder.
ARTICLE 10
COVENANTS
10.1 Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, and Interest
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each series of Securities that it shall duly and punctually pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
10.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency
The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series 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, and the Company hereby appoints the same as its agents to receive such respective presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind any such designation; 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 accordance with the requirements set forth above for Securities of any series 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. Unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby designates as a Place of Payment for each series of Securities the office or agency of the Company in the ♦, and initially appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Paying Agent in such city and as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
10.3 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust
If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on Securities of such series so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum (in the Currency described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company shall promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.
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The Company shall cause each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) for any series of Securities to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent shall:
(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(b) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series; and
(c) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.
Except as provided in the Securities of any series, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on any Security of any series, and remaining unclaimed for two years (or such shorter period as may be specified in the applicable abandoned property statutes) after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining shall be repaid to the Company.
10.4 Statement as to Compliance
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer(s), principal financial officer(s) or principal accounting officer(s) as to his or her knowledge of the Company's compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 10.4, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice under this Indenture.
10.5 Additional Amounts
If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company shall pay to the Holder of a Security of such series Additional Amounts as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security of any series or the net proceeds received on the sale or exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established pursuant to Section 3.1 to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal and any premium is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal, premium or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers' Certificate, the Company shall furnish the Trustee and the Company's principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers' Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal, premium or interest on the Securities of that series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of the series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers' Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities of that series and the Company shall pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. In the event that the Trustee or any Paying Agent, as the case may be, shall not so receive the above-mentioned certificate, then the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall be entitled:
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(a) to assume that no such withholding or deduction is required with respect to any payment of principal or interest with respect to any Securities of a series until it shall have received a certificate advising otherwise; and
(b) to make all payments of principal and interest with respect to the Securities of a series without withholding or deductions until otherwise advised.
The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officers' Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section or in reliance on the Company's not furnishing such an Officers' Certificate.
10.6 Corporate Existence
Subject to Article 8, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its corporate existence and the rights (charter and statutory) and franchises of the Company; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as a whole.
10.7 Waiver of Certain Covenants
The Company may, with respect to any series of Securities, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition which affects such series set forth in Section 10.6 or, as specified pursuant to Section 3.1(n) for Securities of such series, in any covenants of the Company added to Article 10 pursuant to Section 3.1(n) or Section 3.1(o) in connection with Securities of such series, if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of all Outstanding Securities of any series, by Act of such Holders, waive such compliance in such instance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee to Holders of Securities of such series in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
10.8 Calculation of Original Issue Discount
If any Securities are Original Issue Discount Securities, then the Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each calendar year:
(a) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding Securities as of the end of such year; and
(b) such other specified information relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.
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ARTICLE 11
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
11.1 Applicability of Article
Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
11.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and shall deliver to the Trustee such documentation and records as shall enable the Trustee to select the Securities to be redeemed pursuant to Section 11.3. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.
11.3 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Security not redeemed to less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series established pursuant to Section 3.1.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.
11.4 Notice of Redemption
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided for in Section 1.6 not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice in the manner provided in Section 1.6 to the Holder of any Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.
Any notice that is mailed to the Holders in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives the notice.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(a) the Redemption Date;
(b) the Redemption Price and the amount of accrued interest to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 11.6, if any;
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(c) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed;
(d) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder shall receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed;
(e) that on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date payable as provided in Section 11.6 shall become due and payable upon each such Security, or the portion thereof, to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;
(f) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities, if any, maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any; and
(g) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.
11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price
On or prior to 10:00 a.m., ♦ time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.
11.6 Securities Payable on Redemption Date
Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable (together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date), and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that installments of interest on Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.
11.7 Securities Redeemed in Part
Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part (pursuant to the provisions of this Article or of Article 12) shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered. However, if less than all of the Securities of any series with differing issue dates, interest rates and stated maturities are to be redeemed, the Company in its sole discretion shall select the particular Securities to be redeemed and shall notify the Trustee in writing thereof at least 45 days prior to the relevant redemption date.
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ARTICLE 12
SINKING FUNDS
12.1 Applicability of Article
Retirements of Securities of any series pursuant to any sinking fund shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment". If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any mandatory sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities
Subject to Section 12.3, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at its option:
(a) deliver to the Trustee Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company; and/or
(b) receive credit for the principal amount of Securities of such series which have been previously delivered to the Trustee by the Company or for Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities,
in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of the same series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided, however, that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
12.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund
Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering or crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2 (which Securities shall, if not previously delivered, accompany such certificate) and whether the Company intends to exercise its right to make a permitted optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the failure of the Company to deliver such certificate, the sinking fund payment due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Securities subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or credit Securities as provided in Section 12.2 and without the right to make any optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.
Not more than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.6 and 11.7.
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Prior to any sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee or a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) in cash a sum equal to any interest that shall accrue to the date fixed for redemption of Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 12.3.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to a sinking fund for any series of Securities, if at any time the amount of cash to be paid into such sinking fund on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date, together with any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payment or payments for such series, does not exceed in the aggregate $100,000, the Trustee, unless requested by the Company, shall not give the next succeeding notice of the redemption of Securities of such series through the operation of the sinking fund. Any such unused balance of moneys deposited in such sinking fund shall be added to the sinking fund payment for such series to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date or, at the request of the Company, shall be applied at any time or from time to time to the purchase of Securities of such series, by public or private purchase, in the open market or otherwise, at a purchase price for such Securities (excluding accrued interest and brokerage commissions, for which the Trustee or any Paying Agent shall be reimbursed by the Company) not in excess of the principal amount thereof.
ARTICLE 13
REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS
13.1 Applicability of Article
Repayment of Securities of any series before their Stated Maturity at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
13.2 Repayment of Securities
Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof shall, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at the Repayment Price thereof, together with interest, if any, thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in or pursuant to the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants that on or before the Repayment Date it shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money in the Currency in which the Securities of such series are payable sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of and (except if the Repayment Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities or portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid on such date.
13.3 Exercise of Option
Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall contain an "Option to Elect Repayment" form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the "Option to Elect Repayment" form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder (or by the Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing), must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places or which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 45 days nor later than 30 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the Repayment Price of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the portion of the Repayment Price of such Security to be repaid, in increments of the minimum denomination for Securities of such series, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid, must be specified. Any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.
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13.4 When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable
If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by or pursuant to the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) such Securities shall, if the same were interest-bearing, cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for repayment in accordance with such provisions maturing after the Repayment Date, the Repayment Price of such Security so to be repaid shall be paid by the Company, together with accrued interest, if any, to the Repayment Date; provided, however, that installments of interest, if any, whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Repayment Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.
If any Security surrendered for repayment shall not be so repaid upon surrender thereof, the Repayment Price shall, until paid, bear interest from the Repayment Date at the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities) set forth in such Security.
13.5 Securities Repaid in Part
Upon surrender of any Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.
ARTICLE 14
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
14.1 Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, the provisions of this Article 14 shall apply to each series of Securities, and the Company may, at its option, effect defeasance of the Securities of or within a series under Section 14.2, or covenant defeasance of or within a series under Section 14.3 in accordance with the terms of such Securities and in accordance with this Article.
14.2 Defeasance and Discharge
Upon the Company's exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.4 are satisfied (hereinafter, "defeasance"). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be "Outstanding" only for the purposes of Section 14.5 and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(a) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 14.4 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities when such payments are due;
(b) the Company's obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3 and with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 10.5;
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder; and
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(d) this Article 14. Subject to compliance with this Article 14, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 14.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 14.3 with respect to such Securities. Money and securities held in trust pursuant to this Section 14.2 shall not be subject to Article 15.
14.3 Covenant Defeasance
Upon the Company's exercise of the above option applicable to this Section with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Article 8, Section 10.6 and any covenant specified pursuant to Section 3.1, its obligations under any other covenant, with respect to such Outstanding Securities on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 14.4 are satisfied (hereinafter, "covenant defeasance"), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed not to be "Outstanding" for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed "Outstanding" for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1(d) or Section 5.1(h) or otherwise, as the case may be, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
14.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance
The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 14.2 or Section 14.3 to any Outstanding Securities of or within a series:
(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.7 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article 14 applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities:
(i) an amount (in such Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity); or
(ii) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity) which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms shall provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, under such Securities, money in an amount; or
(iii) a combination thereof, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent chartered accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge:
(A) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Outstanding Securities and on the Stated Maturity (or Redemption Date, if applicable) of such principal (and premium, if any) or installment of principal or interest, if any; and
(B) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities;
provided that the Trustee shall have been irrevocably instructed to apply such money or the proceeds of such Government Obligations to said payments with respect to such Securities. Before such a deposit, the Company may give to the Trustee, in accordance with Section 11.2 hereof, a notice of its election to redeem all or any portion of such Outstanding Securities at a future date in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series and Article 11 hereof, which notice shall be irrevocable. Such irrevocable redemption notice, if given, shall be given effect in applying the foregoing.
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(b) No Default or Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or, insofar as clauses (e) and (f) of Section 5.1 are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).
(c) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
(d) In the case of an election under Section 14.2, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States stating 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 U.S. federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities shall not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and shall 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 defeasance had not occurred.
(e) In the case of an election under Section 14.3, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities shall not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and shall be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.
(f) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section, such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.1.
(g) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 14.2 or the covenant defeasance under Section 14.3 (as the case may be) have been complied with.
(h) Either the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in Canada or a ruling from Canada Revenue Agency to the effect that the Holders of such Outstanding Securities shall not recognize income, gain or loss for Canadian federal, provincial or territorial income tax or other tax purpose as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, and shall be subject to Canadian federal or provincial income tax and other tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case had such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, not occurred (and for the purposes of such opinion, such Canadian counsel shall assume that Holders of the Securities include Holders who are not resident in Canada).
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14.5 Deposited Money and Government Obligations to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money and Government Obligations (or other property as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1) (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 14.5, the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 14.4 in respect of such Outstanding Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 14.4 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities.
Anything in this Article 14 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in Section 14.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Article 14.
14.6 Reinstatement
If the Trustee or any Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with Section 14.5 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company's obligations under this Indenture and such Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 14.2 or 14.3, as the case may be, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 14.5; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 15
SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES
15.1 Agreement to Subordinate
Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1, the Company, for itself, its successors and assigns, covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on each and all of the Securities is hereby expressly subordinated, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness.
15.2 Distribution on Dissolution, Liquidation and Reorganization; Subrogation of Securities
Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1, upon any distribution of assets of the Company upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or receivership proceedings or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any other marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company or otherwise (subject to the power of a court of competent jurisdiction to make other equitable provision reflecting the rights conferred in this Indenture upon the Senior Indebtedness and the holders thereof with respect to the Securities and the holders thereof by a lawful plan of reorganization under applicable bankruptcy law):
(a) the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled to receive payment in full of the principal thereof (and premium, if any) and interest due thereon before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment upon the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on indebtedness evidenced by the Securities;
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(b) any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article 15 shall be paid by the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, whether a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver or liquidating trustee or otherwise, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably according to the aggregate amounts remaining unpaid on account of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, to the extent necessary to make payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness; and
(c) in the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full, such payment or distribution shall be paid over, upon written notice to the Trustee, to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any instrument evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, ratably as aforesaid, for application to payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.
Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities shall be paid in full and no such payments or distributions to the Holders of the Securities of cash, property or securities otherwise distributable to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Securities. It is understood that the provisions of this Article 15 are and are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand. Nothing contained in this Article 15 or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or to affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or in the Securities prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article 15 of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 15, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, shall be entitled to rely upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making any distribution to the Trustee for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 15.
The Trustee, however, shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness. The Trustee shall not be liable to any such holder if it shall pay over or distribute to or on behalf of Holders of Securities or the Company moneys or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 15.
If the Trustee or any Holder of Securities does not file a proper claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to above prior to 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim in such proceeding, then the holder of any Senior Indebtedness is hereby authorized, and has the right, to file an appropriate claim or claims for or on behalf of such Holder of Securities.
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With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.
15.3 No Payment on Securities in Certain Circumstances
Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1:
(a) Upon the maturity of any Senior Indebtedness by lapse of time, acceleration (unless waived, rescinded or annulled) or otherwise, or upon any payment default (with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, in accordance with the terms of the instrument governing such Senior Indebtedness, and without any waiver or forgiveness) with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, all amounts payable thereon shall first be paid in full, or such Senior Indebtedness, before any payment is made, directly or indirectly by set off or otherwise, on account of principal of, or interest on, the Securities of such series or to acquire any of the Securities of such series or on account of the redemption provisions of the Securities of such series.
(b) Upon a default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness (other than under circumstances when the terms of paragraph (a) of this Section are applicable), as such default is defined therein or in the instrument under which it is outstanding, permitting the holders to accelerate the maturity thereof, upon written notice thereof given to the Company and the Trustee by or on behalf of holders of such Senior Indebtedness ("Default Notice"), then, unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or shall have ceased to exist (the "Payment Blockage Period"), no direct or indirect payment shall be made by the Company with respect to the principal of, or interest on, the Securities or to acquire any of such Securities or on account of the redemption provisions of the Securities; provided, however, that this paragraph (b) shall not prevent the making of any payment (which is not otherwise prohibited by paragraph (a)) for more than 179 days after the Default Notice shall have been given unless the Senior Indebtedness in respect of which such event of default exists has been declared due and payable in its entirety, in which case no such payment may be made until such acceleration has been rescinded or annulled or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full.
(c) If, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, any payment on account of principal of, or interest on, the Securities shall be received by the Trustee, by a Holder or by any Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, money for any such payment is segregated and held in trust), then, unless and until such payment is no longer prohibited by this Section, such payment (subject to the provisions of Section 15.4) shall be held in trust for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness and, upon notice to the Trustee or such Paying Agent from the representative of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and pursuant to the directions of such representative, shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of Senior Indebtedness or their representative(s), ratably according to the aggregate amount remaining unpaid on account of the principal of and interest on the Senior Indebtedness held or represented by each, for application to the payment or prepayment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution or provision therefor to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness. Promptly after becoming aware thereof, the Company shall give written notice to the Trustee of any event prohibiting payments on account of principal of, or interest on, the Securities and, in such event, shall provide to the Trustee, in the form of an Officers' Certificate, the names and addresses of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and their representative(s), if any, the amount of the Senior Indebtedness held by each such holder, any information necessary to calculate the daily or other increase in Senior Indebtedness held by such holders and any other information which the Trustee may reasonably request to comply with this Article. Subject to the provisions of Section 15.2 hereof, in the event that the Trustee or the Paying Agent reasonably determines that additional evidence is required with respect to any person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article, the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, may request that such person furnish evidence to its reasonable as to the extent such person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and as to other facts pertinent to the rights of such persons under this Article and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, may defer any payment to such person pending judicial determination as to the right of such person to receive such payment.
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15.4 Payments on Securities Permitted
Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall:
(a) affect the obligation of the Company to make, or prevent the Company from making, at any time except as provided in Sections 15.2 and 15.3, payments of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities; or
(b) prevent the application by the Trustee of any moneys deposited with it hereunder to the payment of or on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the Securities, unless the Trustee shall have received at its Corporate Trust Office written notice of any event prohibiting the making of such payment more than two Business Days prior to the date fixed for such payment.
15.5 Authorization of Holders to Trustee to Effect Subordination
Each Holder of Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article 15 and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.
15.6 Notices to Trustee
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article or any other provisions of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any Paying Agent (other than the Company) shall be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any event which would prohibit the making of any payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or such Paying Agent, unless and until the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall have received (in the case of the Trustee, at its Corporate Trust Office) written notice thereof from the Company or from the holder of any Senior Indebtedness or from the trustee for any such holder, together with proof satisfactory to the Trustee of such holding of Senior Indebtedness or of the authority of such trustee; provided, however, that if at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such moneys may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either the principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Security) the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such moneys the notice provided for in this Section 15.6, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary, which may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date. The Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such a notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article 15, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article 15 and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.
15.7 Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness
The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article 15 in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time held by it to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in this Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.
Nothing in this Article 15 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.
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15.8 Modifications of Terms of Senior Indebtedness
Any renewal or extension of the time of payment of any Senior Indebtedness or the exercise by the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any of their rights under any instrument creating or evidencing Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver of default thereunder, may be made or done all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee.
No compromise, alteration, amendment, modification, extension, renewal or other change of, or waiver, consent or other action in respect of, any liability or obligation under or in respect of, or of any of the terms, covenants or conditions of any indenture or other instrument under which any Senior Indebtedness is outstanding or of such Senior Indebtedness, whether or not such release is in accordance with the provisions of any applicable document, shall in any way alter or affect any of the provisions of this Article 15 or of the Securities relating to the subordination thereof.
15.9 Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 15, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 15.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same Indenture.
[Signatures follow on next page]
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
| THE ALKALINE WATER COMPANY INC. | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| as Trustee | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
 |
File No: 40610-0001 |
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March 22, 2022
The Alkaline Water Company Inc.
8541 E Anderson Drive, Suite 100/101
Scottsdale, Arizona 85255
U.S.A.
Dear Sirs:
|
Re: The Alkaline Water Company Inc. - Registration Statement on Form S-3/A |
This opinion is being furnished to you in connection with a Registration Statement on Form S-3/A (File No. 333-262683) (the "Registration Statement"), including the base prospectus that is part of the Registration Statement (the "Prospectus"), filed by The Alkaline Water Company Inc., a Nevada corporation (the "Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"). The Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more supplements to such Prospectus (each a "Prospectus Supplement"). The Prospectus, as supplemented by the various Prospectus Supplements, will provide for the issuance and sale by the Company from time to time of (i) shares of common stock (the "Common Stock") of the Company with a par value of $0.001 per share; (ii) shares of preferred stock (the "Preferred Stock") of the Company with a par value of $0.001 per share; (iii) senior or subordinated debt securities (the "Debt Securities") of the Company; (iv) warrants (the "Warrants") of the Company; (v) subscription receipts (the "Subscription Receipts") of the Company and (vi) units (the "Units") of the Company. The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Subscription Receipts and the Units are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities". If required by applicable law, the Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to one or more indentures in the forms filed with the Commission, as amended or supplemented from time to time (each, an "Indenture"), between the Company, as obligor, and a trustee chosen by the Company (each, a "Trustee").
In connection with this opinion, we have examined the Registration Statement including the Prospectus, originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Company's Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and any amendments thereto (the "Charter Documents"). In addition, we have examined such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed.
We have assumed that the signatures on all documents examined by us are genuine, that all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and that all documents submitted to us as copies or as facsimiles of copies or originals, conform with the originals, which assumptions we have not independently verified.
We have also assumed for purposes of our opinion that the Indenture will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, that the Indenture will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Trustee, and that the Trustee has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Indenture.
We have also assumed for purposes of our opinion that, (i) if any Debt Securities are issued, such Debt Securities will only be issued pursuant to the Indenture in one of the forms that are filed with the Commission and that there will not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of the Debt Securities, (ii) at or prior to the time of the delivery of any Securities in connection with the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement will have been declared effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the Registration Statement's effectiveness will have been issued and remain in effect and (iii) the registration will apply to such Securities and will not have been modified or rescinded and that there will not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity of the issuance of such Securities at the time of the offer, issuance and sale of any Securities. We have also assumed that the terms of any Debt Securities to be established subsequent to the date hereof, the issuance and delivery of Securities subsequent to the date hereof and the compliance by the Company with the terms of such Securities will not violate any applicable law (including, without limitation, any law relating to usury) or result in a violation of any provision of any instrument or agreement then binding upon the Company or any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
This opinion is qualified by, and is subject to:
(i) the effect of the laws of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other similar laws now or hereinafter in effect relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors, including the effect of statutory or other laws regarding fraudulent transfers or preferential transfers;
(ii) the effect of general principles of equity and similar principles, including, without limitation, concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, public policy and unconscionability, the possible unavailability of specific performance and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought;
(iii) injunctive relief, or other equitable remedies, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law;
(iv) the effect of laws relating to usury or permissible rates of interest for loans, forebearances or the use of money; and
(v) the invalidity under certain circumstances under law or court decisions of provisions providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy.
We express no opinion as to (i) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty, (ii) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief, (iii) waivers of rights or defenses, (iv) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys' fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy, (v) any provision permitting, upon acceleration of any Debt Security, collection of that portion of the stated principal amount thereof which might be determined to constitute unearned interest thereon, (vi) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest, (vii) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights, (viii) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights, (ix) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies, (x) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations, (xi) grants of setoff rights, (xii) proxies, powers and trusts, (xiii) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property, (xiv) provisions purporting to make a guarantor primarily liable rather than as a surety, (xv) provisions purporting to waive modifications of any guaranteed obligation to the extent such modification constitutes a novation, (xvi) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, (xvii) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to the Debt Securities (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides, and (xviii) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect.
The Company has informed us that the Company intends to issue the Securities from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis. This opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof. We are basing this opinion on our understanding that, prior to issuing any Securities, the Company will: (i) advise us in writing of the terms thereof and other information material thereto; (ii) afford us an opportunity to review the operative documents pursuant to which such Securities are to be issued (including the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement and, in the case of Debt Securities, the Indenture, as then in effect); and (iii) file such supplement or amendment to this opinion (if any) as we may reasonably consider necessary or appropriate with respect to such Securities. We also assume the Company will (a) timely file all supplements to the Registration Statement and Prospectus as are necessary to comply with applicable laws in effect from time to time and (b) amend its Charter Documents to increase the authorized number of shares of its capital stock if the number of such shares to be sold pursuant to the Registration Statement would cause the Company to issue more shares than it has authorized. However, we undertake no responsibility to monitor the Company's future compliance with applicable laws, rules or regulations of the Commission or other governmental body.
Based upon the foregoing and the examination of such legal authorities as we have deemed relevant, and subject to the qualifications and further assumptions set forth below, we are of the opinion that:
1. With respect to the shares of Common Stock registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") and, if required, the stockholders of the Company (the "Stockholders"), have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance of and the terms of the offering of the shares of Common Stock and related matters and (ii) certificates representing the shares of Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered (or book entry statements representing the shares of Common Stock have been duly issued by the transfer agent of the Company) either (a) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, or upon the exercise of Warrants to purchase Common Stock, upon payment of the consideration therefor (which shall be no less than the par value of the Common Stock) provided for therein or (b) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (which shall be no less than the par value of the Common Stock), as stated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto (as amended as of the date of the offer for such issuance, sale and delivery), then such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
2. With respect to any particular series of shares of Preferred Stock registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) the Board and, if required, the Stockholders, have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the shares of Preferred Stock, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of a certificate of designation relating to such Preferred Stock conforming to the Charter Documents and the Nevada Revised Statutes (a "Certificate of Designation") and the reservation for future issuance of a sufficient number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock, and the filing of the Certificate of Designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, and (ii) certificates representing the shares of Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered either (a) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, or upon the exercise of Warrants to purchase Preferred Stock, upon payment of the consideration therefor (which shall be no less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) provided for therein or (b) upon conversion or exercise of any other Security, in accordance with the terms of such Security or the instrument governing such Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board, for the consideration approved by the Board (which shall be no less than the par value of the Preferred Stock), as stated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto (as amended as of the date of the offer for such issuance, sale and delivery), then such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
3. With respect to any Debt Securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) the Board and, if required, the Stockholders, have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the Debt Securities, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, (ii) an Indenture relating to such Debt Securities in one of the forms that are filed with the Commission has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by each of the Company and the Trustee, (iii) the form and terms of the Debt Securities have been duly established in accordance with the Indenture pursuant to resolutions duly adopted by the Board and as set forth in an officer's certificate or supplemental indenture duly authorized by the Board and duly executed by an authorized officer of the Company and (iv) instruments representing such Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and any supplement thereto, and issued, sold and delivered in the manner and for the consideration approved by the Board and stated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto (as amended as of the date of the offer for such issuance, sale and delivery) and any applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, then the Debt Securities will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company;
4. With respect to any Warrants registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) the Board and, if required, the Stockholders, have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Warrants, the terms, execution and delivery of the warrant agreement relating to the Warrants (the "Warrant Agreement"), if any, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including reservation for future issuance of a sufficient number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, (ii) the Warrant Agreement, if any, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered and (iii) certificates representing such Warrants have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, as approved by the Board and stated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto (as amended as of the date of the offer for such issuance, sale and delivery), such Warrants will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company; and
5. With respect to any Subscription Receipts registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) the Board and, if required, the Stockholders, have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Subscription Receipts, the terms, execution and delivery of the subscription receipt agreement relating to the Subscription Receipts (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement"), if any, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including reservation for future issuance of a sufficient number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, (ii) the Subscription Receipt Agreement, if any, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered and (iii) certificates representing such Subscription Receipts have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Subscription Receipt Agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, as approved by the Board and stated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto (as amended as of the date of the offer for such issuance, sale and delivery), such Subscription Receipts will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company; and
6. With respect to any Units registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, when (i) the Board and, if required, the Stockholders, have taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of such Units, the terms, execution and delivery of the agreement relating to the Units ("Unit Agreement"), the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including reservation for future issuance of a sufficient number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock or Common Stock, as applicable, (ii) the Unit Agreement has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered and (iii) such Units have been duly executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Unit Agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, as approved by the Board and stated in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto (as amended as of the date of the offer for such issuance, sale and delivery), such Units will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
This opinion letter is opining upon and is limited to the current federal laws of the United States and the current laws of the State of Nevada including the statutory provisions, all applicable provisions of the Nevada constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting those laws, as such laws presently exist and to the facts as they presently exist. We express no opinion with respect to the effect or applicability of the laws of any other jurisdiction. We assume no obligation to revise or supplement this opinion letter should the laws of such jurisdiction be changed after the date hereof by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the General Rules and Regulations of the Commission.
Yours truly,
CLARK WILSON LLP
/s/ Clark Wilson LLP
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3/A (Amendment No.1) of our report dated July 2, 2021, relating to the financial statements of The Alkaline Water Company Inc. (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph related to The Alkaline Water Company Inc.'s ability to continue as a going concern), appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of The Alkaline Water Company Inc. for the year ended March 31, 2021, and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ Prager Metis CPAs LLC
Basking Ridge, NJ
March 22, 2022