As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 20, 2017

 
Registration Statement No. 333-
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM F-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

DRYSHIPS INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Republic of the Marshall Islands
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
 
N/A
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 

DryShips Inc.
109 Kifisias Avenue and Sina Street
151 24, Marousi
Athens, Greece
+ 011 30 216 20 06 600
(Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)
 
Seward & Kissel LLP
Attention:  Gary J. Wolfe, Esq.
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, New York 10004
(212) 574-1200
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

Copies to:
Gary J. Wolfe, Esq.
Seward & Kissel LLP
One Battery Park Plaza
New York, New York 10004
(212) 574-1200

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:  From time to time after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on the Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box.
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.



CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Title of Each Class of
Securities to be Registered
Amount to be
Registered
Proposed Maximum Aggregate
Offering Price
Amount of
Registration Fee
Primary Offering
         
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
         
Preferred Stock, par value $0.01 per share
         
Preferred Stock Purchase Rights (4)
         
Debt securities (5)
         
Warrants (6)
         
Purchase contracts (7)
         
Rights (8)
         
Units (9)
         
TOTAL
$2,000,000,000 (1)
$2,000,000,000 (1)(2)
$231,800 (3)

(1)
An indeterminate aggregate initial offering amount or number of common stock, preferred stock, preferred stock purchase rights, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, rights and units are being registered as may from time to time be issued in primary offerings at indeterminate prices in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in foreign currencies. Also includes such indeterminate amount of debt securities and number of common shares and preferred shares as may be issued upon conversion or exchange for any other debt securities or shares of preferred stock that provide for conversion or exchange into other securities.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Pursuant to General Instruction II.C of Form F-3, the table does not specify by each class information as to the amount to be registered or the proposed maximum aggregate offering price.  Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder.  In no event will the aggregate offering price of all securities sold by DryShips Inc. pursuant to this registration statement exceed $2,000,000,000.
(3)
Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(4)
Preferred stock purchase rights are not currently separable from the common shares and are not currently exercisable. The value attributable to the preferred stock purchase rights, if any, will be reflected in the market price of the common shares.
(5)
If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering may be in such greater principal amount as shall result in a maximum aggregate offering price not to exceed $2,000,000,000.
(6)
There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of warrants as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices not to exceed an aggregate offering price of $2,000,000,000.
(7)
There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of purchase contracts as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices not to exceed an aggregate offering price of $2,000,000,000.
(8)
There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of rights as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices not to exceed an aggregate offering price of $2,000,000,000.

(9)
There is being registered hereunder an indeterminate number of units as may from time to time be sold at indeterminate prices not to exceed an aggregate offering price of $2,000,000,000. Units may consist of any combination of securities offered by DryShips Inc. registered hereunder.
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, as amended, 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. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy or sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 20, 2017
Prospectus
DRYSHIPS INC.

Common Shares, Preferred Share Purchase
Rights, Preferred Shares, Debt Securities,
Warrants, Purchase Contracts, Rights and Units

Through this prospectus, we may periodically offer:
(1)
shares of our common stock, including related preferred stock purchase rights;
(2)
shares of our preferred stock;
(3)
our debt securities;
(4)
our warrants;
(5)
our purchase contracts;
(6)
our rights; and
(7)
our units.
The aggregate offering price of all securities issued and sold by us under this prospectus may not exceed $2,000,000,000. The prices and terms of the securities that we will offer will be determined at the time of their offering and will be described in a supplement to this prospectus.
Our common shares are currently listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol "DRYS."
An investment in these securities involves a high degree of risk.  See the section entitled "Risk Factors" beginning on page 5 of this prospectus, and other risk factors contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein.
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                          , 2017.



TABLE OF CONTENTS

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
1
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
2
RISK FACTORS
5
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
6
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
7
PER SHARE MARKET PRICE INFORMATION
8
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
9
CAPITALIZATION
10
USE OF PROCEEDS
11
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
12
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
13
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
23
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
29
DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
30
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
31
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
32
EXPENSES
33
LEGAL MATTERS
33
EXPERTS
33
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
33





ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "dollars" and "$" in this prospectus are to U.S. Dollars, and the financial statements incorporated by reference herein are presented in U.S. dollars and have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a shelf registration process.  Under the shelf registration process, we may sell our common shares (including related preferred stock purchase rights), preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, rights and units that are described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings.  This prospectus only provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer.  Each time we offer securities, we will provide you with a supplement to this prospectus that will describe the specific information about the securities being offered and the specific terms of that offering.  The supplement may also add, update or change the information contained in this prospectus.  If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement.  Before purchasing any securities, you should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described below.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement we filed with the SEC and do not contain all the information in the registration statement.  Forms of the indentures and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are filed as exhibits to the registration statement.  Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers.  You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters.  For further information about us or the securities offered hereby, you should refer to the registration statement, which you can obtain from the SEC as described below under the section entitled "Where You Can Find Additional Information."
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement.  We and any underwriters have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information.  If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it.  You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise.  Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or any underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required.  The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction.  Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus.  This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

1

 
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights information that appears elsewhere in this prospectus or in the documents incorporated by reference herein and is qualified in its entirety by the more detailed information, including the financial statements that appear in the documents incorporated by reference. This summary may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. As an investor or prospective investor, you should review carefully the entire prospectus, including the risk factors, and the more detailed information that is included herein and in the documents incorporated by reference herein.
Unless otherwise indicated, references in this prospectus to "DryShips," "we," "us," "our" and the "Company" refer to DryShips Inc., a Marshall Islands corporation, and any one or more of our subsidiaries. Unless otherwise indicated, all references to "$" and "dollars" in this prospectus are to United States dollars, and financial information presented in this prospectus is derived from financial statements that are incorporated by reference and were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.
We use "LPG" to refer to liquefied petroleum gas, "VLGC" to refer to very large gas carriers that carry LPG, and "cbm" to refer to cubic meters in describing the carrying capacity of VLGCs. We use "VLCC" to refer to very large crude carriers and "dwt" to refer to deadweight ton in describing the size of our VLCCs and drybulk vessels. Dwt is expressed in metric tons each of which is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms.
Our Company
We are a Marshall Islands corporation with our principal executive offices in Athens, Greece and were incorporated in September 2004. We are a diversified owner of ocean going cargo vessels. Our common stock is listed on the NASDAQ Capital Market where it trades under the symbol "DRYS."
As of March 20, 2017, we owned a fleet of (i) 13 Panamax drybulk carriers, which have a combined deadweight tonnage of approximately 1.0 million dwt and an average age of approximately 13.6 years, (ii) one VLCC and one Aframax tanker newbuilding, each of which are expected to be delivered in the second quarter of 2017, (iii) two VLGC newbuildings which are expected to be delivered in the second and third quarter of 2017, respectively, and (iv) six offshore supply vessels, comprising two platform supply and four oil spill recovery vessels with an average age of approximately 4.0 years.
Our drybulk carriers and offshore support vessels operate worldwide within the trading limits imposed by our insurance terms.
Our Fleet
Set forth below is summary information concerning our fleet as of March 20, 2017.
Drybulk Vessels
                   
Redelivery
 
 
 
Year
Built(1)
 
DWT(2)
 
Type
Current employment
or employment
upon delivery
 
Gross
rate
per day
   
Earliest
   
Latest
 
Panamax:
                             
Raraka
2012
   
76,037
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Rapallo
2009
   
75,123
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Catalina
2005
   
74,432
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
   
N/A
   
N/A
 
Majorca
2005
   
74,477
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Ligari
2004
   
75,583
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Mendocino
2002
   
76,623
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Bargara
2002
   
74,832
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Ecola
2001
   
73,931
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Capitola
2001
   
74,816
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Levanto
2001
   
73,925
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Maganari
2001
   
75,941
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Marbella
2000
   
72,561
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
   
N/A
   
N/A
 
Redondo
2000
   
74,716
 
Panamax
Spot
 
Spot
     
N/A
     
N/A
 

(1) The average age of the drybulk vessels in our fleet, based on year built, was 13.6 years.
(2) The total aggregate dwt of the drybulk vessels in our fleet was 972,997.
 

2

 
Offshore Supply Vessels
 
Year
         
Current employment
or employment
   
Gross
rate
   
Redelivery
 
 
Built(1)
 
DWT(2)
 
Type
 
upon delivery(3)
   
per day(3)
   
Earliest
   
Latest
 
                                   
Platform Supply Vessels:
                                 
Crescendo
2012
   
1,457
 
PSV
 
Laid up
     
N/A
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Colorado
2012
   
1,430
 
PSV
   
Laid up
     
N/A
   
 N/A
   
 N/A
 
                                             
Oil Spill Recovery Vessels
                                           
Indigo
2013
   
1,393
 
OSRV
 
Laid up
     
N/A
     
N/A
     
N/A
 
Vega Jaanca
2012
   
1,393
 
OSRV
   
T/C
     
T/C
   
Jul-17
   
Jul-21
 
Vega Emtoli
2012
   
1,363
 
OSRV
   
T/C
     
T/C
   
May-17
   
May-21
 
Jubilee
2012
   
1,317
 
OSRV
 
Laid up
   
N/A
   
N/A
   
N/A
 

(1) The average age of the offshore supply vessels in our fleet, based on year built, was 4.0 years.
(2) The total aggregate DWT of the offshore supply vessels in our fleet was 8,353.
(3) T/C means time charter.

VLGCs
 
 
                     
Redelivery
     
 
Year Built
   
CBM
 
Type
 
Current employment
or employment
upon delivery
 
Gross rate
per day
 
Earliest
 
Latest
 
Under construction:
                             
VLGC*
2017
   
78,700
 
VLGC
 
T/C
 
30,000
 
Jun-22
 
Jun-25
 
VLGC**
 2017
   
78,700
 
VLGC
 
T/C
 
30,000
 
Sep-22
 
Sep-25
 

*Expected delivery during the second quarter of 2017.
** Expected delivery during the third quarter of 2017.


Tankers
                       
Redelivery
     
 
Year Built
   
DWT
 
Type
 
Current employment
or employment
upon delivery
 
Gross rate
per day
 
Earliest
 
Latest
 
VLCCs :
                             
VLCC*
2011
   
320,105
 
VLCC
 
Spot
   
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A
                               
                       
Redelivery
     
 
Year Built
   
DWT
 
Type
 
Current employment
or employment
upon delivery
 
Gross rate
per day
 
Earliest
 
Latest
 
Under construction :
                             
Aframax Tanker*
2017
   
113,644
 
Aframax
 
Spot
   
N/A
 
N/A
 
N/A

*Expected delivery during the second quarter of 2017.


3


Corporate Structure
DryShips Inc. is a corporation organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands. We maintain our principal executive offices at 109 Kifisias Avenue and Sina Street, 151 24, Marousi, Athens, Greece. Our telephone number at that address is + 011 30 216 20 06 600. Our website address is www.dryships.com. The information on our website is not a part of this prospectus.
The Securities We May Offer

We may use this prospectus to offer our:

·
shares of our common stock, including related preferred stock purchase rights;
·
shares of our preferred stock;
·
debt securities;
·
warrants;
·
purchase contracts;
·
rights; and
·
units.
We may also offer securities of the types listed above that are convertible or exchangeable into one or more of the securities listed above.

A prospectus supplement will describe the specific types, amounts, prices, and detailed terms of any of these offered securities and may describe certain risks in addition to those set forth below associated with an investment in the securities. Terms used in the prospectus supplement will have the meanings described in this prospectus, unless otherwise specified.
 
 
 

4

RISK FACTORS
An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks set forth below and the discussion of risks under the heading "Item 3. Key Information—D. Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2017, and the other documents which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before making an investment in our securities. Please see the section of this prospectus entitled "Where You Can Find Additional Information—Information Incorporated by Reference." In addition, you should also consider carefully the risks set forth under the heading "Risk Factors" in any prospectus supplement before investing in the securities offered by this prospectus. The occurrence of one or more of those risk factors could adversely impact our business, financial condition or results of operations.
The price of our shares of common stock after an offering may be volatile.
The price of our shares of common stock may fluctuate due to factors such as:
·
actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly and annual results and those of other public companies in our industry
·
mergers and strategic alliances in the drybulk, LPG, oil and offshore supply industries;
·
market conditions in the drybulk, LPG, oil or offshore supply industries;
·
changes in government regulation;
·
the failure of securities analysts to publish research about us after an offering, or shortfalls in our operating results from levels forecast by securities analysts; and
·
the general state of the securities market;
The seaborne transportation industry has been highly unpredictable and volatile. The market for our shares of common stock in this industry may be equally volatile. Consequently, you may not be able to sell the securities at prices equal to or greater than those paid by you in an offering.
Investors may experience significant dilution as a result of future offerings.
We may have to attempt to sell shares in the future in order to satisfy our capital needs; however there can be no assurance that we will be able to do so. If we are able to sell shares in the future, the prices at which we sell these future shares will vary, and these variations may be significant and our existing shareholders may experience significant dilution if we sell these future shares to other than existing shareholders pro rata at prices significantly below the price at which such existing shareholders invested.
We may issue additional shares of our common stock or other equity securities without your approval, which would dilute your ownership interests and may depress the market price of shares of our common stock.
We may issue additional shares of our common stock or other equity securities of equal or senior rank in the future in connection with, among other things, future vessel acquisitions, repayment of outstanding indebtedness, or our equity incentive plan, without shareholder approval, in a number of circumstances.
Our issuance of additional shares of our common stock or other equity securities of equal or senior rank would have the following effects:
·
our existing shareholders' proportionate ownership interest in us will decrease;
·
the amount of cash available for dividends payable on our common shares may decrease;
·
the relative voting strength of each previously outstanding common share may be diminished; and
·
the market price of shares of our common stock may decline.
5


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides safe harbor protections for forward-looking statements in order to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their business. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements, which are other than statements of historical facts.
We desire to take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are including this cautionary statement in connection with this safe harbor legislation. This document and any other written or oral statements made by us or on our behalf may include forward-looking statements, which reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. The words "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan," "potential," "may," "should," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. We caution that assumptions, expectations, projections, intentions and beliefs about future events may and often do vary from actual results and the differences can be material.
All statements in this document that are not statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, such matters as:
·
statements about the issuance and sale of shares of our common stock or other securities;
·
our future operating or financial results;
·
statements about planned, pending or recent acquisitions, business strategy and expected capital spending or operating expenses, including drydocking, surveys, upgrades and insurance costs;
·
our ability to procure or have access to financing, our liquidity and the adequacy of cash flow for our operations;
·
our compliance with the terms contained in our debt agreements and our ability to reach agreements with our lenders to restructure our indebtedness;
·
our substantial leverage, including our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to service our existing debt and the incurrence of substantial indebtedness in the future;
·
our ability to successfully employ our existing drybulk and offshore support vessels and our LPG and tanker vessels as they are delivered;
·
our vessel contract backlog, contract commencements, contract terminations, contract option exercises, contract revenues, contract awards and platform and offshore support vessels mobilizations and performance provisions;
·
our future capital expenditures and investments in the construction, acquisition and refurbishment of our vessels (including the amount and nature thereof and the timing of completion thereof, the delivery and commencement of operations dates, and ability to finance such capital expenditures and investments); and
·
statements about drybulk shipping and offshore support or LPG and oil market trends, charter rates and factors affecting supply and demand.
The forward-looking statements in this document are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including without limitation, management's examination of historical operating trends, data contained in our records and other data available from third parties. Although we believe that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because these assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond our control, we cannot assure you that we will achieve or accomplish the expectations, beliefs or projections described in the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus.
6


Important factors that, in our view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include the price and trading volume for shares of our common stock, the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions, including changes in charter rates and vessel values, failure of a seller or shipyard to deliver one or more vessels, failure of a buyer to accept delivery of a vessel, inability to procure financing for capital expenditures or investments or refinancing for existing indebtedness on acceptable terms or at all, defaults or contract terminations by one or more charterers of our vessels, changes in demand for drybulk commodities, LPG, oil or offshore support services, changes in charter rates that may affect the willingness of time charterers to complete their charters or cause time charterers to seek to renegotiate charters, scheduled and unscheduled drydocking, changes in our voyage and operating expenses, including bunker prices, drydocking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations, changes in our relationships with the lenders under our debt agreements, potential liability from pending or future litigation, domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents, international hostilities and political events or acts by terrorists.
We refer you to the section entitled "Risk Factors," beginning on page 5 of this prospectus and on page 6 of our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F, which is incorporated by reference herein, for a more complete discussion of these risks and uncertainties and for other risks and uncertainties. These factors and the other risk factors described in this prospectus are not necessarily all of the important factors that could cause actual results or developments to differ materially from those expressed in any of our forward-looking statements. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could harm our results. Consequently, there can be no assurance that actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us. Given these uncertainties, prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements reflect only as of the date on which they are made. We will not update any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, developments, or other information. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that additional updates will be made regarding that statement or any other forward-looking statements.
ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are a Marshall Islands company and our executive offices are located outside the United States in Athens, Greece. The Majority of our directors, officers and the experts named in the prospectus reside outside the United States. In addition, a substantial portion of our assets and the assets of our directors, officers and experts are located outside the United States. As a result, you may have difficulty serving legal process within the United States upon us or any of these persons. You may also have difficulty enforcing, both in and outside the United States, judgments you may obtain in U.S. courts against us or these persons in any action, including actions based upon the civil liability provisions of U.S. federal or state securities laws.
Furthermore, there is substantial doubt that the courts in the countries in which we or our subsidiaries are incorporated or where our assets or the assets of our subsidiaries, directors or officers and such experts are located (i) would enforce judgments of U.S. courts obtained in actions against us or our subsidiaries, directors or officers and such experts based upon the civil liability provisions of applicable U.S. federal and state securities laws or (ii) would enforce, in original actions, liabilities against us or our subsidiaries, directors or officers and such experts based on those laws.
7


PER SHARE MARKET PRICE INFORMATION
The trading market for our common stock is the NASDAQ Capital Market, on which the shares are listed under the symbol "DRYS." You should carefully review the high and low prices of DryShips Inc.'s common shares in the tables for the months, quarters and years indicated under the heading "Item 9. The Offer and Listing" in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016, which is incorporated by reference herein.
8


RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The following table sets forth our unaudited ratio of earnings to fixed charges (or the dollar amount of the coverage deficiency in periods that earnings are inadequate to cover fixed charges) for each of the preceding five fiscal years.
   
Year
Ended
December
31, 2012
   
Year
Ended
December
31, 2013
   
Year
Ended
December
31, 2014
   
Year
Ended
December
31, 2015
   
Year
Ended
December
31, 2016
 
Earnings/ (loss)
 
( in thousands of US dollars )
 
Income/(loss) from continuing operations before income taxes, equity in loss of investee and non-controlling interests
 
$
(244,636
)
 
$
(153,437
)
 
$
135,843
   
$
(1,073,989
)
 
$
(157,194
)
Add: Depreciation of capitalized interest
   
5,137
     
5,979
     
9,552
     
21,076
     
-
 
Add: Fixed charges
   
269,095
     
401,843
     
450,246
     
180,144
     
8,857
 
Less: Capitalized interest
   
(58,967
)
   
(69,714
)
   
(39,225
)
   
(12,060
)
   
-
 
Total Earnings/ (loss)
 
$
(29,371
)
 
$
184,671
   
$
556,416
   
$
(884,829
)
 
$
(148,337
)
                                         
Fixed Charges
                                       
Interest expensed and capitalized
   
209,692
     
309,094
     
351,701
     
154,417
     
8,061
 
Amortization and write-off of capitalized expenses relating to indebtedness
   
59,403
     
92,749
     
98,545
     
25,727
     
796
 
Total Fixed Charges
 
$
269,095
   
$
401,843
   
$
450,246
   
$
180,144
   
$
8,857
 
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
   
-
     
-
     
1.2
x
   
-
     
-
 
Dollar Amount of Deficiency in Earnings to Fixed Charges
   
298,466
     
217,172
     
N/A
     
1,064,973
     
157,194
 

As of March 20, 2017, there were 29,166 shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding.
9


CAPITALIZATION
Each prospectus supplement will include information on our consolidated capitalization.
10


USE OF PROCEEDS
We intend to use net proceeds from the sale of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
11


PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell or distribute the securities included in this prospectus through underwriters, through agents, to dealers, in private transactions, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to the prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices.
In addition, we may sell some or all of our securities included in this prospectus, through:
·
a block trade in which a broker-dealer may resell a portion of the block, as principal, in order to facilitate the transaction;
·
purchases by a broker-dealer, as principal, and resale by the broker-dealer for its account; or
·
ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which a broker solicits purchasers.
In addition, we may enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver our securities to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the securities under this prospectus. We may enter into hedging transactions with respect to our securities. For example, we may:
·
enter into transactions involving short sales of our shares of common stock by broker-dealers;
·
sell common shares short themselves and deliver the shares to close out short positions;
·
enter into option or other types of transactions that require us to deliver shares of common stock to a broker-dealer, who will then resell or transfer the shares of common stock under this prospectus; or
·
loan or pledge the common shares to a broker-dealer, who may sell the loaned shares or, in the event of default, sell the pledged shares.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
Any broker-dealers or other persons acting on our behalf may be deemed to be underwriters, and any commissions received or profit realized by them on the resale of the securities, may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.
As of the date of this prospectus, we are not a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding between any broker or dealer and us with respect to the offer or sale of the securities pursuant to this prospectus.
At the time that any particular offering of securities is made, to the extent required by the Securities Act, a prospectus supplement will be distributed, setting forth the terms of the offering, including the aggregate number of securities being offered, the purchase price of the securities, the initial offering price of the securities, the names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, any discounts, commissions and other items constituting compensation from us, and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. Furthermore, we, our executive officers, and our directors may agree, subject to certain exemptions, that for a certain period from the date of the prospectus supplement under which the securities are offered, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of an underwriter, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of any of our common shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common shares. However, an underwriter, in its sole discretion, may release any of the securities subject to these lock-up agreements at any time without notice.
Underwriters or agents could make sales in privately negotiated transactions and/or any other method permitted by law, including sales deemed to be an at-the-market offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, which includes sales made directly on or through the NASDAQ Capital Market, the existing trading market for our shares of common stock, or sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.
We will bear costs relating to all of the securities offered and sold under this registration statement.
12


DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
For purposes of the description of the Company's capital stock below, references to "us," "we" and "our" refer only to DryShips Inc. and not any of its subsidiaries. Please see our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, copies of which are incorporated by reference as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016.  Please also see the Statement of Designations of the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares, which was filed as an exhibit to our Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on June 8, 2016, the Certificate of Designation of the Series D Preferred Stock, which was filed as an exhibit to our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the Statement of Designations of the Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares and Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares, respectively, which were filed as exhibits to our Report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 17, 2016.
Authorized and Outstanding Capital Stock
Under our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, our authorized capital stock consists of 1,000,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 152,055,576 shares (excluding treasury stock) are issued and outstanding as of March 20, 2017 and 500,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of which 100,000,000 shares have been designated as Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, 10,000,000 as Series A Participating Preferred Stock, 100,000,000 shares have been designated as Series B Convertible Preferred Stock, 10,000 shares have been designated as Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, 3,500,000 shares have been designated as Series D Preferred Stock, 50,000 shares have been designated as Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Stock, and 50,000 shares have been designated as Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Stock. As of March 20, 2017, there were 29,166 shares of Series D Preferred Stock outstanding, and no other preferred shares were issued and outstanding. All of our shares of stock are in registered form.
Description of Common Stock
Each share of our outstanding common stock entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any outstanding shares of preferred stock, holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to receive ratably all dividends, if any, declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available for dividends. Holders of shares of our common stock do not have conversion, redemption or preemptive rights to subscribe to any of our securities. All outstanding shares of our common stock are fully paid and non-assessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of shares of our common stock are subject to the rights of the holders of any preferred shares that may be outstanding. Shares of our stock are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol "DRYS."
On February 22, 2016, a committee of our board of directors determined to affect a 1-for-25 reverse stock split of shares of our common stock. The reverse stock split occurred, and shares of our common stock began trading on a split adjusted basis on Nasdaq as of the opening of trading on March 11, 2016.
On July 29, 2016, our board of directors determined to effect a 1-for-4 reverse stock split of shares of our common stock.  The reverse stock split occurred, and shares of our common stock began trading on a split adjusted basis on Nasdaq as of the opening of trading on August 15, 2016.
On October 27, 2016, a committee of our board of directors determined to effect a 1-for-15 reverse stock split of shares of our common stock.  The reverse stock split occurred, and shares of our common stock began trading on a split adjusted basis on Nasdaq as of the opening of trading on November 1, 2016.
On December 23, 2016, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement, or the 2016 Purchase Agreement, with Kalani Investments Limited, or the Investor. The 2016 Purchase Agreement provided that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, the Investor was committed to purchase up to $200.0 million worth of shares of our common stock over the 24-month term of the purchase agreement and would receive up to an aggregate of $1.5 million of shares of our common stock as a commitment fee in consideration for entering into the 2016 Purchase Agreement. A s of January 31, 2017, we completed the sale to the Investor of the full $200.0 million worth of shares of our common stock under the 2016 Purchase Agreement, which then automatically terminated in accordance with its terms. Between the date of the 2016 Purchase Agreement, December 23, 2016, and January 30, 2017, we sold an aggregate 31,769,940 shares of our common stock to the Investor at an average price of approximately $6.30 per share.
On January 18, 2017, our board of directors determined to effect a 1-for-8 reverse stock split of shares of our common stock.  The reverse stock split occurred, and shares of our common stock began trading on a split adjusted basis on Nasdaq as of the opening of trading on January 23, 2017.
13


On February 17, 2017, we entered into a common stock purchase agreement, or the 2017 Purchase Agreement, with the Investor.  T he 2017 Purchase Agreement provides that, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth therein, the Investor is committed to purchase up to $200.0 million worth of shares of our common stock over the 24-month term of the purchase agreement and receive up to an aggregate of $1.5 million of shares of our common stock as a commitment fee in consideration for entering into the 2017 Purchase Agreement. As of March 17, 2017, we completed the sale to the Investor of the full $200.0 million worth of shares of our common stock under the 2016 Purchase Agreement, which then automatically terminated in accordance with its terms . Between the date of the 2017 Purchase Agreement, February 17, 2017, and March 16, 2017, we sold an aggregate 114,947,079 shares of our common stock to the Investor at an average price of approximately $1.74 per share.
Description of Preferred Stock
Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation authorize our board of directors to establish one or more series of preferred shares and to determine, with respect to any series of preferred shares, the terms and rights of that series, including:
·
the designation of the series;
·
the number of shares of the series;
·
the preferences and relative, participating, option or other special rights, if any, and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such series; and
·
the voting rights, if any, of the holders of the series.
Our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock that was outstanding until October 2011 accrued cumulative dividends on a quarterly basis at an annual rate of 6.75% of the aggregate face value. Dividends were payable in preferred stock or cash, if cash dividends have been declared on shares of our common stock. Such accrued dividends were payable in additional shares of preferred stock immediately prior to any conversion.
Each share of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock entitled the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of our shareholders. Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Designations of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of our common stock voted together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of the Company's shareholders. Except as required by law, holders of Series A Convertible Preferred Stock had no special voting rights and their consent was not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of shares of our common stock as described above) for taking any corporate action.
The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock ranked senior to all other series of our preferred stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series provided otherwise. The Series A Convertible Preferred Stock was not redeemable unless upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, or sale of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, in which case a one-to-one redemption takes place plus any accrued and unpaid dividends.
We entered into the secured revolving credit facility, or the Secured Revolving Credit Facility, with Sifnos Shareholders Inc., or Sifnos, an entity controlled by Mr. Economou, on October 21, 2015, and subsequently amended it on November 11, 2015, pursuant to which we were initially permitted to borrow up to $60.0 million principal amount from Sifnos, as lender.  Pursuant to the terms of the Secured Revolving Credit Facility, on December 30, 2015, we exercised our right to convert $10.0 million in aggregate principal of the Secured Revolving Credit Facility into 8,333 shares (4,000,000 shares before the 1-for-4, 1-for-15, and 1-for-8 reverse stock splits) of our Series B Convertible Preferred Stock.
The holders of each share of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock were entitled to vote with the holders of each share of our common stock on all matters on which shares of our common stock were entitled to vote as a single class, and the shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock had five votes per share.  The shares of Series B Convertible Preferred Stock were mandatorily convertible into shares of our common stock on a one to one basis within three months after the issuance thereof or any earlier date selected by us in our sole discretion. The Series B Convertible Preferred Stock had the same dividend and liquidation rights as shares of our common stock.
On March 24, 2016, we entered into an agreement to increase the maximum available amount under the Secured Revolving Credit Facility by $10.0 million to $70.0 million, and as part of the transaction we entered into a Preferred Stock Exchange Agreement to exchange the 8,333 Series B Convertible Preferred Shares (4,000,000 Series B Convertible Preferred Shares before the 1-for-4, 1-for-15 and 1-for-8 reverse stock splits) held by the lender for $8.75 million. We subsequently cancelled the Series B Preferred Shares, effective March 24, 2016.
14


On April 5, 2016 and September 9, 2016, the Secured Revolving Credit Facility was amended to include certain additional conversion mechanisms. Pursuant to the Secured Revolving Credit Facility, as amended, we had the option to elect, at any time prior to the maturity date of the Secured Revolving Credit Facility, to convert $8.75 million of the outstanding principal amount of loans into 29,166 shares of Series D Preferred Stock (3,500,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock before the 1-for-15 and 1-for-8 reverse stock split) of the Company. On September 13, 2016, we elected to exercise our preferred stock rights pursuant to the Secured Revolving Credit Facility and issued 29,166 shares of Series D Preferred Stock (3,500,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock before the 1-for-15 and 1-for-8 reverse stock split) to Sifnos.
Each share of Series D Preferred Stock is entitled to vote with shares of our common stock on all matters on which shares of our common stock are entitled to vote as a single class, and the shares of Series D Preferred Stock have 100,000 votes per share.  Shares of Series D Preferred Stock have the same dividend and liquidation rights as shares of our common stock on a share-for-share basis.
On June 8, 2016, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with an institutional investor for the sale of 5,000 Series C Convertible Preferred Shares, warrants to purchase an additional 5,000 Series C Convertible Preferred Shares and 310 shares of our common stock (148,998 shares of our common stock before the 1-for-4, 1-for 15 and 1-for-8 reverse stock splits). On August 10, 2016, the institutional investor exercised the warrants and we issued an additional 5,000 Series C Convertible Preferred Shares.
Our Series C Convertible Preferred Shares that were outstanding until November 2016, with respect to dividend rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, ranked senior with respect to all shares of capital stock of the Company except for the Series E-1 and E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares, with which the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares ranked on a pari passu basis. Holders of the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares were entitled to dividends in the amount of 8.0% per annum, subject to an increase to 12% per annum upon the occurrence and continuance of certain triggering events. Dividends were payable monthly in shares of our common stock or cash, at our option.
The Series C Convertible Preferred Shares were initially convertible at any time at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at a fixed conversion price of $2.75 per common share, subject to adjustment in accordance with the terms of the Series C Convertible Preferred Statement of Designations; provided, however, that if the VWAP of shares of our common stock on Nasdaq was below the fixed conversion price, subject to certain adjustments, then the holder was eligible to convert the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares at an alternate price equal to the higher of (x) 75.0% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price on any trading day during the 21 consecutive trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the conversion date and (y) $0.37.
The Series C Convertible Preferred Shares would not be converted, and shares of our common stock would not be issued in connection therewith, if, after giving effect to the conversion or issuance, the holder together with its affiliates would beneficially own in excess of 4.99% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. At each holder's option, the cap could be raised or lowered to any other percentage not in excess of 9.99%, except that any increase would only be effective upon 61-days' prior notice to us.
If the Company was deemed to have issued or sold shares of our common stock, options, or convertible securities for a consideration per share less than the conversion price of the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares then in effect, the conversion price would be reduced to the deemed sale price of such securities.
Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of Series C Convertible Preferred Shares were entitled to be paid out of our assets, before any amount would be paid to the holders of any other shares of our capital stock except for Series E-1 and E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares, an amount per Series C Preferred Share equal to $1,000 plus any accrued but unpaid dividends thereon and the amount per share such holder would receive if such holder converted such Series C Convertible Preferred Shares into shares of our common stock immediately prior to the date of payment.
Except as otherwise required by law (or with respect to approval of certain actions as set forth in the Series C Convertible Preferred Statement of Designations), the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares did not have voting rights.
As of November 18, 2016, all of our outstanding Series C Convertible Preferred Shares have been converted into an aggregate 177,886 shares of our common stock (1,423,091 shares of our common stock before the 1-for-8 reverse stock split) in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations of the Series C Convertible Preferred Shares.
15


On November 16, 2016, we entered into a securities purchase agreement with the Investor for the sale of 20,000 Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares; Series E-1 Preferred Warrants to purchase 30,000 Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares; Series E-2 Preferred Warrants to purchase 50,000 Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares; prepaid warrants to initially purchase an aggregate of 46,609 shares of our common stock (372,874 shares of our common stock before the 1-for-8 reverse stock split), with the number of shares of our common stock issuable subject to adjustment as described therein; and 12 shares of our common stock (100 shares of our common stock before the 1-for-8 reverse stock split). The gross proceeds from the sale of the securities, including all of the preferred warrants exercised in the transaction amounted to $100.0 million.
We initially issued 20,000 shares of Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares and had 30,000 additional shares of Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares available to be issued pursuant to our Statement of Designations of the Series E-1 Preferred Shares and Series E-1 Preferred Warrants (as discussed below).  The Series E-1 Preferred Convertible Preferred Shares were convertible at any time at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at a fixed conversion price of $30.00 per common share; provided, however, that if the VWAP of the shares of our common stock on Nasdaq was below $30.00 (subject to adjustment as described herein), then the holder had the option to convert the Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares at an alternate price equal to the higher of (x) 77.5% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price on any trading day during the 14 consecutive trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the conversion date and (y) $1.50. At any time, we were able to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares on the terms described in the governing documents. An additional 30,000 Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares were subsequently issued upon exercise of our Series E-1 Preferred Warrants.
Further, 50,000 Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares were issued upon exercise of our Series E-2 Preferred Warrants (as described below) and our Statement of Designations of the Series E-2 Preferred Shares with respect thereto.  The Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares were convertible at any time at the option of the holder into shares of our common stock at a fixed conversion price of $30.00 per common share; provided, however, that if the VWAP of the shares of our common stock on Nasdaq was below $30.00 (subject to adjustment as described herein), then the holder had the option to convert the Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares at an alternate price equal to the higher of (x) 85.0% of the lowest daily volume weighted average price on any trading day during the 21 consecutive trading day period ending on the trading day immediately prior to the conversion date and (y) $1.50. At any time, the Company was able to redeem all, but not less than all, of the Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares on the terms described in the governing documents.
The Series E-1 Preferred Warrants were exercisable into up to 30,000 Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares at any time at the option of the holder thereof at an exercise price of $1,000 per Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Share, and would expire two years after the date of issuance of such warrant.
The Series E-2 Preferred Warrants were exercisable into up to 50,000 Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares at any time at the option of the holder thereof at an exercise price of $1,000 per Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Share, and would expire two years after the date of issuance of such warrant.
In connection with the purchase of Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares, we also agreed to issue to the Investor additional shares of our common stock equal to 1.5% of the quotient of (x) the Aggregate Exercise Price (as defined in the Series E-1 Preferred Warrants) paid to us in connection with an exercise of the Series E-1 Preferred Warrants, divided by (y) the Alternate Conversion Price (as defined in the Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares Statement of Designations), which the Investor agreed to accept in the form of a prepaid Series F-1 Common Warrant, or the Additional F-1 Common Shares.  Initially, the Series F-1 Common Warrant was only exercisable into 1,237 shares of our common stock (9,900 shares of our common stock before the 1-for-8 reverse stock split), which together with the 12 shares of our common stock (100 shares of our common stock before the 1-for-8 reverse stock split) issued to the Investor initially, represented the 1,249 shares (10,000 shares of our common stock before the 1-for-8 reverse stock split) issuable at a deemed price of $30.00 per share in connection with the initial issuance of Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares.  Upon each exercise of the Series E-1 Preferred Warrants, the related Additional F-1 Convertible Common Shares became exercisable thereunder.  No consideration was required to be paid upon any exercise of the Series F-1 Common Warrants.
In connection with the purchase of Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares, we also agreed to issue to the Investor additional shares of our common stock equal to 1.5% of the quotient of (x) the Aggregate Exercise Price (as defined in the Series E-2 Preferred Warrants) paid to us in connection with an exercise of the Series E-2 Preferred Warrants, divided by (y) the Alternate Conversion Price (as defined in the Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares Statement of Designations), which the Investor agreed to accept in the form of a prepaid Series F-2 Common Warrant, or the Additional F-2 Common Shares.  Initially, the Series F-2 Common Warrant was not exercisable into any shares of our common stock.  Upon each exercise of the Series E-2 Preferred Warrants, the related Additional F-2 Convertible Common Shares became exercisable thereunder.
16


As of December 12, 2016, all of the preferred warrants to purchase 30,000 Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares, preferred warrants to purchase 50,000 Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares and related prepaid warrants to purchase shares of our common stock have been exercised and the Series E-1 Convertible Preferred Shares and Series E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares have been converted into an aggregate 3,991,579 shares of our common stock (31,932,629 shares of our common stock before the 1-for-8 reverse stock split) in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Designations of the Series E-1 and E-2 Convertible Preferred Shares.
Our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws
Our purpose, as stated in Section B of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may now or hereafter be organized under the Marshall Islands Business Corporations Act. Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws do not impose any limitations on the ownership rights of our shareholders.
Directors
Our directors are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by shareholders entitled to vote in an election. Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation provide that cumulative voting shall not be used to elect directors. Our board of directors must consist of at least three members. The exact number of directors is fixed by a vote of at least 66 2/3% of the entire board. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide for a staggered board of directors whereby directors shall be divided into three classes: Class A, Class B and Class C which shall be as nearly equal in number as possible. Shareholders, acting as at a duly constituted meeting, or by unanimous written consent of all shareholders, initially designated directors as Class A, Class B or Class C. The term of our directors designated Class A directors expires at our 2017 annual meeting of shareholders. Class B directors serve for a term expiring at our 2018 annual meeting of shareholders. Directors designated as Class C directors serve for a term expiring at our 2019 annual meeting of shareholders. At annual meetings for each initial term, directors to replace those whose terms expire at such annual meetings will be elected to hold office until the third succeeding annual meeting. Each director serves his respective term of office until his successor has been elected and qualified, except in the event of his death, resignation, removal or the earlier termination of his term of office. Our board of directors has the authority to fix the amounts which shall be payable to the members of the board of directors for attendance at any meeting or for services rendered to us.
Under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, no contract or transaction between the Company and one or more of our directors or officers, or between the Company and any other corporation, partnership, association or other organization of which one or more of our directors or officers are directors or officers or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of our board of directors or a committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or her or their votes are counted for such purpose, if: (i) the material facts as to his or her or their relationship or interest as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to our board or directors or the applicable committee thereof and the board of directors or such committee, as applicable, in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, or, if the votes of the disinterested directors are insufficient to constitute an act of the board of directors as defined under the BCA, then by unanimous vote of the disinterested directors; (ii) the material facts as to his or her or their relationship or interest as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Company's shareholders, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the shareholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Company as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified by our board of directors, a committee thereof or our shareholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the board of directors or of a committee thereof that authorizes the contract or transaction.
Shareholder Meetings
Under our Amended and Restated Bylaws, annual shareholders meetings will be held at a time and place selected by our board of directors. The meetings may be held in or outside of the Marshall Islands. Our board of directors may set a record date between 15 and 60 days before the date of any meeting to determine the shareholders that will be eligible to receive notice and vote at the meeting.
Dissenters' Rights of Appraisal and Payment
Under the BCA, our shareholders have the right to dissent from various corporate actions, including any merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our assets not made in the usual course of our business, and receive payment of the fair value of their shares. However, the right of a dissenting shareholder to receive payment of the appraised fair value of his shares is not available under the BCA for the shares of any class or series of stock, which shares or depository receipts in respect thereof, at the record date fixed to determine the shareholders entitled to receive notice of and to vote at the meeting of the shareholders to act upon the agreement of merger or consolidation, were either (i) listed on a securities exchange or admitted for trading on an interdealer quotation system or (ii) held of record by more than 2,000 holders. In the event of any further amendment of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, a shareholder also has the right to dissent and receive payment for the shareholder's shares if the amendment alters certain rights in respect of those shares. The dissenting shareholder must follow the procedures set forth in the BCA to receive payment. In the event that we and any dissenting shareholder fail to agree on a price for the shares, the BCA procedures involve, among other things, the institution of proceedings in any appropriate court in any jurisdiction in which our shares are primarily traded on a local or national securities exchange.
17


Shareholders' Derivative Actions
Under the BCA, any of our shareholders may bring an action in our name to procure a judgment in our favor, also known as a derivative action, provided that the shareholder bringing the action is a holder of common stock both at the time the derivative action is commenced and at the time of the transaction to which the action relates.
Indemnification of Officers and Directors
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws include a provision that entitles any director or officer of the Company to be indemnified by the Company upon the same terms, under the same conditions and to the same extent as authorized by the BCA if he acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in and not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
We are also authorized to carry directors' and officers' insurance as a protection against any liability asserted against our directors and officers acting in their capacity as directors and officers regardless of whether the Company would have the power to indemnify such director or officer against such liability by law or under the provisions of our bylaws. We believe that these indemnification provisions and insurance are useful to attract and retain qualified directors and executive officers.
The indemnification provisions in our Amended and Restated Bylaws may discourage shareholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duty. These provisions may also have the effect of reducing the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though such an action, if successful, might otherwise benefit us and our shareholders. There is currently no pending material litigation or proceeding involving any of our directors, officers or employees for which indemnification is sought.
Anti-takeover Provisions of our Charter Documents
Several provisions of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws may have anti-takeover effects. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, lessen our vulnerability to a hostile change of control and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize shareholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these anti-takeover provisions, which are summarized below, could also discourage, delay or prevent (1) the merger or acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, that a shareholder may consider in its best interest and (2) the removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Blank Check Preferred Stock
Under the terms of our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, our board of directors has authority, without any further vote or action by our shareholders, to issue up to 500,000,000 shares of blank check preferred stock. As of March 20, 2017, there were 29,166 shares of Series D Preferred Stock (3,500,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock before the 1-for-15 and 1-for-8 reverse stock split) outstanding. Our board of directors may issue additional shares of preferred stock on terms calculated to discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or the removal of our management.
Classified Board of Directors
Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation provide for a board of directors serving staggered, three-year terms. Approximately one-third of our board of directors will be elected each year. The classified board provision could discourage a third party from making a tender offer for our shares or attempting to obtain control of our Company. It could also delay shareholders who do not agree with the policies of the board of directors from removing a majority of the board of directors for two years.
Election and Removal of Directors
Our Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation prohibit cumulative voting in the election of directors. We have also issued 29,166 shares of Series D Preferred Stock (3,500,000 shares of Series D Preferred Stock before the 1-for-15 and 1-for-8 reverse stock split), of which each share carries 100,000 votes, to Sifnos, an entity controlled by our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. George Economou, which may make it more difficult or impossible for a third party to elect directors without the support of Mr. Economou.
18


Further, our Amended and Restated Bylaws require shareholders to give advance written notice of nominations for the election of directors. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also provide that our directors may be removed only for cause and only upon affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66⅔% of the outstanding voting shares of the Company. These provisions may discourage, delay or prevent the removal of incumbent officers and directors.
Limited Actions by Shareholders
Under the BCA and our Amended and Restated Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken by our shareholders must be effected at an annual or special meeting of shareholders or by the unanimous written consent of our shareholders. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that, unless otherwise prescribed by law, only a majority of our board of directors, the chairman of our board of directors or the President may call special meetings of our shareholders, and the business transacted at the special meeting is limited to the purposes stated in the notice. Accordingly, a shareholder may be prevented from calling a special meeting of shareholders for shareholder consideration of a proposal over the opposition of our board of directors and shareholder consideration of a proposal may be delayed until the next annual meeting of shareholders.
Advance Notice Requirements for Shareholder Proposals and Director Nominations
Our Amended and Restated Bylaws provide that shareholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors or to bring business before an annual meeting of shareholders must provide timely notice of their proposal in writing to the corporate secretary. Generally, to be timely, a shareholder's notice must be received at our principal executive offices not less than 150 days nor more than 180 days prior to the one year anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting of shareholders. Our Amended and Restated Bylaws also specify requirements as to the form and content of a shareholder's notice. These provisions may impede shareholders' ability to bring matters before an annual meeting of shareholders or make nominations for directors at an annual meeting of shareholders.
Stockholders Rights Agreement
We entered into a Stockholders Rights Agreement with American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, as of January 18, 2008. Under this Agreement, we declared a dividend payable of one preferred share purchase right, or Right, to purchase one one-thousandth of a share of our Series A Participating Preferred Stock for each outstanding common share. The Right will separate from the common shares and become exercisable after (1) the 10th business day after a person or group acquires ownership of 15% or more of our common shares or (2) the 10th business day (or such later date as determined by the company's board of directors) after a person or group announces a tender or exchange offer which would result in that person or group holding 15% or more of our common shares, or collectively, the Distribution Date. On the Distribution Date, each holder of a Right will be entitled to purchase for $250.00, or the Exercise Price, a fraction (1/1000th) of one share of our Series A Participating Preferred Stock, which has similar economic terms as one of our common shares. Subject to certain exceptions, if a person acquires more than 15% of our common shares, referred to as an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right (except that Acquiring Person) will be entitled to buy at the exercise price the number of our common shares stock having a market value of twice the exercise price. In addition, any time after the date an Acquiring Person obtains more than 15% of our common shares and before that Acquiring Person acquires more than 50% of our outstanding common shares, we may exchange each right owned by all other Rights holders, in whole or in part, for one of our common shares. We may also redeem the Rights at any time prior to a public announcement that a person has acquired ownership of 15% or more of the Company's common stock.
On July 9, 2009, the Stockholders Rights Agreement was amended for the sole purpose of amending and restating the definition of Acquiring Person to exempt persons acquiring our Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and any of our common shares resulting from the conversion of any such preferred stock from the definition of Acquiring Person, subject to certain exceptions. On April 21, 2010, the Stockholders Rights Agreement was further amended for the sole purpose of further amending and restating the definition of Acquiring Person to exempt from the definition of Acquiring Persons any persons acting (i) as a broker, dealer, distributor or initial purchaser or underwriter of our securities or as a market-maker with respect to such securities or (ii) in connection with share lending agreements or similar agreements between us or any of our affiliates and such person or any of such person's affiliates or associates, subject to certain exceptions.
The Rights expire on the earliest of (1) February 4, 2018 or (2) the exchange or redemption of the Rights as described above. The terms of the rights and the Stockholders Rights Agreement may be amended without the consent of the Rights holders at any time on or prior to the Distribution Date. After the Distribution Date, the terms of the Rights and the Stockholders Rights Agreement may be amended to make changes, which do not adversely affect the rights of the Rights holders (other than the Acquiring Person). The Rights do not have any voting rights. The Rights have the benefit of certain customary anti-dilution protections. As of March 20, 2017, no exercise of any Right had occurred.
19


Description of Preferred Share Purchase Rights
Each common share includes one right, which we refer to as a Right, that entitles the holder to purchase from us a unit consisting of one-thousandth of a share of the Company's Series A Participating Preferred Stock, or the Preferred Stock, at an initial exercise price of $130.00 per unit, or the Exercise Price, subject to specified adjustments. The Rights were initially issued pursuant to a preferred share purchase rights agreement dated January 18, 2008, or the Rights Agreement, and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company is the rights agent under the assigned Rights agreement, or the Rights Agent.  Until a Right is exercised, the holder of a Right will have no rights to vote or receive dividends or any other shareholder rights.
The Rights may have anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause substantial dilution to any person or group that attempts to acquire us without the approval of our Board. As a result, the overall effect of the Rights may be to render more difficult or discourage any attempt to acquire us. Because our Board can approve a redemption of the Rights for a permitted offer, the Rights should not interfere with a merger or other business combination approved by our Board. We have summarized the material terms and conditions of the Rights Agreement and the Rights below. For a complete description of the Rights, we encourage you to read the Rights Agreement, which we have filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
Detachment of the Rights
The Rights are attached to all certificates representing our currently outstanding common stock and will attach to all common stock certificates we issue prior to the Rights distribution date that we describe below. The Rights are not exercisable until after the Rights distribution date and will expire at the close of business on the tenth anniversary date of the adoption of the rights plan, unless we redeem or exchange them earlier as we describe below. The Rights will separate from the common stock and a Rights distribution date would occur, subject to specified exceptions, on the earlier of the following two dates:
·
the 10th day after public announcement that a person or group has acquired ownership of 15% or more of the Company's common stock or
·
the 10th business day (or such later date as determined by the Board) after a person or group announces a tender or exchange offer which would result in that person or group holding 15% or more of the Company's common stock.
Any person or group who acquires ownership of 15% or more of the Company's common stock shall be deemed an "Acquiring Person," but shall not include the Company, or anyone excepted from such definition in the Rights Agreement.
Persons who are the beneficial owner of 15% or more of the Company's common stock on the effective date of the Rights Agreement are excluded from the definition of Acquiring Person, until such time as they acquire an additional 5% of our outstanding common stock for purposes of the Rights, and therefore until such time, their ownership cannot trigger the Rights. Specified "inadvertent" owners that would otherwise become an acquiring person, including those who would have this designation as a result of repurchases of common shares by us, will not become acquiring persons as a result of those transactions, as described in detail in the Rights Agreement.
Our Board may defer the Rights distribution date in some circumstances, and some inadvertent acquisitions will not result in a person becoming an acquiring person if the person promptly divests itself of a sufficient number of common shares.
Until the Rights distribution date:
·
our common stock certificates will evidence the Rights, and the Rights will be transferable only with those certificates; and
·
any new common share will be issued with Rights and new certificates will contain a notation incorporating the Rights agreement by reference.
As soon as practicable after the Rights distribution date, the Rights agent will mail certificates representing the Rights to holders of record of common shares at the close of business on that date. After the Rights distribution date, only separate Rights certificates will represent the Rights.
20


We will not issue Rights with any common shares we issue after the Rights distribution date, except as our Board may otherwise determine.
Flip-In Event
A "flip-in event" will occur under the Rights Agreement when a person becomes an Acquiring Person other than pursuant to certain kinds of permitted offers. An offer is permitted under the Rights Agreement if a person will become an Acquiring Person pursuant to a merger or other acquisition agreement that has been approved by our Board prior to that person becoming an Acquiring Person.
If a flip-in event occurs and we have not previously redeemed the Rights as described under the heading "Redemption of Rights" below or, if the Acquiring Person acquires less than 50% of our outstanding common stock and we do not exchange the Rights as described under the heading "Exchange of Rights" below, each Right, other than any Right that has become void, as we describe below, will become exercisable at the time it is no longer redeemable for the number of common shares, or, in some cases, cash, property or other of our securities, having a current market price equal to two times the exercise price of such Right.
When a flip-in event occurs, all Rights that then are, or in some circumstances that were, beneficially owned by or transferred to an Acquiring Person or specified related parties will become void in the circumstances the Rights Agreement specifies.
Flip-Over Event
A "flip-over event" will occur under the Rights Agreement when, at any time after a person has become an Acquiring Person:
·
we are acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction, other than specified mergers that follow a permitted offer of the type we describe above; or
·
50% or more of our assets or earning power is sold or transferred.
If a flip-over event occurs, each holder of a Right, other than any Right that has become void as we describe under the heading "Flip-In Event" above, will have the Right to receive the number of common shares of the acquiring company which has a current market price equal to two times the exercise price of such Right.
Anti-dilution
The number of outstanding Rights associated with our common stock is subject to adjustment for any stock split, stock dividend or subdivision, combination or reclassification of our common stock occurring prior to the Rights distribution date. With some exceptions, the Rights Agreement will not require us to adjust the Exercise Price of the Rights until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Exercise Price. The Rights Agreement does not require us to issue fractional shares of our preferred shares that are not integral multiples of one-thousandth of a share, instead we may make a cash adjustment based on the market price of the common stock on the last trading date prior to the date of exercise.
Redemption of Rights
At any time until the date on which the occurrence of a flip-in event is first publicly announced, we may order redemption of the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a redemption price of $0.001 per Right. The redemption price is subject to adjustment for any stock split, stock dividend or similar transaction occurring before the date of redemption. At our option, we may pay that redemption price in cash or common shares. The Rights are not exercisable after a flip-in event if they are timely redeemed by us or until ten days following the first public announcement of a flip-in event. If our Board timely orders the redemption of the Rights, the Rights will terminate on the effectiveness of that action.
Exchange of Rights
We may, at our option, exchange the Rights (other than Rights owned by an Acquiring Person or an affiliate or an associate of an Acquiring Person, which have become void), in whole or in part. The exchange will be at an exchange ratio of one common share per Right, subject to specified adjustments at any time after the occurrence of a flip-in event and prior to any person other than us or our existing shareholders becoming the beneficial owner of 50% or more of our outstanding common shares for the purposes of the Rights Agreement.
21


Amendment of Terms of Rights
During the time the Rights are redeemable, we may amend any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement, other than by decreasing the redemption price. Once the Rights cease to be redeemable, we generally may amend the provisions of the Rights agreement, other than to decrease the redemption price, only as follows:
·
to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
·
to make changes that do not materially adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights, excluding the interests of any Acquiring Person; or
·
to shorten or lengthen any time period under the Rights Agreement, except that we cannot lengthen the time period governing redemption and we may only lengthen any time period for the purpose of protecting, enhancing or clarifying the right of and/or the benefits to the holders of Rights (other than the Acquiring Person).
Dividends
In light of a lower freight rate environment and a highly challenged financing environment, our board of directors, beginning in the fourth quarter of 2008, previously suspended dividends in respect of our common shares. Beginning for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016, our board of directors approved a dividend policy to declare and pay quarterly dividends of $2.5 million to holders of our common stock. The dividend per share to be paid by the Company will be determined based on the number of shares outstanding on the applicable record date. We may however in the future determine to set aside amounts for vessel acquisition and other liabilities that would reduce or eliminate the cash available for distribution as dividends. We may also incur other expenses or liabilities that would reduce or eliminate the cash available for distribution as dividends.
Because we are a holding company with no material assets other than the stock of our subsidiaries, our ability to pay dividends, if any, in the future, will also depend on the earnings and cash flow of our subsidiaries and their ability to pay dividends to us. If there is a substantial decline in the drybulk, LPG, tanker or offshore drilling charter markets, our earnings would be negatively affected thus limiting our ability to pay dividends, if any, in the future. Marshall Islands law generally prohibits the payment of dividends other than from surplus or while a company is insolvent or would be rendered insolvent upon the payment of such dividend.
We believe that, under current U.S. law, any future dividend payments from our then current and accumulated earnings and profits, as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles, would constitute "qualified dividend income" and, as a consequence, non-corporate U.S. shareholders would generally be subject to the same preferential U.S. federal income tax rates applicable to long-term capital gains with respect to such dividend payments. Distributions in excess of our earnings and profits, as so calculated, will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital to the extent of a U.S. stockholder's tax basis in its common shares on a dollar-for-dollar basis and thereafter as capital gain.
Our dividend policy is assessed by our board of directors from time to time. The suspension of dividends allowed us to preserve capital and use the preserved capital to capitalize on market opportunities as they may arise. Until market conditions improve, it is unlikely that we will reinstate the payment of dividends. In addition, other external factors, such as our lenders imposing restrictions on our ability to pay dividends under the terms of our loan agreements, may limit our ability to pay dividends. Further, we may not be permitted to pay dividends if we are in breach of the covenants contained in our loan agreements.
22


DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may offer and issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series, under one or more indentures, each dated as of a date on or prior to the issuance of the debt securities to which it relates, and pursuant to an applicable prospectus supplement. We may issue senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities pursuant to separate indentures, a senior indenture and a subordinated indenture, respectively, in each case between us and the trustee named in the indenture. These indentures will be filed either as exhibits to an amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a report under the Exchange Act, that will be incorporated by reference into this registration statement or a prospectus supplement. We refer to any applicable prospectus supplement, amendment to this registration and Exchange Act reports as "subsequent filings." The senior indenture and the subordinated indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time, are each referred to individually as an "indenture" and collectively as the "indentures." Each indenture will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.  Each indenture will contain the specific terms of any series of debt securities or provide that those terms must be set forth in or determined pursuant to, an authorizing resolution, as defined in the applicable prospectus supplement or a supplemental indenture, if any, relating to such series.
The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The particular terms and provisions of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement, and the extent to which the general terms and provisions described below may apply to the offered debt securities, will be described in the applicable subsequent filings .  The statements below are not complete and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable indenture. The specific terms of any debt securities that we may offer, including any modifications of, or additions to, the general terms described below as well as any applicable material U.S. federal income tax considerations concerning the ownership of such debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture and, as applicable, supplemental indenture. Accordingly, for a complete description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, the general description of the debt securities set forth below should be read in conjunction with the applicable prospectus supplement and indenture, as amended or supplemented from time to time.
General
We expect that neither indenture will limit the amount of debt securities which may be issued and that each indenture will provide that debt securities may be issued in one or more series.
The subsequent filings related to a series of offered debt securities will describe the following terms of the series:
·
the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations;
·
the issue price, expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount;
·
the maturity date;
·
the interest rate per annum, if any;
·
if the offered debt securities provide for interest payments, the date from which interest will accrue, the dates on which interest will be payable, the date on which payment of interest will commence and the regular record dates for interest payment dates;
·
whether the debt securities will be our senior or subordinated securities;
·
whether the debt securities will be our secured or unsecured obligations;
·
the applicability of and terms of any guarantees;
·
any period or periods during which, and the price or prices at which, we will have the option to or be required to redeem or repurchase the debt securities of the series and the other material terms and provisions applicable to such  redemption or repurchase;
·
any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions;
23


·
any conversion or exchangeability provisions;
·
if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which debt securities of the series will be issuable;
·
if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the debt securities of the series which will be payable upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy;
·
any events of default not set forth in this prospectus;
·
the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which principal, premium and interest will be payable, if other than the currency of the United States of America;
·
if principal, premium or interest is payable, at our election or at the election of any holder, in a currency other than that in which the debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made;
·
whether interest will be payable in cash or additional securities at our or the holder's option and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;
·
if denominated in a currency or currencies other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of holders of those debt securities under the applicable indenture;
·
if the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that in which the debt securities of the series are stated to be payable, the manner in which the amounts will be determined;
·
any covenants or other material terms relating to the debt securities, which may not be inconsistent with the applicable indenture;
·
whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates in registered form;
·
any listing on any securities exchange or quotation system; and
·
additional provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the debt securities; and
·
any other special features of the debt securities.
Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the SEC relating to the indenture, principal, premium and interest will be payable and the debt securities will be transferable at the corporate trust office of the applicable trustee. Unless other arrangements are made or set forth in subsequent filings or a supplemental indenture, principal, premium and interest will be paid by checks mailed to the registered holders at their registered addresses.
Unless otherwise indicated in subsequent filings with the SEC, the debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection with these debt securities.
Some or all of the debt securities may be issued as discounted debt securities, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates, to be sold at a substantial discount below the stated principal amount. United States federal income consequences and other special considerations applicable to any discounted securities will be described in subsequent filings with the SEC relating to those securities.
We refer you to the applicable subsequent filings for the particular terms and provisions of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement.
24


Senior Debt Securities
We may issue senior debt securities under a senior debt indenture. These senior debt securities would rank on an equal basis with all our other unsubordinated debt.
Subordinated Debt Securities
We may issue subordinated debt securities under a subordinated debt indenture. These subordinated debt securities would rank subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Covenants
Any series of offered debt securities may have covenants in addition to or differing from those included in the applicable indenture which will be described in subsequent filings prepared in connection with the offering of such securities, limiting or restricting, among other things:
·
our ability to incur either secured or unsecured debt, or both;
·
our ability to make certain payments, dividends, redemptions or repurchases;
·
our ability to create dividend and other payment restrictions affecting our subsidiaries;
·
our ability to make investments;
·
mergers and consolidations by us;
·
sales of assets by us;
·
our ability to enter into transactions with affiliates;
·
our ability to incur liens; and
·
sale and leaseback transactions.
Modification of the Indentures
We expect that each indenture and the rights of the respective holders generally may be modified by us only with the consent of holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series under the respective indenture affected by the modification, taken together as a class. But we expect that no modification that:
(1) changes the amount of securities whose holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver;
(2) reduces the rate of or changes the interest payment time on any security or alters its redemption provisions (other than any alteration to any such section which would not materially adversely affect the legal rights of any holder under the indenture) or the price at which we are required to offer to purchase the securities;
(3) reduces the principal or changes the maturity of any security or reduces the amount of, or postpones the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
(4) waives a default or event of default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any security (except a rescission of acceleration of the securities of any series by the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
(5) makes the principal of or interest, if any, on any security payable in any currency other than that stated in the security;
25


(6) makes any change with respect to holders' rights to receive principal and interest, the terms pursuant to which defaults can be waived, certain modifications affecting shareholders or certain currency-related issues; or
(7) waives a redemption payment with respect to any security or changes any of the provisions with respect to the redemption of any securities;
will be effective against any holder without his consent.
Additionally, certain changes under each indenture will not require the consent of any holders.  These types of changes are generally limited to clarifications of ambiguities, omissions, defects and inconsistencies in each indenture and amendments, supplements and other changes that would not adversely affect the holders of outstanding debt securities under each indenture, such as adding security, covenants, additional events of default or successor trustees.
Events of Default
We expect that each indenture will define an event of default for the debt securities of any series as being any one of the following events:
·
default in any payment of interest when due which continues for 30 days;
·
default in any payment of principal or premium when due;
·
default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when due;
·
default in the performance of any covenant in the debt securities or the applicable indenture which continues for 60 days after we receive notice of the default;
·
default under a bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for borrowed money by us or our subsidiaries (to the extent we are directly responsible or liable therefor) having a principal amount in excess of a minimum amount set forth in the applicable subsequent filings, whether such indebtedness now exists or is hereafter created, which default shall have resulted in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable, without such acceleration having been rescinded or annulled or cured within 30 days after we receive notice of the default; and
·
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.
An event of default of one series of debt securities will not necessarily constitute an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities.
There may be such other or different events of default as described in an applicable subsequent filing with respect to any class or series of offered debt securities.
We expect that under each indenture, in case an event of default occurs and continues for the debt securities of any series, the applicable trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities then outstanding of that series may declare the principal and accrued but unpaid interest of the debt securities of that series to be due and payable. Further, any event of default for the debt securities of any series which has been cured is expected to be permitted to be waived by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of that series then outstanding.
We expect that each indenture will require us to file annually, after debt securities are issued under that indenture, with the applicable trustee a written statement signed by two of our officers as to the absence of material defaults under the terms of that indenture. We also expect that each indenture will provide that the applicable trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default if it considers it in the interest of the holders to do so, except notice of a default in payment of principal, premium or interest.
Subject to the duties of the trustee in case an event of default occurs and continues, we expect that each indenture will provide that the trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under that indenture at the request, order or direction of holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. Subject to these provisions for indemnification and the rights of the trustee, each indenture is expected to provide that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the debt securities of any series then outstanding 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 as long as the exercise of that right does not conflict with any law or the indenture.
26


Defeasance and Discharge
The terms of each indenture are expected to provide us with the option to be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities issued thereunder upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal, premium and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of the payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing the debt securities.
We expect that this right may only be exercised if, among other things, we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that such a discharge will not be deemed, or result in, a taxable event with respect to holders. This discharge would not apply to our obligations to register the transfer or exchange of debt securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities, to maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust.
Defeasance of Certain Covenants
We expect that the terms of each indenture will provide us with the right to omit complying with specified covenants and specified events of default described in a subsequent filing upon the deposit with the trustee, in trust, of money or U.S. government obligations, or both, which through the payment of interest and principal will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal, premium and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the debt securities on the stated maturity of the payments in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture governing the debt securities.
We expect that to exercise this right we will also be required to deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that the deposit and related covenant defeasance will not cause the holders of such series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.
A subsequent filing may further describe the provisions, if any, of any particular series of offered debt securities permitting a discharge defeasance.
Form of Debt Securities
Each debt security will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Both certificated securities in definitive form and global securities may be issued either in registered form, where our obligation runs to the holder of the security named on the face of the security, in bearer form, where our obligation runs to the bearer of the security.
Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, other than definitive bearer securities, which name the bearer as owner, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable.
Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities represented by these global securities, other than global bearer securities, which name the bearer as owner. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor's beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.
Global Securities
Registered Global Securities. We may issue the debt securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees. If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements:
27


Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants' accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or selling agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities. So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture.
Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest in that registered global security, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders of a registered global security or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of us, the trustee or any other agent of us or agent of the trustee will have any responsibility or liability to owners of beneficial interests for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests. We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants' accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name", and will be the responsibility of those participants.
We expect that each of the indenture will provide that if the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will be required to issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. In addition, the indenture are expected to allow us to decide, at any time and in our sole discretion, to not have any of the securities represented by one or more registered global securities. If we make that decision, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for all of the registered global security or securities representing those securities. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary's instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.
If we issue registered global securities, we expect that the Depository Trust Company, or DTC, will act as depository and the securities will be registered in the name of Cede & Co., as DTC's nominee.
Bearer Global Securities . Debt securities may also be issued in the form of one or more bearer global securities that will be deposited with a common depositary for the Euroclear System and Clearstream Banking, société anonyme or with a nominee for the depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. The specific terms and procedures, including the specific terms of the depositary arrangement, with respect to any securities to be represented by a bearer global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities are expect to be governed by the laws of the State of New York.
28


DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing.  Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
·
the title of such warrants;
·
the aggregate number of such warrants;
·
the price or prices at which such warrants will be issued;
·
the currency or currencies, in which the price of such warrants will be payable;
·
the securities or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing, purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;
·
the price at which, and the currency or currencies in which, the securities or other rights purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;
·
the date on which the right to exercise such warrants shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire;
·
if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of such warrants which may be exercised at any one time;
·
if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such security;
·
if applicable, the date on and after which such warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
·
information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
·
if applicable, a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and
·
any other terms of such warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of such warrants.
29


DESCRIPTION OF PURCHASE CONTRACTS
We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of any of our debt or equity securities issued by us.
Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the securities otherwise deliverable as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.
The purchase contracts may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under the indenture.
The purchase contracts will be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any principles thereof relating to conflicts of law that would result in the application of the laws of any other jurisdiction.
30


DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
We may issue rights to purchase our equity securities. These rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered by this prospectus and may or may not be transferable by the shareholder receiving the rights in the rights offering. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting agreement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriter will purchase any securities that remain unsubscribed for upon completion of the rights offering.
The applicable prospectus supplement relating to any rights will describe the terms of the offered rights, including, where applicable, the following:
·
the exercise price for the rights;
·
the number of rights issued to each shareholder;
·
the extent to which the rights are transferable;
·
any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights;
·
the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence and the date on which the right will expire;
·
the amount of rights outstanding;
·
the extent to which the rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and
·
the material terms of any standby underwriting arrangement entered into by us in connection with the rights offering.
The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable rights certificate or rights agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any rights certificate or rights agreement if we offer rights, see "Where You Can Find Additional Information" of this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable rights certificate, the applicable rights agreement and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.
31


DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more of our purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, shares of preferred stock, shares of common stock or any combination of such securities. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:
·
the terms of the units and of the purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, preferred stock and common 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 unit agreement governing the units;
·
if applicable, a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations; and
·
a description of the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units.
32


EXPENSES
The following are the estimated expenses of the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, all of which will be paid by us.
SEC registration fee
 
$
231,800
 
FINRA fee
 
$
225,500
 
Legal fees and expenses
 
$
*
 
Accounting fees and expenses
 
$
10,728
 
Printing and engraving expenses
 
$
*
 
Transfer agent and registrar fees
 
$
*
 
Indenture trustee fees and expenses
 
$
*
 
Blue sky fees and expenses
 
$
*
 
Miscellaneous
 
$
*
 
Total
 
$
*
 
________________________
*
To be provided by a prospectus supplement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into this registration statement.

LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Seward & Kissel LLP, New York, New York with respect to matters of United States and Marshall Islands law.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements of DryShips Inc., appearing in DryShips Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016 and the effectiveness of DryShips Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, have been audited by Ernst Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A., independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon and incorporated herein by reference.  Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.  The address of Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A. is Chimarras 8B, 15125, Maroussi, Greece and is registered as a corporate body with the public register for company auditors-accountants kept with the Body of Certified-Auditors-Accountants, or SOEL, Greece with registration number 107.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
As required by the Securities Act, we filed a registration statement relating to the securities offered by this prospectus with the SEC.  This prospectus is a part of that registration statement, which includes additional information.
Government Filings
We file annual and special reports with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file and obtain copies at the prescribed rates from the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling 1 (800) SEC-0330. The SEC maintains a website (http://www.sec.gov) that contains reports, proxy and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. Our filings are also available on our website at   http://www.dryships.com. The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.
This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as indicated below. Forms of the indenture and other documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are filed as exhibits to the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement at the SEC's Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC's website.
33


Information Incorporated by Reference
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those filed documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC prior to the termination of this offering will also be considered to be part of this prospectus and will automatically update and supersede previously filed information, including information contained in this document.
We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act:
·
Current Reports on Form 6-K, both filed with the SEC on March 17, 2017;
·
Current Report on Form 6-K, filed with the SEC on March 16, 2017;
·
Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the SEC on March 13, 2017, which contains audited consolidated financial statements for the most recent fiscal year for which those statements have been filed;
·
Registration Statement on Form 8-A12B, filed with the SEC on January 18, 2008, and any amendment thereto; and
·
Registration Statement on Form 8-A12G, filed with the SEC on January 31, 2005, and any amendment thereto.
We are also incorporating by reference all subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and certain Reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (if they state that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) until we file a post-effective amendment indicating that the offering of the securities made by this prospectus has been terminated.  In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement as well as the information we previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the dates on the front cover of those documents only.  Our business, financial condition and results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
You may request a free copy of the above mentioned filings or any subsequent filing we incorporated by reference to this prospectus by writing or telephoning us at the following address:
DryShips Inc.
Attn: Mr. Dimitris Dreliozis
109 Kifisias Avenue and Sina Street
151 24, Marousi
Athens, Greece
+ 011 30 216 20 06 600

Information provided by the Company
We will furnish holders of shares of our common stock with annual reports containing audited financial statements and a report by our independent registered public accounting firm. The audited financial statements will be prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. As a "foreign private issuer," we are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing the furnishing and content of proxy statements to shareholders. While we furnish proxy statements to shareholders in accordance with the rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market, those proxy statements do not conform to Schedule 14A of the proxy rules promulgated under the Exchange Act. In addition, as a "foreign private issuer," our officers and directors are exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act relating to short swing profit reporting and liability.
Commission Position on Indemnification for Securities Act Liabilities
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been informed that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.

34

PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
The Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Registrant provide as follows:
(1) Any person who is or was a director or officer of the Registrant, or is or was serving at the request of the Registrant as a director or officer of another partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall be entitled to be indemnified by the Registrant upon the same terms, under the same conditions, and to the same extent as authorized by Section 60 of the Business Corporation Act of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, or BCA, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Registrant, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
The Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant provide as follows:
(1) No director shall be personally liable to the Registrant or any of its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except to the extent such exemption from liability or limitation thereof is not permitted under the BCA as the same exists or may be hereafter amended. If the BCA is amended hereafter to authorize the further elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Registrant shall be eliminated to the fullest extent authorized by the BCA, as so amended. Any repeal or modification of this provision shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director of the Registrant existing at the time of such repeal or modification with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such repeal or modification.
Section 60 of the Associations Law of the Republic of the Marshall Islands provides as follows:
Indemnification of directors and officers.
(1) Actions not by or in right of the corporation . A corporation shall have the power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer 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 in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he 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 that his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of no contest, or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he 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 reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(2) Actions by or in right of the corporation . A corporation shall have power to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending, or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
 (3) When director or officer is successful . To the extent that a director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (1) or (2) of this section, or in the defense of a claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
II-1


(4) Payment of expenses in advance . Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the board of directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this section.
(5) Indemnification pursuant to other rights . The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this section shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
(6) Continuation of indemnification. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(7) Insurance . A corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in such capacity whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this section.
Item 9. Exhibits
The exhibit index at the end of this registration statement identifies the exhibits which are included in this registration statement and are incorporated herein by reference (the "Exhibit Index").
Item 10. Undertakings.
(a)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1)
To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)
To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act 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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement
(iii)
To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)
That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
II-2


(3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)
To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A. of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering.  Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Act need not be furnished, provided , that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (a)(4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-X if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3.
(5)
That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i)
Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of this 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.
(6)
That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i)
Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)
Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;
(iii)
The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv)
Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
II-3


(7)            Not applicable.
(b)
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 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.
(c) – (g)
Not applicable.
(h)
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.
(i)
Not applicable.
(j)
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(k)
Not applicable.

II-4

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Athens, Country of Greece, on March 20, 2017.
   
            DRYSHIPS INC.
     
   
By:
/s/ George Economou
     
Name:  George Economou
Title:    Chief Executive Officer
         

POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints each of Gary J. Wolfe and Edward S. Horton his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full powers of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement and any or all amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully for all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent, or his substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
/s/ George Economou
 
Chairman of the Board of Directors,
 
 
March 20, 2017
George Economou
 
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
   
         
/s/ Anthony Kandylidis
 
President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer)
 
March 20, 2017
Anthony Kandylidis
       
         
         
/s/ Harry Kerames
 
Director
 
March 20, 2017
Harry Kerames
       
         
         
/s/ George Demathas
 
Director
 
March 20, 2017
George Demathas
       
 

 



AUTHORIZED UNITED STATES REPRESENTATIVE

Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the aforementioned Registrant, has signed this registration statement in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on March 20, 2017.

PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES

By:   /s/ Donald J. Puglisi
 
Name:    Donald J. Puglisi
 
Title:      Authorized Representative
 
 

 


EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number
Description
   
1.1
Underwriting Agreement (for equity securities) (1)
   
1.2
Underwriting Agreement (for debt securities) (1)
   
4.1
Form of Share Certificate, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the Annual Report of DryShips Inc. on Form 20-F, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on March 30, 2009
   
4.2
Form of Preferred Stock Certificate (1)
   
4.3
Form of Global Note (1)
   
4.4
Form of Senior Debt Securities Indenture
   
4.5
Form of Senior Debt Subordinated Indenture
   
4.6
Form of Warrant Agreement (1)
   
4.7
Form of Purchase Contract (1)
   
4.8
Form of Rights Agreement (1)
   
4.9
Form of Unit Agreement (1)
   
4.10
Stockholders Rights Agreement dated as of January 18, 2008, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, as Rights Agent, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement of DryShips Inc. on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on January 18, 2008
   
4.11
Amendment No. 1, dated as of July 9, 2009, to Stockholders Rights Agreement dated as of January 18, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement of DryShips Inc. on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on July 15, 2009
   
4.12
Amendment No. 2, dated as of April 21, 2010, to Stockholders Rights Agreement dated as of January 18, 2008, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the Registration Statement of DryShips Inc. on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on April 27, 2010
   
5.1
Opinion of Seward & Kissel LLP, United States and Marshall Islands counsel to the Company, a s to the validity of the common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, rights, purchase contracts and units
   
23.1
Consent of Seward & Kissel LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
   
23.2
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm (Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A.)
   
24.1
Power of Attorney (contained in signature page)
   
25.1
Form of T-1 Statement of Eligibility (senior indenture) (2)
   
25.2
Form of T-1 Statement of Eligibility (subordinated indenture) (2)
   

(1) To be filed either as an amendment or as an exhibit to a report filed pursuant to the Exchange Act of the Registrant and incorporated by reference into this registration statement.

(2) To be filed in accordance with Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.




Exhibit 4.4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 






DRYSHIPS INC.

FORM OF

SENIOR INDENTURE

Dated as of [           ], 20[ ]




[                        ]

Trustee









TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
 
 
 
 
   
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
1
 
SECTION 1.01.
Definitions.
1
SECTION 1.02.
Other Definitions.
5
SECTION 1.03.
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
5
SECTION 1.04.
Rules of Construction.
6
 
ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES
6
 
SECTION 2.01.
Issuable in Series.
6
SECTION 2.02.
Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.
7
SECTION 2.03.
Execution and Authentication.
9
SECTION 2.04.
Registrar and Paying Agent.
10
SECTION 2.05.
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
10
SECTION 2.06.
Securityholder Lists.
11
SECTION 2.07.
Transfer and Exchange.
11
SECTION 2.08.
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
12
SECTION 2.09.
Outstanding Securities.
12
SECTION 2.10.
Treasury Securities.
13
SECTION 2.11.
Temporary Securities.
13
SECTION 2.12.
Cancellation.
13
SECTION 2.13.
Defaulted Interest.
14
SECTION 2.14.
Global Securities.
14
SECTION 2.15.
CUSIP Numbers.
16
 
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION
16
 
SECTION 3.01.
Notice to Trustee.
16
SECTION 3.02.
Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
16
SECTION 3.03.
Notice of Redemption.
17
SECTION 3.04.
Effect of Notice of Redemption.
17
SECTION 3.05.
Deposit of Redemption Price.
18
SECTION 3.06.
Securities Redeemed in Part.
18
 
 
 

 
 
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS
18
 
SECTION 4.01.
Payment of Principal and Interest.
18
SECTION 4.02.
SEC Reports.
18
SECTION 4.03.
Compliance Certificate.
19
SECTION 4.04.
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
20
SECTION 4.05.
Corporate Existence.
20
SECTION 4.06.
Taxes.
20
SECTION 4.07.
Additional Interest Notice.
20
SECTION 4.08.
Further Instruments and Acts.
20
 
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS
21
 
SECTION 5.01.
When Company May Merge, Etc.
21
SECTION 5.02.
Successor Corporation Substituted.
21
 
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
21
 
SECTION 6.01.
Events of Default.
21
SECTION 6.02.
Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
23
SECTION 6.03.
Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
25
SECTION 6.04.
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
25
SECTION 6.05.
Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
26
SECTION 6.06.
Application of Money Collected.
26
SECTION 6.07.
Limitation on Suits.
26
SECTION 6.08.
Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.
27
SECTION 6.09.
Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
27
SECTION 6.10.
Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
27
SECTION 6.11.
Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
27
SECTION 6.12.
Control by Holders.
28
SECTION 6.13.
Waiver of Past Defaults.
28
SECTION 6.14.
Undertaking for Costs.
28
 
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE
29
 
SECTION 7.01.
Duties of Trustee.
29
SECTION 7.02.
Rights of Trustee.
30
 
 
 

 
SECTION 7.03.
Individual Rights of Trustee.
31
SECTION 7.04.
Trustee's Disclaimer.
31
SECTION 7.05.
Notice of Defaults.
31
SECTION 7.06.
Reports by Trustee to Holders.
31
SECTION 7.07.
Compensation and Indemnity.
32
SECTION 7.08.
Replacement of Trustee.
32
SECTION 7.09.
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
33
SECTION 7.10.
Eligibility; Disqualification.
33
SECTION 7.11.
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
34
 
ARTICLE VIII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
34
 
SECTION 8.01.
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
34
SECTION 8.02.
Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
35
SECTION 8.03.
Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.
36
SECTION 8.04.
Covenant Defeasance.
37
SECTION 8.05.
Repayment to Company.
38
 
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
38
 
SECTION 9.01.
Without Consent of Holders.
38
SECTION 9.02.
With Consent of Holders.
39
SECTION 9.03.
Limitations.
40
SECTION 9.04.
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
40
SECTION 9.05.
Revocation and Effect of Consents.
41
SECTION 9.06.
Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
41
SECTION 9.07.
Trustee Protected.
41
SECTION 9.08.
Effect of Supplemental Indenture.
41
 
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS
42
 
SECTION 10.01.
Trust Indenture Act Controls.
42
SECTION 10.02.
Notices.
42
SECTION 10.03.
Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
43
SECTION 10.04.
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
43
SECTION 10.05.
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
43
 
 

 
SECTION 10.06.
Record Date for Vote or Consent of Holders.
44
SECTION 10.07.
Rules by Trustee and Agents.
44
SECTION 10.08.
Legal Holidays.
44
SECTION 10.09.
No Recourse Against Others.
44
SECTION 10.10.
Counterparts.
44
SECTION 10.11.
Governing Laws and Submission to Jurisdiction.
45
SECTION 10.12.
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
45
SECTION 10.13.
Successors.
45
SECTION 10.14.
Severability.
45
SECTION 10.15.
Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
45
SECTION 10.16.
Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU.
46
SECTION 10.17.
Judgment Currency.
46
SECTION 10.18.
Compliance with Applicable Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Regulations.
47
 
ARTICLE XI SINKING FUNDS
 
47
 
SECTION 11.01.
Applicability of Article.
47
SECTION 11.02.
Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
48
SECTION 11.03.
Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
48






Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture,
Dated as of [            ], 20[ ]
 
Section 310(a)(1)
7.10
(a)(2)
7.10
(a)(3)
Not Applicable
(a)(4)
Not Applicable
(a)(5)
7.10
(b)
7.10
(c)
Not Applicable
Section 311(a)
7.11
(b)
7.11
(c)
Not Applicable
Section 312(a)
2.06
(b)
10.03
(c)
10.03
Section 313(a)
7.06
(b)(1)
7.06
(b)(2)
7.06
(c)(1)
7.06
(d)
7.06
Section 314(a)
4.02, 10.05
(b)
Not Applicable
(c)(1)
10.04
(c)(2)
10.04
(c)(3)
Not Applicable
(d)
Not Applicable
(e)
10.05
(f)
Not Applicable
Section 315(a)
7.01
(b)
7.05
(c)
7.01
(d)
7.01
(e)
6.14
Section 316(a)(1)(A)
6.12
(a)(1)(B)
6.13
(a)(2)
Not Applicable
(b)
6.13
(c)
10.06
Section 317(a)(1)
6.03
(a)(2)
6.04
(b)
2.05
Section 318(a)
10.01
 
Note:  This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.


 



Indenture dated as of [                        ], 20[ ] between DRYSHIPS INC., a company organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the "Company") and [           ] (the "Trustee").
 
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
 
ARTICLE I
 
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
 
SECTION 1.01.   Definitions .
 
" Additional Amounts " means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.
 
" Affiliate " of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person.  For the purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
 
" Agent " means any Registrar or Paying Agent.
 
" Bankruptcy Law " means Title 11 of the United States Code (or any successor thereto) or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
 
" Board of Directors " means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
 
" Board Resolution " means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
 
" Business Day " means any day other than a (x) Saturday, (y) Sunday or (z) day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in New York, New York are not required to be open.
 
" Capital Stock " of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.
 

1


" Certificated Securities " means Securities in the form of physical, certificated Securities in registered form.
 
" Company " means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.
 
" Company Order " means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
 
" Company Request " means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, a President or a Vice President, and by its Chief Financial Officer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
 
" Corporate Trust Office " means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered which office at the date of the execution of this Indenture is [             ], Attention: [              ], or at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time.
 
" Custodian " means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
 
" Default " or "default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
 
" Default Rate " means the default rate of interest specified in the Securities.
 
" Depository " means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depository for such Series by the Company, which Depository shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, "Depository" as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depository with respect to the Securities of such Series.
 
" Discount Security " means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.
 
" Dollars " means the currency of The United States of America.
 
" ECU " means the European Currency Unit as determined by the Commission of the European Union.
 
" Exchange Act " means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
" Foreign Currency " means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.
 

2


" Foreign Government Obligations " means with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
 
" Global Security " or " Global Securities " means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.02 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depository for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depository or nominee.
 
" Holder " or " Securityholder " means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
 
" Indenture " means this Indenture as amended and supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
 
" Interest ," in respect of the Securities, unless the context otherwise requires, refers to interest payable on the Securities, including any additional interest that may become payable pursuant to Section 6.02(b).
 
" Maturity ," when used with respect to any Security or installment of principal thereof, means the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.
 
" Officer " means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
 
" Officers' Certificate " means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
 
" Opinion of Counsel " means a written opinion of legal counsel who is, and which opinion is, acceptable to the Trustee and its counsel.  Such legal counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.
 
" Person " means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
 
" Principal " or " principal " of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
 

3


" Responsible Officer " means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, any vice president, managing director, director, associate, assistant vice president, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
 
" SEC " means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
" Security " or " Securities " means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
 
" Series " or " Series of Securities " means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 hereof.
 
" Stated Maturity " when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
 
" Subordinated Indebtedness " means any indebtedness which is expressly subordinated to the indebtedness evidenced by Securities.
 
" Subsidiary " means, in respect of any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
 
" TIA " means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "TIA" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
 
" Trustee " means the person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
 
" U.S. Government Obligations " means securities which are (i) direct obligations of The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by The United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii)
 

4


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 U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the 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 U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
 
SECTION 1.02.   Other Definitions .
 
 
TERM
 
DEFINED IN SECTION
"Applicable Law"
10.18
"Event of Default"
6.01
"Instrument"
6.01
"Journal"
10.16
"Judgment Currency"
10.17
"Legal Holiday"
10.08
"mandatory sinking fund payment"
11.01
"Market Exchange Rate"
10.16
"New York Banking Day"
10.17
"optional sinking fund payment"
11.01
"Paying Agent"
2.04
"Registrar"
2.04
"Required Currency"
10.17
"successor person"
5.01
"Temporary Securities"
2.11
 
SECTION 1.03.   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .
 
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.  This Indenture shall also include those provisions of the TIA required to be included herein by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990.  The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
 
" indenture securities " means the Securities.
 
" indenture security holder " means a Securityholder.
 
" indenture to be qualified " means this Indenture.
 
" indenture trustee " or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee.
 
" obligor " on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
 

5


All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
 
SECTION 1.04.   Rules of Construction .
 
Unless the context otherwise requires:
 
(a)           a term has the meaning assigned to it;
 
(b)           an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c)           references to "generally accepted accounting principles" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the time when and for the period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied;
 
(d)           "or" is not exclusive;
 
(e)           words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
 
(f)           provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
 
(g)           references to agreements and other instruments include subsequent amendments thereto;
 
(h)           the term "merger" includes a statutory share exchange, and the term "merged" has a correlative meaning; and
 
(i)           "herein," "hereof" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
 
ARTICLE II
 
THE SECURITIES
 
SECTION 2.01.   Issuable in Series .
 
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.  The Securities may be issued in one or more Series.  All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution.  In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined.  Securities may
 

6


differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
 
SECTION 2.02.   Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities .
 
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection (a), and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections (b) through (t) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:
 
(a)           the title, designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the Securities of the Series;
 
(b)           the price or prices, (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
 
(c)           the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
 
(d)           the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
 
(e)           any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions or conversion or exchangeability provisions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased, converted or exchanged;
 
(f)           the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series may be optionally redeemed or must be mandatorily redeemed and any other terms and provisions of optional or mandatory provisions;
 
(g)           if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
 
(h)           if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 6.02 or provable in bankruptcy;
 
(i)           any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02;
 

7


(j)           the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payments of principal of, premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, if other than the currency of the United States of America;
 
(k)           if payments of principal of, premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, at the Company's election or at the election of any Holder, in a currency other than that in which the Securities of the Series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made;
 
(l)           if payments of interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, at the Company's election or at the election of any Holder, in cash or additional securities, and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;
 
(m)           if denominated in a currency or currencies other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price of the Securities of the Series in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of Holders of the Securities of the Series;
 
(n)           if the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities of the Series are stated to be payable, the manner in which the amounts will be determined;
 
(o)           any restrictive covenants or other material terms relating to the Securities of the Series;
 
(p)           whether the Securities of the Series will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates in registered form;
 
(q)           any terms with respect to subordination;
 
(r)           any listing on any securities exchange or quotation system;
 
(s)           additional provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the offered debt securities; and
 
(t)           the applicability of any guarantees, which would be governed by New York law.
 
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers' Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuance of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental Indenture or Officers' Certificate.
 

8


SECTION 2.03.   Execution and Authentication .
 
Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
 
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
 
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.  The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
 
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order.  Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.  Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate.
 
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02, except as provided in Section 2.08.
 
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.02) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers' Certificate complying with Section 10.04, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.04.
 
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken; or (b) if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
 
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities.  An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent.  An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate.
 
If any successor that has replaced the Company in accordance with Article 5 has executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01, any of the Securities authenticated or delivered prior to such transaction may, from time to time, at the request of such successor, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the such
 

9


successor with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise identical to the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order of such successor, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange.  If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of such successor pursuant to this provision of Section 2.03 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such successor, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities then outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name.
 
SECTION 2.04.   Registrar and Paying Agent .
 
The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.02, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment ("Paying Agent") and where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange ("Registrar").  The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar and Paying Agent.  If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar or Paying Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations and surrenders.
 
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars or additional paying agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.02 for Securities of any Series for such purposes.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar or additional paying agent.  The term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar; and the term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent.
 
The Company hereby appoints [                  ] as the initial Registrar and Paying Agent for each Series unless another Registrar or Paying Agent as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.  Each Registrar and Paying Agent shall be entitled to all of the rights, protections, exculpations and indemnities afforded to the Trustee in connection with its roles as Registrar and Paying Agent.
 
SECTION 2.05.   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .
 
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment.  While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  The Company at any time may require
 

10


a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money.  If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
 
SECTION 2.06.   Securityholder Lists .
 
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).  If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least [  ] days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
 
SECTION 2.07.   Transfer and Exchange .
 
Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met.  To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar's request.  Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge, except that the Company or the Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge required by law; provided that this sentence shall not apply to any exchange pursuant to Section 2.11, 2.08, 3.06 or 9.06.
 
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business [  ] days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
 
All Securities issued upon any 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 transfer or exchange.  Any Registrar appointed pursuant to Section 2.04 shall provide to the Trustee such information as the Trustee may reasonably require in connection with the delivery by such Registrar of Securities upon transfer or exchange of Securities.  Each Holder of a Security agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder's Security in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable U.S. federal or state securities law.

11


SECTION 2.08.   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .
 
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
 
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Registrar (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 Registrar that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
 
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
 
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
 
Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
 
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
 
SECTION 2.09.   Outstanding Securities .
 
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
 
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
 
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities
 

12


payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
 
A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate holds the Security.
 
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.
 
SECTION 2.10.   Treasury Securities .
 
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver Securities of a Series owned by the Company or an Affiliate shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
 
SECTION 2.11.   Temporary Securities .
 
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary securities upon a Company Order ("Temporary Securities").  Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities.  Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon written request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities.  Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
 
SECTION 2.12.   Cancellation .
 
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation.  The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee or its agent any Securities surrendered to them for transfer, exchange, payment or conversion.  The Trustee and no one else shall cancel, in accordance with its standard procedures, all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, conversion or cancellation and shall deliver the cancelled Securities to the Company.  No Security shall be authenticated in exchange for any Security cancelled pursuant to this Section 2.12.
 
The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, purchase Securities in the open market or by tender offer at any price or by private agreement.  Any Securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the final maturity of such Securities may, to the extent permitted by law, be reissued or resold or may, at the option of the Company, be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.  Any Securities surrendered for
 

13


cancellation may not be reissued or resold and shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee, and the Company may not hold or resell such Securities or issue any new Securities to replace any such Securities.
 
SECTION 2.13.   Defaulted Interest .
 
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest at the Default Rate, to the persons who are Security holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date.  The Company shall fix the record date and payment date.  At least [  ] days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and the Paying Agent and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid.  The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
 
SECTION 2.14.   Global Securities .
 
(a)           A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depository for such Global Security or Securities.
 
(b)            (i)           Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.07 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.07 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depository for such Security or its nominee only if (A) such Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depository within 90 days of such event, (B) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (C) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing.
 
(ii)           Except as provided in this Section 2.14(b), a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository, by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.
 
(iii)           Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be issued in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons, shall have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of such Global Security or portion thereof to be so exchanged, shall be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations as the Depository shall designate and shall bear the applicable legends provided for herein.  Any Global Security to be exchanged in whole shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee, as Registrar.  With regard to any Global Security to be exchanged in part, either such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or, if
 

14


the Registrar is acting as custodian for the Depository or its nominee with respect to such Global Security, the principal amount thereof shall be reduced by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Trustee.  Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Security issuable on such exchange to or upon the order of the Depository or an authorized representative thereof.
 
(iv)           The registered Holder may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including participants in the Depository and persons that may hold interests through participants in the Depository, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.
 
(v)           In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in 2.14(b)(i), the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons.  If (A) an event described in Section 2.14(b)(i)(A) or (B) occurs and definitive Certificated Securities are not issued promptly to all beneficial owners or (B) the Registrar receives from a beneficial owner instructions to obtain definitive Certificated Securities due to an event described in Section 2.14(b)(i)(C) and definitive Certificated Securities are not issued promptly to any such beneficial owner, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, the right of any beneficial owner of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial owner's Securities as if such definitive certificated Securities had been issued.
 
(vi)           Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Indenture, so long as a Global Security remains outstanding and is held by or on behalf of the Depository, transfers of a Global Security, in whole or in part, or of any beneficial interest therein, shall only be made in accordance with Section 2.07, this Section 2.14(b) and the rules and procedures of the Depository for such Global Security to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
 
(c)           Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
 
"This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository.  This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository, by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository."
 
(d)           The Depository, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.
 

15


(e)           Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof at their registered office.
 
(f)           At all times the Securities are held in book-entry form with a Depository, (i) the Trustee may deal with such Depository as the authorized representative of the Holders, (ii) the rights of the Holders shall be exercised only through the Depository and shall be limited to those established by law and agreement between the Holders and the Depository and/or direct participants of the Depository, (iii) the Depository will make book-entry transfers among the direct participants of the Depository and will receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the Securities to such direct participants; and (iv) the direct participants of the Depository shall have no rights under this Indenture, or any supplement hereto, under or with respect to any of the Securities held on their behalf by the Depository, and the Depository may be treated by the Trustee and its agents, employees, officers and directors as the absolute owner of the Securities for all purposes whatsoever.
 
SECTION 2.15.   CUSIP Numbers .
 
The Company in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP", "CCN", "ISIN" or other identification numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP", "CCN", "ISIN" or such other identification numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
 
ARTICLE III
 
REDEMPTION
 
SECTION 3.01.   Notice to Trustee .
 
The Company may, with respect to any series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities.  If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee and Registrar in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed.  The Company shall give the notice at least [  ] days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee and Registrar).
 
SECTION 3.02.   Selection of Securities to be Redeemed .
 
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Registrar shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in accordance
 

16


with its customary procedures.  The Registrar shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption.  The Registrar may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000.  Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.02(g), the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof.  Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
 
SECTION 3.03.   Notice of Redemption .
 
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate, at least [  ] days but not more than [  ] days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
 
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
 
(a)           the redemption date;
 
(b)           the redemption price;
 
(c)           the name and address of the Paying Agent;
 
(d)           that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
 
(e)           that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and
 
(f)           any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.
 
At the Company's written request, the Trustee shall distribute the notice of redemption prepared by the Company in the Company's name and at its expense.
 
SECTION 3.04.   Effect of Notice of Redemption .
 
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.03, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price.  A notice of redemption may not be conditional.  Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
 

17


SECTION 3.05.  Deposit of Redemption Price.
 
On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
 
SECTION 3.06.   Securities Redeemed in Part .
 
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
 

ARTICLE IV
 
COVENANTS
 
SECTION 4.01.   Payment of Principal and Interest .
 
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture. 

Unless otherwise provided under the terms of a particular Series of Securities:

(a)           an installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Paying Agent (other than the Company) holds by [] [a].m., New York City time, on that date money, deposited by the Company or an Affiliate thereof, sufficient to pay such installment.  The Company shall (in immediately available funds), to the fullest extent permitted by law, pay interest on overdue principal and overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities per annum; and
 
(b)           payment of the principal of and interest on the Securities shall be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in [] (which shall initially be [], the Paying Agent) in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however , that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the register; provided, further , that a Holder with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $[] will be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds at the election of such Holder if such Holder has provided wire transfer instructions to the Company at least [  ] Business Days prior to the payment date.
 
SECTION 4.02.   SEC Reports .
 
So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall (i) file with the SEC within the time periods prescribed by its rules and regulations and (ii) furnish to the Trustee and
 

18


the Holders of the Securities within [  ] days after the date on which the Company would be required to file the same with the SEC pursuant to its rules and regulations (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), all quarterly and annual financial information required to be furnished or filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and, with respect to the annual consolidated financial statements only, a report thereon by the Company's independent auditors.  The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).
 
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).  The Company shall not be required to file any report or other information with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, although such reports shall be furnished to the Trustee.  Documents filed by the Company with the SEC via the SEC's EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) will be deemed furnished to the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities as of the time such documents are filed via EDGAR (or such successor).
 
SECTION 4.03.   Compliance Certificate .
 
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within [   ] days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an officers certificate signed by two of the Company's officers stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge in reasonable detail and the efforts to remedy the same).  For purposes of this Section 4.03, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
 
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within [  ] days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers' Certificate of any Event of Default described in Section 6.01(e), (f), (g) or (h) and any event of which it becomes aware that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become such an Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.  For the avoidance of doubt, a breach of a covenant under an Instrument that is not a payment default and that has not given rise to a right of acceleration under such Instrument shall not trigger the requirement to provide notice under this paragraph.
 

19


SECTION 4.04.  Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
 
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
 
SECTION 4.05.   Corporate Existence .
 
Subject to Article V, 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 corporate, partnership or other existence of each Subsidiary in accordance with the respective organizational documents of each Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Subsidiary, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
 
SECTION 4.06.   Taxes .
 
The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay prior to delinquency all taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings.
 
SECTION 4.07.   Additional Interest Notice .
 
In the event that the Company is required to pay additional interest to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section 6.02(b) hereof, the Company shall provide a direction or order in the form of a written notice to the Trustee (and if the Trustee is not the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent) of the Company's obligation to pay such additional interest no later than [   ] Business Days prior to date on which any such additional interest is scheduled to be paid.  Such notice shall set forth the amount of additional interest to be paid by the Company on such payment date and direct the Trustee (or, if the Trustee is not the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent) to make payment to the extent it receives funds from the Company to do so.  The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether additional interest is payable, or with respect to the nature, extent, or calculation of the amount of additional interest owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of additional interest.
 
SECTION 4.08.   Further Instruments and Acts .
 
The Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture.
 

20


ARTICLE V
 
SUCCESSORS
 
SECTION 5.01.   When Company May Merge, Etc .
 
The Company shall not consolidate with, enter into a binding share exchange, or merge into any other Person in a transaction in which it is not the surviving entity, or sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person (a "successor person"), unless:
 
(a)           the successor person (if any) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, [], the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any interest on, all Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
 
(b)           immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
 
(c)           the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction, an Officers' Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
 
SECTION 5.02.   Successor Corporation Substituted .
 
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor company in the case of a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities.
 
ARTICLE VI
 
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
 
SECTION 6.01.   Events of Default .
 
"Event of Default," wherever used herein with respect to securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution,
 

21


supplemental indenture or Officers' Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
 
(a)           default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or
 
(b)           default in the payment of any principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or
 
(c)           default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due in respect of any Security of that Series; or
 
(d)           the Company fails to perform or comply with any of its other covenants or agreements contained in the Securities or in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is specifically dealt with in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 6.01) and the default continues for 60 days after notice is given as specified below;
 
(e)           any indebtedness under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by, or any other payment obligation of, the Company or any Subsidiary (an "Instrument") with a principal amount then, individually or in the aggregate, outstanding in excess of $[], whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, is not paid at Maturity or when otherwise due or is accelerated, and such indebtedness is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within a period of 30 days after there shall have 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 [  ]% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default and requiring the Company to cause such indebtedness to be discharged or cause such default to be cured or waived or such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder.  A payment obligation (other than indebtedness under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary) shall not be deemed to have matured, come due, or been accelerated to the extent that it is being disputed by the relevant obligor or obligors in good faith.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Maturity of an Instrument is the Maturity as set forth in that Instrument, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of that Instrument;
 
(f)           the Company or any Subsidiary fails to pay one or more final and non-appealable judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction, the aggregate uninsured or unbonded portion of which is in excess of $[], if the judgments are not paid, discharged, waived or stayed within [  ] days;
 

22


(g)           the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
 
(i)           commences a voluntary case or proceeding;
 
(ii)           consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;
 
(iii)           consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or
 
(iv)           makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
 
(v)           or generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or
 
(h)           a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
 
(i)           is for relief against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an involuntary case or proceeding;
 
(ii)           appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary; or
 
(iii)           orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
 
and the case of each of clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for [  ] consecutive days; or
 
(i)           any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.02(i).
 
A default under clause (d) above is not an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least [  ]% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding notify the Company and the Trustee, in writing of the default, and the Company does not cure the default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.  The notice given pursuant to this Section 6.01 must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a "Notice of Default."  When any default under this Section 6.01 is cured, it ceases.
 
The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless written notice thereof shall have been given to a Trust Officer at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee by the Company, a Paying Agent, any Holder or any agent of any Holder. 
 
SECTION 6.02.   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .
 
(a)           If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01) occurs and is continuing with respect to any Securities of any Series,
 

23


then in every such case, the Trustee may, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that Series (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) then outstanding may, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, declare all unpaid principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on to the date of acceleration, the Securities of that Series then outstanding (if not then due and payable) to be due and payable upon any such declaration, and the same shall become and be immediately due and payable.  If an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 occurs, all unpaid principal of the Securities then outstanding, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of acceleration, shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that Series then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration of such Securities of that Series and its consequences if (a) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Securities which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived; (b) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest (calculated at the Default Rate) on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid; (c) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and (d) all payments due to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 7.07 have been made.  No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereto.
 
(b)           Notwithstanding any of provision of this Article 6, at the election of the Company in its sole discretion, the sole remedy under this Indenture for an Event of Default relating to the failure to comply with Section 4.02, and for any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA, will consist, for the 180 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default, exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Securities at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding up to, but not including, the 181st day thereafter (or, if applicable, the earlier date on which the Event of Default relating to Section 4.02 is cured or waived).  Any such additional interest will be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Securities.  In no event shall additional interest accrue under the terms of this Indenture at a rate in excess of 0.50% per annum, in the aggregate, for any violation or default caused by the failure of the Company to be current in respect of its Exchange Act reporting obligations.  If the Event of Default is continuing on the 181st day after an Event of Default relating to a failure to comply with Section 4.02, the Securities will be subject to acceleration as provided in this Section 6.02.  The provisions of this Section 6.02(b) will not affect the rights of Holders in the event of the occurrence of any other Events of Default.
 
In order to elect to pay additional interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default relating to the failure to comply with Section 4.02 in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company shall notify all Holders and the Trustee and Paying Agent of such election on or before the close of business on the fifth Business Day after the date on which such Event of Default otherwise would occur.  Upon a failure by the Company to timely give such notice or pay additional interest, the Securities will be immediately subject to acceleration as otherwise provided in this Section 6.02.
 

24


SECTION 6.03.   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .
 
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series 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 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.
 
If an Event of Default in the payment of principal, interest, if any, specified in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or another obligor on the Securities for the whole amount of principal, and accrued interest remaining unpaid, if any, together with, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue principal, on overdue installments of interest, if any, in each case at the Default Rate, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
 
SECTION 6.04.   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 or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
 
(a)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest 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 7.07.
 

25


Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
 
SECTION 6.05.   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.
 
SECTION 6.06.   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 interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid: and
 
First : To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07;
 
Second : To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest 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 interest, respectively; and
 
Third : To the Company.
 
SECTION 6.07.   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 for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder (except actions for payment of overdue principal and interest), 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 [  ]% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series 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 indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
 

26


(d)           the Trustee for [  ] 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 [  ]-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; 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 of such Holders, 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 such Holders.
 
SECTION 6.08.   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal 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 of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities 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.
 
SECTION 6.09.   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 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.
 
SECTION 6.10.   Rights and Remedies Cumulative .
 
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.08, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders 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.
 
SECTION 6.11.   Delay or Omission Not Waiver .
 
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities 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
 

27


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.
 
SECTION 6.12.   Control by Holders .
 
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any 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, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
 
(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)           subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another Holder or the Trustee.
 
SECTION 6.13.   Waiver of Past Defaults .
 
Subject to Section 9.02, 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 hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
 
SECTION 6.14.   Undertaking for Costs .
 
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than [  ]% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the
 

28


payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
 
ARTICLE VII
 
TRUSTEE
 
SECTION 7.01.   Duties of Trustee .
 
(a)           If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
 
(b)           Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
 
(i)           The Trustee  need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied duties, covenants or obligations shall be deemed to be imposed upon the Trustee.
 
(ii)           in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers' Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers' Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture.
 
(c)           The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:
 
(i)           This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of Section 7.01 herein.
 
(ii)           The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer.
 
(iii)           The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.

(d)           Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
 
 
29

 
(e)           The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives an indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
 
(f)           The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.  Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
 
(g)           No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk or expend its own funds or otherwise incur liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
 
(h)           The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the same rights, indemnities, protections and immunities afforded to the Trustee.
 
(i)           The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor the performance or compliance of the Company with its obligations hereunder or any under supplement hereto, nor shall it have any liability in connection with the malfeasance or nonfeasance by the Company.  The Trustee shall have no liability in connection with compliance by the Company with statutory or regulatory requirements related to this Indenture, any supplement or any Securities issued pursuant hereto or thereto.
 
SECTION 7.02.   Rights of Trustee .
 
(a)           The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting as a result of its reasonable belief that any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, direction, approval or other paper or document was genuine and had been signed or presented by the proper person.  The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it sees fit.
 
(b)           Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both.  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
 
(c)           The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of, or for the supervision of, any agent appointed with due care.  No Depository shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depository.
 
(d)           The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.
 
(e)           The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
 
 
30

 
in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
 
(f)           The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by or pursuant to this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Securities, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
 
SECTION 7.03.   Individual Rights of Trustee .
 
The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  Any Agent may do the same with like rights.  The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
 
SECTION 7.04.   Trustee's Disclaimer .
 
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities and the recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as statements of the Company and not of the Trustee, and the Trustee has no responsibility for such recitals. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the Company's use or application of the proceeds from the Securities or for monies paid over to the Company pursuant to this Indenture, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
 
SECTION 7.05.   Notice of Defaults .
 
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge or receives written notice of such event, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series, notice of a Default or Event of Default within [  ] days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default.  Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, including any additional interest that may become payable pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Trustee may withhold the notice so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
 
SECTION 7.06.   Reports by Trustee to Holders .
 
Within [  ] days after [           ] in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such [], in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA Section 313.
 
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed.  The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
 
 
31

 
SECTION 7.07.   Compensation and Indemnity .
 
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services as shall be agreed upon in writing.  The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust.  The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred by it.  Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee's agents, counsel and other persons not regularly in its employ.
 
The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, from and against and reimburse the Trustee for any and all claims, expenses, obligations, liabilities, losses, damages, injuries (to person, property, or natural resources), penalties, stamp or other similar taxes, actions, suits, judgments, reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney's and agent's fees and expenses) of whatever kind or nature regardless of their merit, demanded, asserted or claimed against the Trustee directly or indirectly relating to, or arising from, claims against the Trustee by reason of its participation in the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation all reasonable costs required to be associated with claims for damages to persons or property, and reasonable attorneys' and consultants' fees and expenses and court costs except to the extent caused by the Trustee's negligence or willful misconduct.  The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the termination of this Agreement or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.  The Company shall defend any claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense.  The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.  The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
 
The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence or bad faith.
 
To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
 
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
 
SECTION 7.08.   Replacement of Trustee .
 
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
 
The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company.  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any
 
32

 
Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company.  The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
 
(a)           the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
 
(b)           the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
 
(c)           a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
 
(d)           the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
 
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.  Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
 
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within [  ] days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least [  ]% in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
 
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company.  Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07, and subject to the payment of any and all amounts then due and owing to the retiring Trustee, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture.  A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series.  Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
 
SECTION 7.09.   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc .
 
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee with the same effect as if the successor Trustee had been named as the Trustee herein.
 
SECTION 7.10.   Eligibility; Disqualification .
 
This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5).  The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of
 
33

 
at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.  The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b).
 
SECTION 7.11.   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .
 
The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b).  A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TTA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.
 

ARTICLE VIII
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
 
SECTION 8.01.   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .
 
This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.01), and the Trustee, on the demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
 
(a)           either
 
(i)           all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
 
(ii)           all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, or
 
(1)           have become due and payable, or
 
(2)           will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within [], or
 
(3)           are to be called for redemption within [           ] under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or
 
(4)           are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to section 8.03, as applicable; and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;
 

34


 
 
(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 meeting the applicable requirements of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 and each stating that all conditions precedent herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with and the Trustee receives written demand from the Company to discharge.
 
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.08, 8.01 8.02 and 8.05 shall survive.
 
SECTION 8.02.   Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification .
 
(a)           Subject to the provisions of Section 8.05, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.01, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.03 or 8.04.
 
(b)           The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Agents against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.03 or 8.04 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
 
(c)           The Trustee shall, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, deliver or pay to the Company from time to time, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it pursuant to this Indenture as provided in Sections 8.03 or 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants, expressed in a written certification thereof and delivered to the Trustee together with such Company Request, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received.  This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
 

35


SECTION 8.03.   Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series .
 
Unless this Section 8.03 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.02(s), to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of such Series on the [   ] day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
 
(a)           the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;
 
(b)           the provisions of Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.08, 2.14, 8.02, 8.03 and 8.05; and
 
(c)           the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder; provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
 
(d)           the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Paying Agent 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 in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Paying Agent), not later than [   ] day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee and the Paying Agent, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest, if any, on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
 
(e)           such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
 
(f)           no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the [    ] day after such date;
 
(g)           the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has
 

36


been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
 
(h)           the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;
 
(i)           such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and
 
(j)           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 the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
 
SECTION 8.04.   Covenant Defeasance .
 
Unless this Section 8.04 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.02(s) to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, on and after the [    ] day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, and 5.01 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(s) (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (e) of Section 6.01 shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
 
(a)           With reference to this Section 8.04, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.02(c)) with the Paying Agent as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Paying Agent), not later than [   ] day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered
 

37


to the Paying Agent, to pay principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
 
(b)           Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
 
(c)           No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the [    ] day after such date;
 
(d)           the company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
 
(e)           the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
 
(f)           The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
 
SECTION 8.05.   Repayment to Company .
 
The Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years.  After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person and all liability of the Paying Agent with respect to that money shall cease.
 

ARTICLE IX
 
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
 
SECTION 9.01.   Without Consent of Holders .
 
The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
 
(a)           to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
 
(b)           to comply with Article V;
 

38


(c)           to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
 
(d)           to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder;
 
(e)           to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;
 
(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;
 
(g)           to comply with requirements of the TIA and any rules promulgated under the TIA; and
 
(h)           to add to the covenants of the Company for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right, power or option conferred upon the Company.
 
Any amendment or supplement made solely to conform the provisions of this Indenture or the Securities of any Series to the description thereof contained in the final prospectus relating to such Series will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights of any Holder.
 
SECTION 9.02.   With Consent of Holders .
 
The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all Series affected by such supplemental indenture, taken together as one class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series.  Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all Series affected by such waiver by notice to the Trustee, taken together as one class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
 
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.  After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver.  Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
 

39


SECTION 9.03.   Limitations .
 
Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:
 
(a)           change the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver, except to increase any such amount or to provide that certain provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified, amended or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security affected thereby;
 
(b)           reduce the amount of interest, or change the interest payment time, on any Security;
 
(c)           waive a redemption payment or alter the redemption provisions (other than any alteration that would not materially adversely affect the legal rights of any Holder under this Indenture) or the price at which the Company is required to offer to purchase the Securities;
 
(d)           reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
 
(e)           reduce the principal amount payable of any Security upon Maturity;
 
(f)           waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
 
(g)           change the place or currency of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on any Security other than that stated in the Security;
 
(h)           impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal or, or interest on, the Securities of such Holder on or after the due dates therefor;
 
(i)            impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on, or with respect to, any Security;
 
(j)            make any change in Sections 10.15 or 10.16;
 
(k)           change the ranking of the Securities; or
 
(l)           make any other change which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate as a limitation under this Section.
 
SECTION 9.04.   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .
 
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
 

40


SECTION 9.05.   Revocation and Effect of Consents .
 
Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security.  However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.
 
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (g) of Section 9.03 in that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security.
 
SECTION 9.06.   Notation on or Exchange of Securities .
 
If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee and the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder.  Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the changed terms.
 
SECTION 9.07.   Trustee Protected .
 
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 entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officer's Certificate, or both stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.  The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights, duties or indemnities.
 
SECTION 9.08.   Effect of Supplemental Indenture .
 
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and each such supplemental indenture shall form part of this Indenture for all purposes with respect to the relevant Series; and every Holder of Securities of the relevant Series theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
 

41


ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS
 
 
SECTION 10.01.   Trust Indenture Act Controls .
 
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
 
SECTION 10.02.   Notices .
 
Any notice or communication by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar to another is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail:
 
if to the Company:
 
DRYSHIPS INC.
74-76 V. Ipeirou Street
151 25, Marousi
Athens, Greece

if to the Trustee:
 
[                                ]
Attn: [                      ]
Fax:   [                      ]
 
if to the Registrar or Paying Agent:
 
[                                ]
Attn: [                      ]
Fax:   [                      ]

with copy to:

[                                ]
Attn: [                      ]
Fax: [                        ]

The Company, the Trustee and each Agent by notice to each other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
 
Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar.  Failure to mail a notice or
 
 
42

 
 
 communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.
 
If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
 
If the company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
 
Whenever a notice is required to be given by the Company, such notice may be given by the Trustee or Registrar on the Company's behalf (and the Company will make any notice it is required to give to Holders available on its website).
 
SECTION 10.03.   Communication by Holders with Other Holders .
 
Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series.  The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).
 
SECTION 10.04.   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .
 
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
 
(a)           an Officers' Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
 
(b)           an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of counsel, all such conditions precedent (including any covenants, compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) have been complied with.
 
SECTION 10.05.   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .
 
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:
 
(a)           a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
 
(b)           a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation  upon which the statements or opinions  contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
 
 
43

 
(c)           a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
 
(d)           a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
 
provided, however , that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers' Certificate or certificates of public officials.
 
SECTION 10.06.   Record Date for Vote or Consent of Holders .
 
The Company (or, in the event deposits have been made pursuant to Section 11.02, the Trustee) may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted under this Indenture, which record date shall not be more than [  ] days prior to the date of the commencement of solicitation of such action.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.05, if a record date is fixed, those persons who were Holders of Securities at the close of business on such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to take such action by vote or consent or to revoke any vote or consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date.
 
SECTION 10.07.   Rules by Trustee and Agents .
 
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series.  Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
 
SECTION 10.08.   Legal Holidays .
 
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a "Legal Holiday" is any day that is not a Business Day.  If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
 
SECTION 10.09.   No Recourse Against Others .
 
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.  Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
 
SECTION 10.10.   Counterparts .
 
 
44

 
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

SECTION 10.11.   Governing Laws and Submission to Jurisdiction .
 
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCLUDING ANY RULE OF LAW THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
 
The Company agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture may be instituted in any federal or state court sitting in New York City, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court in any suit, action or proceeding.  The Company, as long as any Securities remain outstanding or the parties hereto have any obligation under this Indenture, shall have an authorized agent in the United States upon whom process may be served in any such legal action or proceeding. Service of process upon such agent and written notice of such service mailed or delivered to it shall to the extent permitted by law be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such legal action or proceeding and, if it fails to maintain such agent, any such process or summons may be served by mailing a copy thereof by registered mail, or a form of mail substantially equivalent thereto, addressed to it at its address as provided for notices hereunder. The Company hereby appoints Seward & Kissel LLP, One Battery Park Plaza, New York, NY,  10004, as its agent for such purposes, and covenants and agrees that service of process in any legal action or proceeding may be made upon it at such office of such agent.

SECTION 10.12.   No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .
 
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary.  Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
 
SECTION 10.13.   Successors .
 
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
 
SECTION 10.14.   Severability .
 
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
 
SECTION 10.15.   Table of Contents, Headings, Etc .
 
 
45

 
The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
SECTION 10.16.   Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU .
 
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time.  For purposes of this Section 10.16, "Market Exchange Rate" shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the case of ECUs, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such publication or any successor publication, the "Journal").  If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in the case of ECUs, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate.  The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
 
All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.
 
SECTION 10.17.   Judgment Currency .
 
The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the "Required Currency") into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the "Judgment Currency"), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is
 
 
46

 
entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.  For purposes of the foregoing, "New York Banking Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
 
SECTION 10.18.   Compliance with Applicable Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Regulations .
 
In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering ("Applicable Law"), the Trustee is required to obtain, verify and record certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee.  Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee, upon its request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee to comply with the Applicable Law.
 
ARTICLE XI
 
SINKING FUNDS
 
SECTION 11.01.   Applicability of Article .
 
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
 
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment" and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment." If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.02.  Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the securities of such Series.
 
 
47

 
SECTION 11.02.   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .
 
The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited.  Such Securities shall be received by the Registrar, together with an Officers' Certificate with respect thereto, not later than [  ] days prior to the date on which the Registrar begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Registrar at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.  If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.02, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $[              ], the Registrar need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Registrar of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
 
SECTION 11.03.   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .
 
Not less than [  ] days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Paying Agent an Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.02., and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified.  Not less than [  ] days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.03.  Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall stated in Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06.
 
[ The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank ]
 

48


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
 




DRYSHIPS INC.


By: __________________________

Name:
Its:


[                ]
as Trustee

By: __________________________

Name:
Its:


By: __________________________

Name:
Its:


[                   ]
as Registrar and Paying Agent


By: __________________________

Name:
Its:


By: __________________________

Name:
Its:

 Exhibit 4.5







DRYSHIPS INC.
 

FORM OF

SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

Dated as of [                                ], 20[  ]




[                      ]

Trustee








TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE




ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
 
1
SECTION 1.01.
Definitions.
1
SECTION 1.02.
Other Definitions.
5
SECTION 1.03.
Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
5
SECTION 1.04.
Rules of Construction.
6
ARTICLE II THE SECURITIES
 
6
SECTION 2.01.
Issuable in Series.
6
SECTION 2.02.
Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.
7
SECTION 2.03.
Execution and Authentication.
9
SECTION 2.04.
Registrar and Paying Agent.
10
SECTION 2.05.
Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
10
SECTION 2.06.
Securityholder Lists.
11
SECTION 2.07.
Transfer and Exchange.
11
SECTION 2.08.
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
12
SECTION 2.09.
Outstanding Securities.
12
SECTION 2.10.
Treasury Securities.
13
SECTION 2.11.
Temporary Securities.
13
SECTION 2.12.
Cancellation.
13
SECTION 2.13.
Defaulted Interest.
14
SECTION 2.14.
Global Securities.
14
SECTION 2.15.
CUSIP Numbers.
16
ARTICLE III REDEMPTION
  16 
SECTION 3.01.
Notice to Trustee.
16
SECTION 3.02.
Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
16
SECTION 3.03.
Notice of Redemption.
17
SECTION 3.04.
Effect of Notice of Redemption.
17
SECTION 3.05.
Deposit of Redemption Price.
18
SECTION 3.06.
Securities Redeemed in Part.
18
ARTICLE IV COVENANTS
  18
SECTION 4.01.
Payment of Principal and Interest.
18
SECTION 4.02.
SEC Reports.
18
SECTION 4.03.
Compliance Certificate.
19
SECTION 4.04.
Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
20
SECTION 4.05.
Corporate Existence.
20
SECTION 4.06.
Taxes.
20
SECTION 4.07.
Additional Interest Notice.
20
SECTION 4.08.
Further Instruments and Acts.
20
ARTICLE V SUCCESSORS
  21
SECTION 5.01.
When Company May Merge, Etc.
21
SECTION 5.02.
Successor Corporation Substituted.
21
ARTICLE VI DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
  21
SECTION 6.01.
Events of Default.
21
SECTION 6.02.
Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
23
SECTION 6.03.
Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.
25
SECTION 6.04.
Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
25
SECTION 6.05.
Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
26
SECTION 6.06.
Application of Money Collected.
26
SECTION 6.07.
Limitation on Suits.
26 
SECTION 6.08.
Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and Interest.
27
SECTION 6.09.
Restoration of Rights and Remedies.
27
SECTION 6.10.
Rights and Remedies Cumulative.
27
SECTION 6.11.
Delay or Omission Not Waiver.
27
SECTION 6.12.
Control by Holders.
28
SECTION 6.13.
Waiver of Past Defaults.
28
SECTION 6.14.
Undertaking for Costs.
28
ARTICLE VII TRUSTEE
  29
SECTION 7.01.
Duties of Trustee.
29
SECTION 7.02.
Rights of Trustee.
30
SECTION 7.03.
Individual Rights of Trustee.
31
SECTION 7.04.
Trustee's Disclaimer.
31
SECTION 7.05.
Notice of Defaults.
31
SECTION 7.06.
Reports by Trustee to Holders.
31
SECTION 7.07.
Compensation and Indemnity.
32
SECTION 7.08.
Replacement of Trustee.
32
SECTION 7.09.
Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
33
SECTION 7.10.
Eligibility; Disqualification.
33
SECTION 7.11.
Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
34
ARTICLE VIII SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
  34
SECTION 8.01.
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.
34
SECTION 8.02.
Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification.
35
SECTION 8.03.
Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series.
36
SECTION 8.04.
Covenant Defeasance.
37
SECTION 8.05.
Repayment to Company.
38
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
  38
SECTION 9.01.
Without Consent of Holders.
38
SECTION 9.02.
With Consent of Holders.
39
SECTION 9.03.
Limitations.
40
SECTION 9.04.
Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
40
SECTION 9.05.
Revocation and Effect of Consents.
41
SECTION 9.06.
Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
41
SECTION 9.07.
Trustee Protected.
41
SECTION 9.08.
Effect of Supplemental Indenture.
41
ARTICLE X MISCELLANEOUS
  42
SECTION 10.01.
Trust Indenture Act Controls.
42
SECTION 10.02.
Notices.
42
SECTION 10.03.
Communication by Holders with Other Holders.
43
SECTION 10.04.
Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
43 
SECTION 10.05.
Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
43
SECTION 10.06.
Record Date for Vote or Consent of Holders.
44
SECTION 10.07.
Rules by Trustee and Agents.
44
SECTION 10.08.
Legal Holidays.
44
SECTION 10.09.
No Recourse Against Others.
44
SECTION 10.10.
Counterparts.
44
SECTION 10.11.
Governing Laws and Submission to Jurisdiction.
45
SECTION 10.12.
No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
45
SECTION 10.13.
Successors.
45
SECTION 10.14.
Severability.
45
SECTION 10.15.
Table of Contents, Headings, Etc.
45
SECTION 10.16.
Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU.
46
SECTION 10.17.
Judgment Currency.
46
SECTION 10.18.
Compliance with Applicable Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Regulations.
47
ARTICLE XI SINKING FUNDS
  47
SECTION 11.01.
Applicability of Article.
47
SECTION 11.02.
Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
48
SECTION 11.03.
Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
48



Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture,
Dated as of [                                ], 20[  ]
 
Section 310(a)(1)
7.10
(a)(2)
7.10
(a)(3)
Not Applicable
(a)(4)
Not Applicable
(a)(5)
7.10
(b)
7.10
(c)
Not Applicable
Section 311(a)
7.11
(b)
7.11
(c)
Not Applicable
Section 312(a)
2.06
(b)
10.03
(c)
10.03
Section 313(a)
7.06
(b)(1)
7.06
(b)(2)
7.06
(c)(1)
7.06
(d)
7.06
Section 314(a)
4.02, 10.05
(b)
Not Applicable
(c)(1)
10.04
(c)(2)
10.04
(c)(3)
Not Applicable
(d)
Not Applicable
(e)
10.05
(f)
Not Applicable
Section 315(a)
7.01
(b)
7.05
(c)
7.01
(d)
7.01
(e)
6.14
Section 316(a)(1)(A)
6.12
(a)(1)(B)
6.13
(a)(2)
Not Applicable
(b)
6.13
(c)
10.06
Section 317(a)(1)
6.03
(a)(2)
6.04
(b)
2.05
Section 318(a)
10.01
 
Note:  This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.



Indenture dated as of [                                                      ], 20[  ] between DRYSHIPS INC., a company organized under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (the "Company") and [] (the "Trustee").
 
Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
 
ARTICLE I
 
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
 
SECTION 1.01.   Definitions .
 
" Additional Amounts " means any additional amounts which are required hereby or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.
 
" Affiliate " of any specified person means any other person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified person.  For the purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used with respect to any person, shall mean the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such person, whether through the ownership of voting securities or by agreement or otherwise.
 
" Agent " means any Registrar or Paying Agent.
 
" Bankruptcy Law " means Title 11 of the United States Code (or any successor thereto) or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
 
" Board of Directors " means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee thereof.
 
" Board Resolution " means a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been adopted by the Board of Directors or pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of the certificate and delivered to the Trustee.
 
" Business Day " means any day other than a (x) Saturday, (y) Sunday or (z) day on which state or federally chartered banking institutions in New York, New York are not required to be open.
 
" Capital Stock " of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.
 

1


" Certificated Securities " means Securities in the form of physical, certificated Securities in registered form.
 
" Company " means the party named as such above until a successor replaces it in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor.
 
" Company Order " means a written order signed in the name of the Company by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
 
" Company Request " means a written request signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, a President or a Vice President, and by its Chief Financial Officer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
 
" Corporate Trust Office " means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered which office at the date of the execution of this Indenture is [   ], Attention: [   ], or at such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time.
 
" Custodian " means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
 
" Default " or "default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.
 
" Default Rate " means the default rate of interest specified in the Securities.
 
" Depository " means, with respect to the Securities of any Series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the person designated as Depository for such Series by the Company, which Depository shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; and if at any time there is more than one such person, "Depository" as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Depository with respect to the Securities of such Series.
 
" Discount Security " means any Security that provides for an amount less than the stated principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.
 
" Dollars " means the currency of The United States of America.
 
" ECU " means the European Currency Unit as determined by the Commission of the European Union.
 
" Exchange Act " means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
 
" Foreign Currency " means any currency or currency unit issued by a government other than the government of The United States of America.
 

2


" Foreign Government Obligations " means with respect to Securities of any Series that are denominated in a Foreign Currency, (i) direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued such currency for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of such government the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.
 
" Global Security " or " Global Securities " means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.02 evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depository for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depository or nominee.
 
" Holder " or " Securityholder " means a person in whose name a Security is registered.
 
" Indenture " means this Indenture as amended and supplemented from time to time and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
 
" Interest ," in respect of the Securities, unless the context otherwise requires, refers to interest payable on the Securities, including any additional interest that may become payable pursuant to Section 6.02(b).
 
" Maturity ," when used with respect to any Security or installment of principal thereof, means the date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise.
 
" Officer " means the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice-President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary of the Company.
 
" Officers' Certificate " means a certificate signed by two Officers, one of whom must be the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer.
 
" Opinion of Counsel " means a written opinion of legal counsel who is, and which opinion is, acceptable to the Trustee and its counsel.  Such legal counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or the Trustee.
 
" Person " means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, limited liability company, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.
 
" Principal " or " principal " of a Security means the principal of the Security plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, the Security.
 

3


" Responsible Officer " means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office and also means, any vice president, managing director, director, associate, assistant vice president, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with a particular subject.
 
" SEC " means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
 
" Security " or " Securities " means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company of any Series authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
 
" Series " or " Series of Securities " means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Sections 2.01 and 2.02 hereof.
 
" Stated Maturity " when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
 
" Subordinated Indebtedness " means any indebtedness which is expressly subordinated to the indebtedness evidenced by Securities.
 
" Subsidiary " means, in respect of any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, general partners or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person; (ii) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person; or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.
 
" TIA " means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S. Code Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "TIA" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act as so amended.
 
" Trustee " means the person named as the "Trustee" in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Trustee" shall mean or include each person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such person, "Trustee" as used with respect to the Securities of any Series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that Series.
 
" U.S. Government Obligations " means securities which are (i) direct obligations of The United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of The United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by The United States of America, and which in the case of (i) and (ii)
 

4


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 U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the 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 U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt.
 
SECTION 1.02.    Other Definitions .
 
 
TERM
 
DEFINED IN SECTION
"Applicable Law"
10.18
"Event of Default"
6.01
"Instrument"
6.01
"Journal"
10.16
"Judgment Currency"
10.17
"Legal Holiday"
10.08
"mandatory sinking fund payment"
11.01
"Market Exchange Rate"
10.16
"New York Banking Day"
10.17
"optional sinking fund payment"
11.01
"Paying Agent"
2.04
"Registrar"
2.04
"Required Currency"
10.17
"successor person"
5.01
"Temporary Securities"
2.11
 
SECTION 1.03.   Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act .
 
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.  This Indenture shall also include those provisions of the TIA required to be included herein by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990.  The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
 
" indenture securities " means the Securities.
 
" indenture security holder " means a Securityholder.
 
" indenture to be qualified " means this Indenture.
 
" indenture trustee " or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee.
 
" obligor " on the indenture securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
 

5


All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule under the TIA and not otherwise defined herein are used herein as so defined.
 
SECTION 1.04.   Rules of Construction .
 
Unless the context otherwise requires:
 
(a)           a term has the meaning assigned to it;
 
(b)           an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
(c)           references to "generally accepted accounting principles" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in effect as of the time when and for the period as to which such accounting principles are to be applied;
 
(d)           "or" is not exclusive;
 
(e)           words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
 
(f)           provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
 
(g)           references to agreements and other instruments include subsequent amendments thereto;
 
(h)           the term "merger" includes a statutory share exchange, and the term "merged" has a correlative meaning; and
 
(i)           "herein," "hereof" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
 
ARTICLE II
 
THE SECURITIES
 
SECTION 2.01.   Issuable in Series .
 
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.  The Securities may be issued in one or more Series.  All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to the authority granted under a Board Resolution.  In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined.  Securities may
 

6


differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
 
SECTION 2.02.   Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities .
 
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Subsection (a), and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Subsections (b) through (t) by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution:
 
(a)           the title, designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations of the Securities of the Series;
 
(b)           the price or prices, (expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which the Securities of the Series will be issued;
 
(c)           the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
 
(d)           the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
 
(e)           any optional or mandatory sinking fund provisions or conversion or exchangeability provisions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed, purchased, converted or exchanged;
 
(f)           the date, if any, after which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series may be optionally redeemed or must be mandatorily redeemed and any other terms and provisions of optional or mandatory provisions;
 
(g)           if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
 
(h)           if other than the full principal amount, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration pursuant to Section 6.02 or provable in bankruptcy;
 
(i)           any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the Series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 6.02;
 

7


(j)           the currency or currencies, including composite currencies, in which payments of principal of, premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, if other than the currency of the United States of America;
 
(k)           if payments of principal of, premium or interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, at the Company's election or at the election of any Holder, in a currency other than that in which the Securities of the Series are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made;
 
(l)           if payments of interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series will be payable, at the Company's election or at the election of any Holder, in cash or additional securities, and the terms and conditions upon which the election may be made;
 
(m)           if denominated in a currency or currencies other than the currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price of the Securities of the Series in the currency of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of Holders of the Securities of the Series;
 
(n)           if the amount of payments of principal, premium or interest may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities of the Series are stated to be payable, the manner in which the amounts will be determined;
 
(o)           any restrictive covenants or other material terms relating to the Securities of the Series;
 
(p)           whether the Securities of the Series will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates in registered form;
 
(q)           any terms with respect to subordination;
 
(r)           any listing on any securities exchange or quotation system;
 
(s)           additional provisions, if any, related to defeasance and discharge of the offered debt securities; and
 
(t)           the applicability of any guarantees, which would be governed by New York law.
 
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officers' Certificate referred to above, and the authorized principal amount of any Series may not be increased to provide for issuance of additional Securities of such Series, unless otherwise provided in such Board Resolution, supplemental Indenture or Officers' Certificate.
 

8


SECTION 2.03.   Execution and Authentication .
 
Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
 
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
 
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.  The signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
 
The Trustee shall at any time, and from time to time, authenticate Securities for original issue in the principal amount provided in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate, upon receipt by the Trustee of a Company Order.  Such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.  Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication unless otherwise provided by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate.
 
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02, except as provided in Section 2.08.
 
Prior to the issuance of Securities of any Series, the Trustee shall have received and (subject to Section 7.02) shall be fully protected in relying on: (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers' Certificate complying with Section 10.04, and (c) an Opinion of Counsel complying with Section 10.04.
 
The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver any Securities of such Series: (a) if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken; or (b) if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee in good faith shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee to personal liability to Holders of any then outstanding Series of Securities.
 
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities.  An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so.  Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent.  An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with the Company or an Affiliate.
 
If any successor that has replaced the Company in accordance with Article 5 has executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01, any of the Securities authenticated or delivered prior to such transaction may, from time to time, at the request of such successor, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the such
 

9


successor with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise identical to the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order of such successor, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange.  If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of such successor pursuant to this provision of Section 2.03 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such successor, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities then outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name.
 
SECTION 2.04.   Registrar and Paying Agent .
 
The Company shall maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, at the place or places specified with respect to such Series pursuant to Section 2.02, an office or agency where Securities of such Series may be presented or surrendered for payment ("Paying Agent") and where Securities of such Series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange ("Registrar").  The Registrar shall keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and to their transfer and exchange.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the name and address, and any change in the name or address, of each Registrar and Paying Agent.  If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Registrar or Paying Agent or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the name and address thereof, such presentations and surrenders may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations and surrenders.
 
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more co-registrars or additional paying agents and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent in each place so specified pursuant to Section 2.02 for Securities of any Series for such purposes.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the name or address of any such co-registrar or additional paying agent.  The term "Registrar" includes any co-registrar; and the term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent.
 
The Company hereby appoints [                                                                ] as the initial Registrar and Paying Agent for each Series unless another Registrar or Paying Agent as the case may be, is appointed prior to the time Securities of that Series are first issued.  Each Registrar and Paying Agent shall be entitled to all of the rights, protections, exculpations and indemnities afforded to the Trustee in connection with its roles as Registrar and Paying Agent.
 
SECTION 2.05.   Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust .
 
The Company shall require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment.  While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  The Company at any time may require
 

10


a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee.  Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) shall have no further liability for the money.  If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Securityholders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent.
 
SECTION 2.06.   Securityholder Lists .
 
The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with TIA Section 312(a).  If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least [  ] days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Securityholders of each Series of Securities.
 
SECTION 2.07.   Transfer and Exchange .
 
Where Securities of a Series are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer or to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of the same Series, the Registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange if its requirements for such transactions are met.  To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar's request.  Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge, except that the Company or the Registrar may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge required by law; provided that this sentence shall not apply to any exchange pursuant to Section 2.11, 2.08, 3.06 or 9.06.
 
Neither the Company nor the Registrar shall be required (a) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any Series for the period beginning at the opening of business [  ] days immediately preceding the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that Series selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (b) to register the transfer of or exchange Securities of any Series selected, called or being called for redemption as a whole or the portion being redeemed of any such Securities selected, called or being called for redemption in part.
 
All Securities issued upon any 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 transfer or exchange.  Any Registrar appointed pursuant to Section 2.04 shall provide to the Trustee such information as the Trustee may reasonably require in connection with the delivery by such Registrar of Securities upon transfer or exchange of Securities.  Each Holder of a Security agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holder's Security in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable U.S. federal or state securities law.


11


SECTION 2.07.   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .
 
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
 
If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Registrar (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 Registrar that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same Series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.
 
In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.
 
Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
 
Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that Series duly issued hereunder.
 
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.
 
SECTION 2.09.   Outstanding Securities .
 
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest on a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof and those described in this Section as not outstanding.
 
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.08, it ceases to be outstanding until the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.
 
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company, a Subsidiary or an Affiliate of any thereof) holds on the Maturity of Securities of a Series money sufficient to pay such Securities
 

12


payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities of the Series cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.
 
A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate holds the Security.
 
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of a Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.02.
 
SECTION 2.10.   Treasury Securities .
 
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities of a Series have concurred in any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver Securities of a Series owned by the Company or an Affiliate shall be disregarded, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver only Securities of a Series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
 
SECTION 2.11.   Temporary Securities .
 
Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary securities upon a Company Order ("Temporary Securities").  Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities.  Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee upon written request shall authenticate definitive Securities of the same Series and date of maturity in exchange for temporary Securities.  Until so exchanged, temporary securities shall have the same rights under this Indenture as the definitive Securities.
 
SECTION 2.12.   Cancellation .
 
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation.  The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee or its agent any Securities surrendered to them for transfer, exchange, payment or conversion.  The Trustee and no one else shall cancel, in accordance with its standard procedures, all Securities surrendered for transfer, exchange, payment, conversion or cancellation and shall deliver the cancelled Securities to the Company.  No Security shall be authenticated in exchange for any Security cancelled pursuant to this Section 2.12.
 
The Company may, to the extent permitted by law, purchase Securities in the open market or by tender offer at any price or by private agreement.  Any Securities purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries prior to the final maturity of such Securities may, to the extent permitted by law, be reissued or resold or may, at the option of the Company, be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.  Any Securities surrendered for
 

13


cancellation may not be reissued or resold and shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee, and the Company may not hold or resell such Securities or issue any new Securities to replace any such Securities.
 
SECTION 2.13.   Defaulted Interest .
 
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on a Series of Securities, it shall pay defaulted interest, plus, to the extent permitted by law, any interest payable on the defaulted interest at the Default Rate, to the persons who are Security holders of the Series on a subsequent special record date.  The Company shall fix the record date and payment date.  At least [  ] days before the record date, the Company shall mail to the Trustee and the Paying Agent and to each Securityholder of the Series a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount of interest to be paid.  The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner.
 
SECTION 2.14.   Global Securities .
 
(a)           A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depository for such Global Security or Securities.
 
(b)            (i)           Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in Section 2.07 of the Indenture and in addition thereto, any Global Security shall be exchangeable pursuant to Section 2.07 of the Indenture for Securities registered in the names of Holders other than the Depository for such Security or its nominee only if (A) such Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and, in either case, the Company fails to appoint a successor Depository within 90 days of such event, (B) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (C) an Event of Default with respect to the Securities represented by such Global Security shall have happened and be continuing.
 
(ii)           Except as provided in this Section 2.14(b), a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository with respect to such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository, by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository.
 
(iii)           Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be issued in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons, shall have an aggregate principal amount equal to that of such Global Security or portion thereof to be so exchanged, shall be registered in such names and be in such authorized denominations as the Depository shall designate and shall bear the applicable legends provided for herein.  Any Global Security to be exchanged in whole shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee, as Registrar.  With regard to any Global Security to be exchanged in part, either such Global Security shall be so surrendered for exchange or, if
 

14


the Registrar is acting as custodian for the Depository or its nominee with respect to such Global Security, the principal amount thereof shall be reduced by an amount equal to the portion thereof to be so exchanged, by means of an appropriate adjustment made on the records of the Trustee.  Upon any such surrender or adjustment, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Security issuable on such exchange to or upon the order of the Depository or an authorized representative thereof.
 
(iv)           The registered Holder may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including participants in the Depository and persons that may hold interests through participants in the Depository, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.
 
(v)           In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in 2.14(b)(i), the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of Certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form, without interest coupons.  If (A) an event described in Section 2.14(b)(i)(A) or (B) occurs and definitive Certificated Securities are not issued promptly to all beneficial owners or (B) the Registrar receives from a beneficial owner instructions to obtain definitive Certificated Securities due to an event described in Section 2.14(b)(i)(C) and definitive Certificated Securities are not issued promptly to any such beneficial owner, the Company expressly acknowledges, with respect to the right of any Holder to pursue a remedy pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, the right of any beneficial owner of Securities to pursue such remedy with respect to the portion of the Global Security that represents such beneficial owner's Securities as if such definitive certificated Securities had been issued.
 
(vi)           Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Indenture, so long as a Global Security remains outstanding and is held by or on behalf of the Depository, transfers of a Global Security, in whole or in part, or of any beneficial interest therein, shall only be made in accordance with Section 2.07, this Section 2.14(b) and the rules and procedures of the Depository for such Global Security to the extent applicable to such transaction and as in effect from time to time.
 
(c)           Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:
 
"This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository.  This Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture, and may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository, by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such a successor Depository."
 
(d)           The Depository, as a Holder, may appoint agents and otherwise authorize participants to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture.
 

15


(e)           Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Indenture, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02, payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on any Global Security shall be made to the Holder thereof at their registered office.
 
(f)           At all times the Securities are held in book-entry form with a Depository, (i) the Trustee may deal with such Depository as the authorized representative of the Holders, (ii) the rights of the Holders shall be exercised only through the Depository and shall be limited to those established by law and agreement between the Holders and the Depository and/or direct participants of the Depository, (iii) the Depository will make book-entry transfers among the direct participants of the Depository and will receive and transmit distributions of principal and interest on the Securities to such direct participants; and (iv) the direct participants of the Depository shall have no rights under this Indenture, or any supplement hereto, under or with respect to any of the Securities held on their behalf by the Depository, and the Depository may be treated by the Trustee and its agents, employees, officers and directors as the absolute owner of the Securities for all purposes whatsoever.
 
SECTION 2.15.   CUSIP Numbers .
 
The Company in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP", "CCN", "ISIN" or other identification numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP", "CCN", "ISIN" or such other identification numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other elements of identification printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.
 
ARTICLE III
 
REDEMPTION
 
SECTION 3.01.    Notice to Trustee .
 
The Company may, with respect to any series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities.  If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it shall notify the Trustee and Registrar in writing of the redemption date and the principal amount of Series of Securities to be redeemed.  The Company shall give the notice at least [  ] days before the redemption date (or such shorter notice as may be acceptable to the Trustee and Registrar).
 
SECTION 3.02.   Selection of Securities to be Redeemed .
 
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture or an Officers' Certificate, if less than all the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the Registrar shall select the Securities of the Series to be redeemed in accordance
 

16


with its customary procedures.  The Registrar shall make the selection from Securities of the Series outstanding not previously called for redemption.  The Registrar may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities of the Series that have denominations larger than $1,000.  Securities of the Series and portions of them it selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or whole multiples of $1,000 or, with respect to Securities of any Series issuable in other denominations pursuant to Section 2.02(g), the minimum principal denomination for each Series and integral multiples thereof.  Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities of a Series called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities of that Series called for redemption.
 
SECTION 3.03.   Notice of Redemption .
 
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate, at least [  ] days but not more than [  ] days before a redemption date, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed.
 
The notice shall identify the Securities of the Series to be redeemed and shall state:
 
(a)           the redemption date;
 
(b)           the redemption price;
 
(c)           the name and address of the Paying Agent;
 
(d)           that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
 
(e)           that interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date; and
 
(f)           any other information as may be required by the terms of the particular Series or the Securities of a Series being redeemed.
 
At the Company's written request, the Trustee shall distribute the notice of redemption prepared by the Company in the Company's name and at its expense.
 
SECTION 3.04.   Effect of Notice of Redemption .
 
Once notice of redemption is mailed or published as provided in Section 3.03, Securities of a Series called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price.  A notice of redemption may not be conditional.  Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price plus accrued interest to the redemption date.
 

17


SECTION 3.05.   Deposit of Redemption Price .
 
On or before the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest, if any, on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.
 
SECTION 3.06.   Securities Redeemed in Part .
 
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder a new Security of the same Series and the same maturity equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.
 

ARTICLE IV
 
COVENANTS
 
SECTION 4.01.   Payment of Principal and Interest .
 
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of that Series in accordance with the terms of such Securities and this Indenture.

Unless otherwise provided under the terms of a particular Series of Securities:

(a)           an installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Paying Agent (other than the Company) holds by [] [a].m., New York City time, on that date money, deposited by the Company or an Affiliate thereof, sufficient to pay such installment.  The Company shall (in immediately available funds), to the fullest extent permitted by law, pay interest on overdue principal and overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities per annum; and
 
(b)           payment of the principal of and interest on the Securities shall be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in [] (which shall initially be [], the Paying Agent) in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however , that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address appears in the register; provided, further , that a Holder with an aggregate principal amount in excess of $[] will be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds at the election of such Holder if such Holder has provided wire transfer instructions to the Company at least [  ] Business Days prior to the payment date.
 
SECTION 4.02.   SEC Reports .
 
So long as any Securities are outstanding, the Company shall (i) file with the SEC within the time periods prescribed by its rules and regulations and (ii) furnish to the Trustee and
 

18


the Holders of the Securities within [  ] days after the date on which the Company would be required to file the same with the SEC pursuant to its rules and regulations (giving effect to any grace period provided by Rule 12b-25 under the Exchange Act), all quarterly and annual financial information required to be furnished or filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 and Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and, with respect to the annual consolidated financial statements only, a report thereon by the Company's independent auditors.  The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).
 
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).  The Company shall not be required to file any report or other information with the SEC if the SEC does not permit such filing, although such reports shall be furnished to the Trustee.  Documents filed by the Company with the SEC via the SEC's EDGAR system (or any successor thereto) will be deemed furnished to the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities as of the time such documents are filed via EDGAR (or such successor).
 
SECTION 4.03.   Compliance Certificate .
 
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within [   ] days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company, an officers certificate signed by two of the Company's officers stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officers with a view to determining whether the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to each such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his knowledge the Company has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions hereof (or, if a Default or Event of Default shall have occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he may have knowledge in reasonable detail and the efforts to remedy the same).  For purposes of this Section 4.03, compliance shall be determined without regard to any grace period or requirement of notice provided pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
 
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within [  ] days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers' Certificate of any Event of Default described in Section 6.01(e), (f), (g) or (h) and any event of which it becomes aware that with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become such an Event of Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.  For the avoidance of doubt, a breach of a covenant under an Instrument that is not a payment default and that has not given rise to a right of acceleration under such Instrument shall not trigger the requirement to provide notice under this paragraph.
 

19


SECTION 4.04.   Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
 
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture or the Securities; and the Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
 
SECTION 4.05.    Corporate Existence .
 
Subject to Article V, 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 corporate, partnership or other existence of each Subsidiary in accordance with the respective organizational documents of each Subsidiary and the rights (charter and statutory), licenses and franchises of the Company and its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right, license or franchise, or the corporate, partnership or other existence of any Subsidiary, if the Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole and that the loss thereof is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders.
 
SECTION 4.06.   Taxes .
 
The Company shall, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to, pay prior to delinquency all taxes, assessments and governmental levies, except as contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings.
 
SECTION 4.07.   Additional Interest Notice .
 
In the event that the Company is required to pay additional interest to Holders of Securities pursuant to Section 6.02(b) hereof, the Company shall provide a direction or order in the form of a written notice to the Trustee (and if the Trustee is not the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent) of the Company's obligation to pay such additional interest no later than [   ] Business Days prior to date on which any such additional interest is scheduled to be paid.  Such notice shall set forth the amount of additional interest to be paid by the Company on such payment date and direct the Trustee (or, if the Trustee is not the Paying Agent, the Paying Agent) to make payment to the extent it receives funds from the Company to do so.  The Trustee shall not at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder to determine whether additional interest is payable, or with respect to the nature, extent, or calculation of the amount of additional interest owed, or with respect to the method employed in such calculation of additional interest.
 
SECTION 4.08.   Further Instruments and Acts .
 
The Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purposes of this Indenture.
 

20


ARTICLE V
 
SUCCESSORS
 
SECTION 5.01.   When Company May Merge, Etc .
 
The Company shall not consolidate with, enter into a binding share exchange, or merge into any other Person in a transaction in which it is not the surviving entity, or sell, assign, convey, transfer or lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any Person (a "successor person"), unless:
 
(a)           the successor person (if any) is a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity organized and validly existing under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, [], the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and expressly assumes by a supplemental indenture executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and any interest on, all Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
 
(b)           immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no Default or Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and
 
(c)           the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee, prior to the consummation of the proposed transaction, an Officers' Certificate to the foregoing effect and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with this Indenture.
 
SECTION 5.02.   Successor Corporation Substituted .
 
Upon any consolidation or merger, or any sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with Section 5.01, the successor person formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which such sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor person has been named as the Company herein; provided, however, that the predecessor company in the case of a sale, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities.
 
ARTICLE VI
 
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES
 
SECTION 6.01.   Events of Default .
 
"Event of Default," wherever used herein with respect to securities of any Series, means any one of the following events, unless in the establishing Board Resolution,
 

21


supplemental indenture or Officers' Certificate, it is provided that such Series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
 
(a)           default in the payment of any interest on any Security of that Series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (unless the entire amount of such payment is deposited by the Company with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent prior to the expiration of such period of 30 days); or
 
(b)           default in the payment of any principal of any Security of that Series at its Maturity; or
 
(c)           default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due in respect of any Security of that Series; or
 
(d)           the Company fails to perform or comply with any of its other covenants or agreements contained in the Securities or in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement a default in whose performance or whose breach is specifically dealt with in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 6.01) and the default continues for 60 days after notice is given as specified below;
 
(e)           any indebtedness under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by, or any other payment obligation of, the Company or any Subsidiary (an "Instrument") with a principal amount then, individually or in the aggregate, outstanding in excess of $[], whether such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, is not paid at Maturity or when otherwise due or is accelerated, and such indebtedness is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within a period of 30 days after there shall have 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 [  ]% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series a written notice specifying such default and requiring the Company to cause such indebtedness to be discharged or cause such default to be cured or waived or such acceleration to be rescinded or annulled and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder.  A payment obligation (other than indebtedness under any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary or under any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued or by which there may be secured or evidenced any indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or any Subsidiary) shall not be deemed to have matured, come due, or been accelerated to the extent that it is being disputed by the relevant obligor or obligors in good faith.  For the avoidance of doubt, the Maturity of an Instrument is the Maturity as set forth in that Instrument, as it may be amended from time to time in accordance with the terms of that Instrument;
 
(f)           the Company or any Subsidiary fails to pay one or more final and non-appealable judgments entered by a court or courts of competent jurisdiction, the aggregate uninsured or unbonded portion of which is in excess of $[], if the judgments are not paid, discharged, waived or stayed within [  ] days;
 

22


(g)           the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
 
(i)           commences a voluntary case or proceeding;
 
(ii)           consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case or proceeding;
 
(iii)           consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property; or
 
(iv)           makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
 
(v)           or generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due; or
 
(h)           a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
 
(i)           is for relief against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in an involuntary case or proceeding;
 
(ii)           appoints a Custodian of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or any such Subsidiary; or
 
(iii)           orders the liquidation of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries;
 
and the case of each of clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for [  ] consecutive days; or
 
(i)           any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.02(i).
 
A default under clause (d) above is not an Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at least [  ]% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding notify the Company and the Trustee, in writing of the default, and the Company does not cure the default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.  The notice given pursuant to this Section 6.01 must specify the default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a "Notice of Default."  When any default under this Section 6.01 is cured, it ceases.
 
The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event of Default unless written notice thereof shall have been given to a Trust Officer at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee by the Company, a Paying Agent, any Holder or any agent of any Holder.
 
SECTION 6.02.   Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .
 
(a)           If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01) occurs and is continuing with respect to any Securities of any Series,
 

23


then in every such case, the Trustee may, by notice to the Company, or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that Series (or, if any Securities of that Series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) then outstanding may, by notice to the Company and the Trustee, declare all unpaid principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on to the date of acceleration, the Securities of that Series then outstanding (if not then due and payable) to be due and payable upon any such declaration, and the same shall become and be immediately due and payable.  If an Event of Default specified in clause (g) or (h) of Section 6.01 occurs, all unpaid principal of the Securities then outstanding, and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of acceleration, shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that Series then outstanding by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration of such Securities of that Series and its consequences if (a) all existing Events of Default, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Securities which has become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived; (b) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest (calculated at the Default Rate) on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal, which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid; (c) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction; and (d) all payments due to the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 7.07 have been made.  No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereto.
 
(b)           Notwithstanding any of provision of this Article 6, at the election of the Company in its sole discretion, the sole remedy under this Indenture for an Event of Default relating to the failure to comply with Section 4.02, and for any failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the TIA, will consist, for the 180 days after the occurrence of such an Event of Default, exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Securities at a rate equal to 0.50% per annum of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding up to, but not including, the 181st day thereafter (or, if applicable, the earlier date on which the Event of Default relating to Section 4.02 is cured or waived).  Any such additional interest will be payable in the same manner and on the same dates as the stated interest payable on the Securities.  In no event shall additional interest accrue under the terms of this Indenture at a rate in excess of 0.50% per annum, in the aggregate, for any violation or default caused by the failure of the Company to be current in respect of its Exchange Act reporting obligations.  If the Event of Default is continuing on the 181st day after an Event of Default relating to a failure to comply with Section 4.02, the Securities will be subject to acceleration as provided in this Section 6.02.  The provisions of this Section 6.02(b) will not affect the rights of Holders in the event of the occurrence of any other Events of Default.
 
In order to elect to pay additional interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of an Event of Default relating to the failure to comply with Section 4.02 in accordance with the immediately preceding paragraph, the Company shall notify all Holders and the Trustee and Paying Agent of such election on or before the close of business on the fifth Business Day after the date on which such Event of Default otherwise would occur.  Upon a failure by the Company to timely give such notice or pay additional interest, the Securities will be immediately subject to acceleration as otherwise provided in this Section 6.02.
 

24


SECTION 6.03.   Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee .
 
If an Event of Default with respect to any Securities of any Series 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 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.
 
If an Event of Default in the payment of principal, interest, if any, specified in clause (a) or (b) of Section 6.01 occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company or another obligor on the Securities for the whole amount of principal, and accrued interest remaining unpaid, if any, together with, to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue principal, on overdue installments of interest, if any, in each case at the Default Rate, and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
 
SECTION 6.04.   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 or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,
 
(a)           to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal and interest 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 7.07.
 

25


Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
 
SECTION 6.05.   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.
 
SECTION 6.06.   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 interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid: and
 
First : To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07;
 
Second : To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and interest 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 interest, respectively; and
 
Third : To the Company.
 
SECTION 6.07.   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 for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder (except actions for payment of overdue principal and interest), 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 [  ]% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series 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 indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
 

26


(d)           the Trustee for [  ] 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 [  ]-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series; 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 of such Holders, 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 such Holders.
 
SECTION 6.08.   Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal 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 of the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities 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.
 
SECTION 6.09.    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 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.
 
SECTION 6.10.   Rights and Remedies Cumulative .
 
Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in Section 2.08, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders 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.
 
SECTION 6.11.   Delay or Omission Not Waiver .
 
No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities 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
 

27


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.
 
SECTION 6.12.   Control by Holders .
 
The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any 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, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that
 
(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)           subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability or would be unduly prejudicial to the rights of another Holder or the Trustee.
 
SECTION 6.13.   Waiver of Past Defaults .
 
Subject to Section 9.02, 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 hereunder with respect to such Series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any Security of such Series (provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration).  Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
 
SECTION 6.14.   Undertaking for Costs .
 
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than [  ]% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of any Series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the
 

28


payment of the principal of or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the redemption date).
 
ARTICLE VII
 
TRUSTEE
 
SECTION 7.01.   Duties of Trustee .
 
(a)           If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.
 
(b)           Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
 
(i)           The Trustee  need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied duties, covenants or obligations shall be deemed to be imposed upon the Trustee.
 
(ii)           in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers' Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; however, in the case of any such Officers' Certificates or Opinions of Counsel which by any provisions hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall examine such Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform on their face to the requirements of this Indenture.
 
(c)           The Trustee may not be relieved from liability for its own its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act or willful misconduct, except that:
 
(i)           This paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of Section 7.01 herein.
 
(ii)           The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer.
 
(iii)           The Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it with respect to Securities of any Series in good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such Series.
 
(d)           Every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraph (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.
 
29

(e)           The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right or power unless it receives an indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
 
(f)           The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.  Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
 
(g)           No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to risk or expend its own funds or otherwise incur liability, financial or otherwise, in the performance of any of its duties, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
 
(h)           The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the same rights, indemnities, protections and immunities afforded to the Trustee.
 
(i)           The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor the performance or compliance of the Company with its obligations hereunder or any under supplement hereto, nor shall it have any liability in connection with the malfeasance or nonfeasance by the Company.  The Trustee shall have no liability in connection with compliance by the Company with statutory or regulatory requirements related to this Indenture, any supplement or any Securities issued pursuant hereto or thereto.
 
SECTION 7.02.   Rights of Trustee .
 
(a)           The Trustee may conclusively rely on and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting as a result of its reasonable belief that any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, direction, approval or other paper or document was genuine and had been signed or presented by the proper person.  The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it sees fit.
 
(b)           Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both.  The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.
 
(c)           The Trustee may act through agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of, or for the supervision of, any agent appointed with due care.  No Depository shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depository.
 
(d)           The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.
(e)           The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection
30

in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
 
(f)           The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by or pursuant to this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of Securities, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
 
SECTION 7.03.    Individual Rights of Trustee .
 
The Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or an Affiliate with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  Any Agent may do the same with like rights.  The Trustee is also subject to Sections 7.10 and 7.11.
 
SECTION 7.04.    Trustee's Disclaimer .
 
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities and the recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as statements of the Company and not of the Trustee, and the Trustee has no responsibility for such recitals. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the Company's use or application of the proceeds from the Securities or for monies paid over to the Company pursuant to this Indenture, and it shall not be responsible for any statement in the Securities other than its authentication.
 
SECTION 7.05.   Notice of Defaults .
 
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge or receives written notice of such event, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Securities of that Series, notice of a Default or Event of Default within [  ] days after it occurs or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge of such Default or Event of Default.  Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security of any Series, including any additional interest that may become payable pursuant to Section 6.02(b), the Trustee may withhold the notice so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders of that Series.
 
SECTION 7.06.    Reports by Trustee to Holders .
 
Within [  ] days after [                                                      ] in each year, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear on the register kept by the Registrar, a brief report dated as of such [], in accordance with, and to the extent required under, TIA Section 313.
 
A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders of any Series shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange on which the Securities of that Series are listed.  The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee when Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
 

31

 
SECTION 7.07.   Compensation and Indemnity .
 
The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation for its services as shall be agreed upon in writing.  The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust.  The Company shall reimburse the Trustee upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred by it.  Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses of the Trustee's agents, counsel and other persons not regularly in its employ.
 
The Company shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless the Trustee and its officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents, from and against and reimburse the Trustee for any and all claims, expenses, obligations, liabilities, losses, damages, injuries (to person, property, or natural resources), penalties, stamp or other similar taxes, actions, suits, judgments, reasonable costs and expenses (including reasonable attorney's and agent's fees and expenses) of whatever kind or nature regardless of their merit, demanded, asserted or claimed against the Trustee directly or indirectly relating to, or arising from, claims against the Trustee by reason of its participation in the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation all reasonable costs required to be associated with claims for damages to persons or property, and reasonable attorneys' and consultants' fees and expenses and court costs except to the extent caused by the Trustee's negligence or willful misconduct.  The provisions of this Section 7.07 shall survive the termination of this Agreement or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee.  The Company shall defend any claim and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense.  The Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel.  The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.  This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
 
The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss liability incurred by the Trustee or by any officer, director, employee, shareholder or agent of the Trustee through negligence or bad faith.
 
To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal and interest on particular Securities of that Series.
 
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(f) or (g) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
 
SECTION 7.08.   Replacement of Trustee .
 
A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee's acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section.
 
         The Trustee may resign with respect to the Securities of one or more Series by so notifying the Company.  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any
32


Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company.  The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
 
(a)           the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;
 
(b)           the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
 
(c)           a Custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
 
(d)           the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
 
If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.  Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
 
If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within [  ] days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or the Holders of at least [  ]% in principal amount of the Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
 
A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company.  Immediately after that, the retiring Trustee shall transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07, and subject to the payment of any and all amounts then due and owing to the retiring Trustee, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee with respect to each Series of Securities for which it is acting as Trustee under this Indenture.  A successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to each Securityholder of each such Series.  Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring trustee with respect to expenses and liabilities incurred by it prior to such replacement.
 
SECTION 7.09.   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc .
 
If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee with the same effect as if the successor Trustee had been named as the Trustee herein.
 
SECTION 7.10.   Eligibility; Disqualification .
 
         This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA Section 310(a)(1), (2) and (5).  The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of
33


at least $25,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.  The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b).
 
SECTION 7.11.   Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .
 
The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b).  A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TTA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.
 

ARTICLE VIII
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
 
SECTION 8.01.   Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .
 
This Indenture shall upon Company Order cease to be of further effect (except as hereinafter provided in this Section 8.01), and the Trustee, on the demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
 
(a)           either
 
(i)           all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
 
(ii)           all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, or
 
(1)           have become due and payable, or
 
(2)           will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within [], or
 
(3)           are to be called for redemption within [                                                                ] under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, or
 
(4)           are deemed paid and discharged pursuant to section 8.03, as applicable; and the Company, in the case of (1), (2) or (3) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust an amount sufficient for the purpose of paying and discharging the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable on or prior to the date of such deposit) or to the Stated Maturity or redemption date, as the case may be;

34

 
(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 meeting the applicable requirements of Sections 10.04 and 10.05 and each stating that all conditions precedent herein relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with and the Trustee receives written demand from the Company to discharge.
 
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 7.07, and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to clause (a) of this Section, the provisions of Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.08, 8.01 8.02 and 8.05 shall survive.
 
SECTION 8.02.   Application of Trust Funds; Indemnification .
 
(a)           Subject to the provisions of Section 8.05, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.01, all money and U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 8.03 or 8.04, shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the persons entitled thereto, of the principal and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee or to make mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments as contemplated by Sections 8.03 or 8.04.
 
(b)           The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee and the Agents against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Sections 8.03 or 8.04 or the interest and principal received in respect of such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of Holders.
 
(c)           The Trustee shall, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture, deliver or pay to the Company from time to time, upon Company Request and at the expense of the Company any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money held by it pursuant to this Indenture as provided in Sections 8.03 or 8.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants, expressed in a written certification thereof and delivered to the Trustee together with such Company Request, are then in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be deposited for the purpose for which such U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations or money were deposited or received.  This provision shall not authorize the sale by the Trustee of any U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held under this Indenture.
 

35


SECTION 8.03.   Legal Defeasance of Securities of any Series .
 
Unless this Section 8.03 is otherwise specified, pursuant to Section 2.02(s), to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the outstanding Securities of such Series on the [   ] day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (d) hereof, and the provisions of this Indenture, as it relates to such outstanding Securities of such Series, shall no longer be in effect (and the Trustee, at the expense of the company, shall, at Company Request, execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except as to:
 
(a)           the rights of Holders of Securities of such Series to receive, from the trust funds described in subparagraph (d) hereof, (i) payment of the principal of and each installment of principal of and interest on the outstanding Securities of such Series on the Stated Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) the benefit of any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to the Securities of such Series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and the Securities of such Series;
 
(b)           the provisions of Sections 2.04, 2.07, 2.08, 2.14, 8.02, 8.03 and 8.05; and
 
(c)           the rights, powers, trust and immunities of the Trustee hereunder; provided that, the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
 
(d)           the Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Paying Agent 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 in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Paying Agent), not later than [   ] day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee and the Paying Agent, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund or analogous payments) of and interest, if any, on all the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
 
(e)           such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
 
(f)           no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the [    ] day after such date;
 
(g)           the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (i) the Company has received from, or there has
 

36


been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and discharge had not occurred;
 
(h)           the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company;
 
(i)           such deposit shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company (as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended), or such trust shall be qualified under such Act or exempt from regulation thereunder; and
 
(j)           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 the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
 
SECTION 8.04.   Covenant Defeasance .
 
Unless this Section 8.04 is otherwise specified pursuant to Section 2.02(s) to be inapplicable to Securities of any Series, on and after the [    ] day after the date of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a) hereof, the Company may omit to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth under Sections 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, and 5.01 as well as any additional covenants contained in a supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02(s) (and the failure to comply with any such covenants shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default under Section 6.01) and the occurrence of any event described in clause (e) of Section 6.01 shall not constitute a Default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Securities of such Series, provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied:
 
(a)           With reference to this Section 8.04, the Company has deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited (except as provided in Section 8.02(c)) with the Paying Agent as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities (i) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in Dollars, cash in Dollars (or such other money or currencies as shall then be legal tender in the United States) and/or U.S. Government Obligations, or (ii) in the case of Securities of such Series denominated in a Foreign Currency (other than a composite currency), money and/or Foreign Government Obligations, which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof, in accordance with their terms, will provide (and without reinvestment and assuming no tax liability will be imposed on such Paying Agent), not later than [   ] day before the due date of any payment of money, an amount in cash, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent certified public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered
 

37


to the Paying Agent, to pay principal and interest, if any, on and any mandatory sinking fund in respect of the Securities of such Series on the dates such installments of interest or principal are due;
 
(b)           Such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;
 
(c)           No Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit or during the period ending on the [    ] day after such date;
 
(d)           the company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel confirming that Holders of the Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred;
 
(e)           the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of such Series over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company; and
 
(f)           The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the defeasance contemplated by this Section have been complied with.
 
SECTION 8.05.   Repayment to Company .
 
The Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal and interest that remains unclaimed for two years.  After that, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors unless an applicable abandoned property law designates another person and all liability of the Paying Agent with respect to that money shall cease.
 

ARTICLE IX
 
AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS
 
SECTION 9.01.   Without Consent of Holders .
 
Subject to Section 9.02 and Section 9.03, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Securityholder:
 
(a)           to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
 
(b)           to comply with Article V;
 

38


(c)           to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities;
 
(d)           to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder;
 
(e)           to provide for the issuance of and establish the form and terms and conditions of Securities of any Series as permitted by this Indenture;
 
(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;
 
(g)           to comply with requirements of the TIA and any rules promulgated under the TIA; and
 
(h)           to add to the covenants of the Company for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right, power or option conferred upon the Company.
 
Any amendment or supplement made solely to conform the provisions of this Indenture or the Securities of any Series to the description thereof contained in the final prospectus relating to such Series will be deemed not to adversely affect the rights of any Holder.
 
SECTION 9.02.   With Consent of Holders .
 
Subject to Section 9.03, the Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all Series affected by such supplemental indenture, taken together as one class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series), for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Securityholders of each such Series.  Except as provided in Section 6.13, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of all Series affected by such waiver by notice to the Trustee, taken together as one class (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities of such Series) may waive compliance by the Company with any provision of this Indenture or the Securities with respect to such Series.
 
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof.  After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to the Holders of Securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the supplemental indenture or waiver.  Any failure by the Company to mail or publish such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.
 

39


Section 9.03.   Limitations .
 
Without the consent of each Securityholder affected, an amendment or waiver may not:
 
(a)           change the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver, except to increase any such amount or to provide that certain provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified, amended or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Security affected thereby;
 
(b)           reduce the amount of interest, or change the interest payment time, on any Security;
 
(c)           waive a redemption payment or alter the redemption provisions (other than any alteration that would not materially adversely affect the legal rights of any Holder under this Indenture) or the price at which the Company is required to offer to purchase the Securities;
 
(d)           reduce the principal or change the Stated Maturity of any Security or reduce the amount of, or postpone the date fixed for, the payment of any sinking fund or analogous obligation;
 
(e)           reduce the principal amount payable of any Security upon Maturity;
 
(f)           waive a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security (except a rescission of acceleration of the Securities of any Series by the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series and a waiver of the payment default that resulted from such acceleration);
 
(g)           change the place or currency of payment of principal of or interest, if any, on any Security other than that stated in the Security;
 
(h)           impair the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal or, or interest on, the Securities of such Holder on or after the due dates therefor;
 
(i)           impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on, or with respect to, any Security;
 
(j)           make any change in Sections 10.15 or 10.16;
 
(k)           change the ranking of the Securities; or
 
(l)           make any other change which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate as a limitation under this Section.
 
For the avoidance of doubt, any amendment or waiver shall always be subject to the consent of the Company.
 
SECTION 9.04.   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act .
 
Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series shall be set forth in a supplemental indenture hereto that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
 

40


SECTION 9.05.    Revocation and Effect of Consents .
 
Until an amendment or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security.  However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent as to his Security or portion of a Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective.
 
Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Securityholder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (a) through (g) of Section 9.03 in that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security.
 
SECTION 9.06.   Notation on or Exchange of Securities .
 
If an amendment, supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee and the Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security about the changed terms and return it to the Holder.  Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate upon request new Securities of that Series that reflect the changed terms.
 
SECTION 9.07.   Trustee Protected .
 
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 entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel or an Officer's Certificate, or both stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.  The Trustee shall sign all supplemental indentures, except that the Trustee need not sign any supplemental indenture that adversely affects its rights, duties or indemnities.
 
SECTION 9.08.   Effect of Supplemental Indenture .
 
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and each such supplemental indenture shall form part of this Indenture for all purposes with respect to the relevant Series; and every Holder of Securities of the relevant Series theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.
 

41


ARTICLE X

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 10.01.   Trust Indenture Act Controls .
 

If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with another provision which is required or deemed to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, such required or deemed provision shall control.
 
SECTION 10.02.   Notices .
 
Any notice or communication by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar to another is duly given if in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail:
 
if to the Company:
 
DRYSHIPS INC.
[                                ]
Attn: [                      ]
Fax: [                        ]
 
if to the Trustee:
 
[                                ]
Attn: [                      ]
Fax: [                        ]
 
if to the Registrar or Paying Agent:
 
[                                ]
Attn: [                      ]
Fax: [                        ]

with copy to:

[                                ]
Attn: [                      ]
Fax: [                        ]

The Company, the Trustee and each Agent by notice to each other may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
 
Any notice or communication to a Securityholder shall be mailed by first-class mail to his address shown on the register kept by the Registrar.  Failure to mail a notice or
 
 
42

communication to a Securityholder of any Series or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders of that or any other Series.

 
If a notice or communication is mailed or published in the manner provided above, within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the Securityholder receives it.
 
If the company mails a notice or communication to Securityholders, it will mail a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
 
Whenever a notice is required to be given by the Company, such notice may be given by the Trustee or Registrar on the Company's behalf (and the Company will make any notice it is required to give to Holders available on its website).
 
SECTION 10.03.    Communication by Holders with Other Holders .
 
Securityholders of any Series may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Securityholders of that Series or any other Series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that Series or all Series.  The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).
 
SECTION 10.04.   Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .
 
Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
 
(a)           an Officers' Certificate stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and
 
(b)           an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of counsel, all such conditions precedent (including any covenants, compliance with which constitutes a condition precedent) have been complied with.
 
SECTION 10.05.   Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion .
 
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to TIA Section 314(a)(4)) shall comply with the provisions of TIA Section 314(e) and shall include:
 
(a)           a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
 
(b)           a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation  upon which the statements or opinions  contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
 
43

(c)           a statement that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and
 
(d)           a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
 
provided, however , that with respect to matters of fact an Opinion of Counsel may rely on an Officers' Certificate or certificates of public officials.
 
SECTION 10.06.    Record Date for Vote or Consent of Holders .
 
The Company (or, in the event deposits have been made pursuant to Section 11.02, the Trustee) may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders entitled to vote or consent to any action by vote or consent authorized or permitted under this Indenture, which record date shall not be more than [  ] days prior to the date of the commencement of solicitation of such action.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 9.05, if a record date is fixed, those persons who were Holders of Securities at the close of business on such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those persons, shall be entitled to take such action by vote or consent or to revoke any vote or consent previously given, whether or not such persons continue to be Holders after such record date.
 
SECTION 10.07.   Rules by Trustee and Agents .
 
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders of one or more Series.  Any Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
 
SECTION 10.08.   Legal Holidays .
 
Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture for a particular Series, a "Legal Holiday" is any day that is not a Business Day.  If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment, payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period.
 
SECTION 10.09.   No Recourse Against Others .
 
A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation.  Each Securityholder by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.
 
SECTION 10.10.   Counterparts .
 
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
 

44


SECTION 10.11.   Governing Laws and Submission to Jurisdiction .
 
THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK EXCLUDING ANY RULE OF LAW THAT WOULD CAUSE THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANY JURISDICTION OTHER THAN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
 
The Company agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Indenture may be instituted in any federal or state court sitting in New York City, and, to the fullest extent permitted by law, waives any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding, and irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of such court in any suit, action or proceeding.  The Company, as long as any Securities remain outstanding or the parties hereto have any obligation under this Indenture, shall have an authorized agent in the United States upon whom process may be served in any such legal action or proceeding. Service of process upon such agent and written notice of such service mailed or delivered to it shall to the extent permitted by law be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon it in any such legal action or proceeding and, if it fails to maintain such agent, any such process or summons may be served by mailing a copy thereof by registered mail, or a form of mail substantially equivalent thereto, addressed to it at its address as provided for notices hereunder. The Company hereby appoints Seward & Kissel LLP, One Battery Park Plaza, New York, NY,  10004, as its agent for such purposes, and covenants and agrees that service of process in any legal action or proceeding may be made upon it at such office of such agent.

SECTION 10.12.    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements .
 
This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary.  Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
 
SECTION 10.13.   Successors .
 
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successor.  All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successor.
 
SECTION 10.14.   Severability .
 
In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
 
SECTION 10.15.   Table of Contents, Headings, Etc .
 
The Table of Contents, Cross Reference Table, and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
 

45


SECTION 10.16.   Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU .
 
Unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02 of this Indenture with respect to a particular Series of Securities, whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all Series or all Series affected by a particular action at the time outstanding and, at such time, there are outstanding Securities of any Series which are denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the principal amount of Securities of such Series which shall be deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate at such time.  For purposes of this Section 10.16, "Market Exchange Rate" shall mean the noon Dollar buying rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency as published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the case of ECUs, Market Exchange Rate shall mean the rate of exchange determined by the Commission of the European Union (or any successor thereto) as published in the Official Journal of the European Union (such publication or any successor publication, the "Journal").  If such Market Exchange Rate is not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall use, without liability on its part, such quotation of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in question or, in the case of ECUs, in Luxembourg or such other quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange as the Trustee, upon consultation with the Company, shall deem appropriate.  The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a Series denominated in currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.
 
All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company and all Holders.
 
SECTION 10.17.   Judgment Currency .
 
The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest or other amount on the Securities of any Series (the "Required Currency") into a currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the "Judgment Currency"), the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which final unappealable judgment is
 
46

entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day, then, the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which final unappealable judgment is entered and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.  For purposes of the foregoing, "New York Banking Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a legal holiday in The City of New York on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
 
           
SECTION 10.18.
Compliance with Applicable Anti-Terrorism and Money Laundering Regulations .
 
In order to comply with the laws, rules, regulations and executive orders in effect from time to time applicable to banking institutions, including those relating to the funding of terrorist activities and money laundering ("Applicable Law"), the Trustee is required to obtain, verify and record certain information relating to individuals and entities which maintain a business relationship with the Trustee.  Accordingly, each of the parties agree to provide to the Trustee, upon its request from time to time such identifying information and documentation as may be available for such party in order to enable the Trustee to comply with the Applicable Law.
 
ARTICLE XI
 
SINKING FUNDS
 
SECTION 11.01.    Applicability of Article .
 
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of the Securities of a Series, except as otherwise permitted or required by any form of Security of such Series issued pursuant to this Indenture.
 
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the Securities of any Series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund payment" and any other amount provided for by the terms of Securities of such Series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment." If provided for by the terms of Securities of any Series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 11.02.  Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any Series as provided for by the terms of the securities of such Series.
 
47

SECTION 11.02.    Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .
 
The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any Series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver outstanding Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable (other than any of such Securities previously called for mandatory sinking fund redemption) and (2) apply as credit Securities of such Series to which such sinking fund payment is applicable and which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Series of Securities (except pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund) or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments or other optional redemptions pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited.  Such Securities shall be received by the Registrar, together with an Officers' Certificate with respect thereto, not later than [  ] days prior to the date on which the Registrar begins the process of selecting Securities for redemption, and shall be credited for such purpose by the Registrar at the price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.  If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 11.02, the principal amount of Securities of such Series to be redeemed in order to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $[], the Registrar need not call Securities of such Series for redemption, except upon receipt of a Company Order that such action be taken, and such cash payment shall be held by the Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Paying Agent shall from time to time upon receipt of a Company Order pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Registrar of Securities of that Series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment required to be released to the Company.
 
SECTION 11.03.   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .
 
Not less than [  ] days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers' Certificate in respect of a particular Series of Securities) prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Paying Agent an Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment for that Series pursuant to the terms of that Series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of Securities of that Series pursuant to Section 11.02., and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified.  Not less than [  ] days (unless otherwise indicated in the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture in respect of a particular Series of Securities) before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 3.02 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.03.  Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall stated in Sections 3.04, 3.05 and 3.06.
 
[ The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank ]
 

48


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
 




DRYSHIPS INC.


By: __________________________

Name:
Its:


[                      ]
as Trustee

By: __________________________

Name:
Its:


By: __________________________

Name:
Its:


[                      ]
as Registrar and Paying Agent


By: __________________________

Name:
Its:


By: __________________________

Name:
Its:

 
Exhibit 5.1

 
Seward & Kissel llp
ONE BATTERY PARK PLAZA
NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10004
 
     
 
TELEPHONE:  (212)  574-1200
FACSIMILE:  (212) 480-8421
WWW.SEWKIS.COM
901 K Street, NW
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20001
TELEPHONE:  (202) 737-8833
FACSIMILE:  (202) 737-5184

 
 
 
March 20, 2017
 
 
DryShips Inc.
109 Kifisias Avenue and Sina Street
151 24, Marousi
Athens, Greece

Re:
DryShips Inc.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to DryShips Inc. (the " Company ") in connection with the Company's registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-        ) (such registration statement as amended or supplemented from time to time) (the " Registration Statement ") as filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the " Commission "), relating to the registration under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the " Securities Act ") and offering by the Company in one or more public offerings (collectively, the " Offering ") of an indeterminate number of securities, which may include shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the " Common Shares "), including related preferred share purchase rights (the " Preferred Share Purchase Rights "), shares of preferred stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the " Preferred Shares "), debt securities of the Company (the " Debt Securities "), warrants to purchase the Company's securities (the " Warrants "), purchase contracts to purchase the Company's securities (the " Purchase Contracts "), rights to purchase the Company's securities (the " Rights "), and units comprised of any of the foregoing securities (the " Units " and, together with the Common Shares, the Preferred Share Purchase Rights, the Preferred Shares, the Debt Securities, the Guarantees, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts and the Rights, the " Securities ") in an aggregate amount not to exceed $2,000,000,000.
We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of: (i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the prospectus of the Company included in the Registration Statement (the " Prospectus "); (iii) the Amended and Restated Stockholders Rights Agreement dated as of April 21, 2010, as amended (the " Rights Agreement "); and (iv) such corporate documents and records of the Company and such other instruments, certificates and documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions hereinafter expressed. In such examinations, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies or drafts of documents to be executed, the genuineness of all signatures and the legal competence or capacity of persons or entities to complete the execution of documents. As to various questions of fact that are material to the opinions hereinafter expressed, we have relied upon statements or certificates of public officials, directors of the Company and others.


We have further assumed for the purposes of this opinion, without investigation, that (i) all documents contemplated by the Prospectus and any related supplement thereto to be executed in connection with the Offering will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties thereto other than the Company; (ii) the terms of the Offering will comply in all respects with the terms, conditions and restrictions set forth in the Prospectus and any related supplement thereto and all of the instruments, agreements and other documents relating thereto or executed in connection therewith; (iii) after the issuance of the Common Shares offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, the total number of issued Common Shares, together with the total number of Common Shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise, exchange or conversion, as the case may be, of any exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security then outstanding, will not exceed the total number of authorized Common Shares under the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended and then in effect, and that par value of $0.01 per share has been paid for the Common Shares so issued; and (iv) after the issuance of the Preferred Shares offered pursuant to the Registration Statement, as amended or supplemented, the total number of issued Preferred Shares, together with the total number of Preferred Shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise, exchange or conversion, as the case may be, of any exercisable, exchangeable or convertible security then outstanding, will not exceed the total number of authorized Preferred Shares under the Company's Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended and then in effect, and that par value of $0.01 per share has been paid for the Preferred Shares so issued; (v) that the board members of the Company acted in a manner consistent with their fiduciary duties as required under applicable law in adopting the Rights Agreement; (vi) that the board of the Company will have taken all actions necessary to authorize the issuance and sale of the Securities; and (vii) that the specific terms of the Securities to be established subsequent to the date hereof will have been determined in accordance with all board resolutions or other authorization requirements, will comply with all applicable laws, and will not conflict with any instrument or agreement binding on the Company or any restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and having regard to such other legal considerations which we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that under the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands:
1.
When the Securities offered in the Primary Offering are issued, sold and paid for as contemplated in the Prospectus and any related supplement thereto, such Securities will be validly issued.
2.
The Common Shares offered in the Primary Offering, the Preferred Shares and the Common Shares and Preferred Shares that form part of the Units, when issued, sold and paid for as contemplated in the Prospectus and any related supplement thereto, will be fully paid and non-assessable.
3.
The Preferred Share Purchase Rights constitute binding obligations of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Rights Agreement; subject, however, to the determination a court of competent jurisdiction may make regarding whether the board of directors of the Company would be required to redeem or terminate, or take other action with respect to, the Preferred Share Purchase Rights at some future time based on the facts and circumstances existing at that time.


4.
The Debt Securities and the Debt Securities that form part of the Units, when  issued as contemplated in the Prospectus and any related supplement thereto and pursuant to an indenture substantially in the form examined by us, the Warrants, Purchase Contracts and Rights and the Warrants, Purchase Contracts and Rights that form part of the Units, upon due execution and delivery as contemplated in the Prospectus and any related supplement thereto, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company.
The foregoing opinions are subject in each case to applicable insolvency, bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws affecting generally the enforceability of creditors' rights from time to time in effect and subject to general principles of equity, regardless of whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law, including application of principles of good faith, fair dealing, commercial reasonableness, materiality, unconscionability and conflict with public policy and other similar principles.
This opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York, the federal laws of the United States of America and the laws of the Republic of the Marshall Islands as in effect on the date hereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, and to each reference to us and the discussions of advice provided by us under the headings "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus, without admitting we are "experts" within the meaning of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration Statement.
 
 
Very truly yours,
 
 
 
 
/s/ SEWARD & KISSEL LLP

 
Exhibit 23.2
 
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related Prospectus of DryShips Inc. for the registration of its common shares, preferred share purchase rights, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts, rights and units and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated March 13, 2017 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of DryShips Inc., and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of DryShips Inc., included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2016, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



/s/ Ernst & Young (Hellas) Certified Auditors Accountants S.A.
Athens, Greece
March 20, 2017