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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 3, 2015

Registration No. 333-        

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

DURECT CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   94-3297098

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

10260 Bubb Road

Cupertino, California 95014

(408) 777-1417

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

James E. Brown

Chief Executive Officer

DURECT Corporation

10260 Bubb Road

Cupertino, California 95014

(408) 777-1417

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copy to:

Stephen B. Thau

Morrison & Foerster LLP

755 Page Mill Road

Palo Alto, CA 94304

(650) 813-5600

 

 

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

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box:   ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box:   x

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.   ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, please check the following box.   ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨   (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered (1)

 

Amount

to be

Registered (1)(2)(3)(4)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Offering Price

Per Unit (1)

 

Proposed

Maximum

Aggregate

Offering Price (1)(2)(3)(4)

 

Amount of

Registration Fee (5)

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

               

Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

               

Debt Securities

               

Warrants

               

Units

               

Total

          $125,000,000   $12,587.50

 

 

(1) Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.
(2) The registrant is hereby registering an indeterminate amount and number of each identified class of the identified securities up to a proposed maximum aggregate offering price of $125,000,000, which may be offered from time to time at indeterminate prices, including securities that may be purchased by underwriters. The registrant has estimated the proposed maximum aggregate offering price solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately, together or as units with other securities registered hereunder.
(3) The registrant is hereby registering an indeterminate amount and number of each identified class of the identified securities as may be issued upon conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement of any other securities that provide for such conversion, exchange, exercise or settlement.
(4) Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act and as further described below under the heading “Statement Pursuant to Rule 429(b),” this registration statement covers up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $125,000,000 of the registrant’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units, including $75,899,998 of such securities registered on the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 first filed on December 20, 2013 (File No. 333-193009) (the “Prior Registration Statement”), which was declared effective on January 22, 2014, that have not yet been sold and are included in this registration statement.
(5) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. Pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act, the registrant is applying $9,775.92 of the registration fee paid in connection with the Prior Registration Statement, representing the aggregate total amount of the filing fee associated with the unsold securities registered on the Prior Registration Statement, to offset $9,775,92 of the registration fee due 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 Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 


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STATEMENT PURSUANT TO RULE 429(b)

The registrant is filing a single base prospectus in this registration statement pursuant to Rule 429 under the Securities Act, in order to satisfy the requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder for (i) the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $49,100,002 of the registrant’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units being registered in this new registration statement and (ii) the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $75,899,998 of the registrant’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units registered in the Prior Registration Statement, to enable an aggregate of $125,000,000 of securities to be offered pursuant to the combined base prospectus. The combined base prospectus in this registration statement, which is a new registration statement, also constitutes a post-effective amendment to the Prior Registration Statement. Such post-effective amendment shall hereafter become effective concurrently with the effectiveness of this registration statement and in accordance with Section 8(c) of, and Rule 429 under, the Securities Act.


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EXPLANATORY NOTE

This registration statement contains two prospectuses:

 

    a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $125,000,000 of the registrant’s common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and/or units; and

 

    a prospectus supplement covering the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $40,000,000 of the registrant’s common stock that may be issued and sold under a sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The supplemental prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus. The common stock that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the supplemental prospectus is included in the $125,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the base prospectus.


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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities, in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 3, 2015

PROSPECTUS

$125,000,000

 

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

 

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ AND CONSIDER THE RISK FACTORS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, ANY ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND IN THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS. SEE “ RISK FACTORS ” BEGINNING ON PAGE 3.

From time to time, we may offer and sell, in one or more offerings, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of any such offering, common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, either individually or in units, with a total value of up to $125,000,000.

Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “DRRX.” On October 26, 2015, the last reported sale price of the common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market was $1.94 per share.

We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities and may also supplement, update or amend information contained in this document. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you purchase any of our securities.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER AND SELL SECURITIES UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

We may offer the securities in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of offering. We may sell the securities directly to you, through agents we select or through underwriters and dealers we select. If we use agents, underwriters or dealers to sell the securities, we will name them and describe their compensation in a prospectus supplement.

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                     , 2015


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     1   

ABOUT DURECT

     2   

RISK FACTORS

     3   

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

     4   

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS

     6   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     7   

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     8   

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING OUR CAPITAL STOCK

     10   

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

     11   

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

     17   

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

     19   

LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

     20   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     23   

LEGAL MATTERS

     25   

EXPERTS

     25   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     26   

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     26   

No person has been authorized to give any information or make any representations in connection with this offering other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement in connection with the offering described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, and, if given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by us. Neither this prospectus nor any prospectus supplement shall constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy offered securities in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offering or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement nor any sale made hereunder shall under any circumstances imply that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement is correct as of any date subsequent to the date of this prospectus supplement or of any prospectus supplement.

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, issue and sell to the public any part of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $125,000,000.

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell the securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus. To the extent that any statement that we make in a prospectus supplement is inconsistent with statements made in this prospectus or in documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus, the statements made or incorporated by reference in this prospectus will be deemed modified or superseded by those made in the prospectus supplement. You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” before buying any securities offered in this offering.

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO OFFER AND SELL SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

The registration statement containing this prospectus, including exhibits to the registration statement, provides additional information about us and the securities offered under this prospectus. The registration statement can be read at the SEC’s website or at the SEC offices mentioned under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

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ABOUT DURECT

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of pharmaceuticals based on our proprietary drug delivery technology platforms, new chemical entities derived from our Epigenomic Regulator Program, and our expertise in drug development. Our research and development programs broadly fall into one of two categories: (i) Drug Delivery Programs, in which we apply our formulation expertise and technologies largely to active pharmaceutical ingredients whose safety and efficacy have previously been established but which we aim to improve in some manner through a new formulation, and (ii) New Chemical Entities derived from our Epigenomic Regulator Program, in which we attempt to discover and develop molecules which have not previously been approved and marketed as therapeutics. We also manufacture and sell osmotic pumps used in laboratory research and design, develop and manufacture a wide range of standard and custom biodegradable polymers and excipients for pharmaceutical and medical device clients for use as raw materials in their products.

Our product pipeline currently consists of seven investigational drug candidates in clinical development, with three programs in Phase 3 or New Drug Application (NDA) stage, one program in Phase 2 and three programs in Phase 1. The most advanced programs are in the field of pain management and we believe that each of these targets large market opportunities with product features that are differentiated from existing therapeutics. We have other programs underway in fields outside of pain management, including central nervous system disorders, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, acute organ injury, ophthalmic conditions and other chronic diseases.

We were incorporated in Delaware in February 1998. We completed our initial public offering on September 28, 2000. Our principal executive offices are located at 10260 Bubb Road, Cupertino, California, 95014. Our telephone number is (408) 777-1417, and our website address is www.durect.com. The information on or accessible through our website does not constitute part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment in our securities. We make our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to these reports available free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we file these reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Our Code of Ethics can be found on our website.

Securities We Are Offering

We may offer shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, either individually or in units, with a total value of up to $125,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of the offering. Our common stock currently is quoted on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “DRRX.” Shares of common stock that may be offered in this offering will, when issued and paid for, be fully paid and non-assessable.

We refer to our common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants and units in this prospectus as “securities.” This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer a type or series of securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will describe the specific amounts, prices and other important terms of the securities, as described below under “Plan of Distribution.”

 

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RISK FACTORS

Before you invest in our securities, in addition to the other information, documents or reports incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or other offering materials, you should carefully consider the risk factors in this section, the section entitled “Risk Factors” in any prospectus supplement as well as our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, and in our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed subsequent to the Annual Report on Form 10-K, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any prospectus supplement in their entirety, as the same may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. Each of the risks described in these sections and documents could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated in this prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors our management believes to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those risks described or incorporated by reference in this prospectus under “Risk Factors” above.

Forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus include, for example, statements about:

 

    potential regulatory filings for or approval of POSIMIR, REMOXY, DUR-928 or any of our other product candidates;

 

    the progress of our third-party collaborations, including estimated milestones;

 

    our intention to seek, and ability to enter into and maintain strategic alliances and collaborations;

 

    the potential benefits and uses of our products;

 

    responsibilities of our third-party collaborators, including the responsibility to make cost reimbursement, milestone, royalty and other payments to us, and our expectations regarding our collaborators’ plans with respect to our products and continued development of our products;

 

    our responsibilities to our third-party collaborators, including our responsibilities to conduct research and development, clinical trials and manufacture products;

 

    our ability to protect intellectual property, including intellectual property licensed to our collaborators;

 

    market opportunities for products in our product pipeline;

 

    the progress and results of our research and development programs;

 

    requirements for us to purchase supplies and raw materials from third parties, and the ability of third parties to provide us with required supplies and raw materials;

 

    the results and timing of clinical trials, including for POSIMIR, REMOXY, Relday, ORADUR-ADHD or DUR-928, and the possible commencement of future clinical trials;

 

    conditions for obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates;

 

    submission and timing of applications for regulatory approval;

 

    the impact of FDA, DEA, EMEA and other government regulation on our business;

 

    the impact of potential Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) on our business;

 

    uncertainties associated with obtaining and protecting patents and other intellectual property rights, as well as avoiding the intellectual property rights of others;

 

    products and companies that will compete with the products we license to third-party collaborators;

 

    the possibility we may commercialize our own products and build up our commercial, sales and marketing capabilities and other required infrastructure;

 

    the possibility that we may develop additional manufacturing capabilities;

 

    our employees, including the number of employees and the continued services of key management, technical and scientific personnel;

 

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    our future performance, including our anticipation that we will not derive meaningful revenues from our products in development for at least the next twelve months, potential for future inventory write-offs and our expectations regarding our ability to achieve profitability;

 

    sufficiency of our cash resources, anticipated capital requirements and capital expenditures, our ability to comply with covenants of our term loan, and our need for additional financing, including potential sales under our shelf registration statement;

 

    our expectations regarding marketing expenses, research and development expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses;

 

    the composition of future revenues; and

 

    accounting policies and estimates, including revenue recognition policies.

Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements. You should also carefully consider other information set forth in reports or other documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS

For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of net loss plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of debt issuance costs and discount or premium related to indebtedness, whether expensed or capitalized, and that portion of rental payments under operating leases we believe to be representative of interest. Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $16.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and $22.1 million, $21.5 million, $18.8 million, $22.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The following table sets forth the computation of our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Nine months
ended
September 30,
    Year Ended December 31,  
     2015     2014     2013     2012     2011     2010  

Earnings:

            

Net income (loss)

   $ (16,818   $ (22,110 )   $ (21,452   $ 16,200      $ (18,765   $ (22,898

Fixed charges

     2,234        1,858        828        620        828        805   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Earnings

   $ (14,584   $ (20,252 )   $ (20,845   $ 16,820      $ (17,937   $ (22,093
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed Charges:

            

Interest expense

   $ 1,677      $ 1,151      $ 6      $ 7      $ 46      $ 6   

Portion of rent expense representative of interest

     557        707        601        613        782        799   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Fixed Charges

   $ 2,234      $ 1,858      $ 607      $ 620      $ 828      $ 805   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     —          —          —          27.1 (1)      —          —     

 

(1) Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2012 included recognition of $35.4 million of collaborative research and development revenue as a result of the termination of the Company’s agreements with Nycomed, Pfizer and Hospira. Excluding the recognition of $35.4 million of deferred revenue, earnings would have been insufficient to cover fixed charges.

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is equivalent to the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends for the periods presented as no preferred stock was outstanding in the periods presented.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this prospectus will be used for general corporate purposes, which may include clinical trials, research and development activities, capital expenditures, selling, general and administrative costs, facilities expansion, and to meet working capital needs. We expect from time to time to evaluate the acquisition of businesses, products and technologies for which a portion of the net proceeds may be used, although we currently are not planning or negotiating any such transactions. Pending such uses, we may invest the net proceeds in investment grade interest-bearing securities.

The amounts actually expended for each purpose may vary significantly depending upon numerous factors, including the amount and timing of the proceeds from this offering and progress with the commercial development of our products as well as our clinical development programs. Expenditures will also depend upon the establishment of collaborative arrangements with other companies, the availability of additional financing and other factors. Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of securities.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

This section describes the general terms and provisions of the shares of our common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, that we may issue. This description is only a summary. Our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws have been filed as exhibits to our periodic reports filed with the SEC, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You should read our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws for additional information before you buy any of our securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Common Stock

General . We are authorized to issue up to 200,000,000 shares of common stock. As of October 26, 2015, there were 120,525,185 shares of common stock issued and outstanding.

Voting Rights . The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders, including the election of directors, and do not have cumulative voting rights. Accordingly, the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors can elect all of the directors standing for election, if they so choose.

Dividends . Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of common stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends, if any, as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor. We have not declared any dividends and have no current plans to do so.

Other Rights . Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock will be entitled to share ratably in the net assets legally available for distribution to stockholders after the payment of all of our debts and other liabilities, subject to the prior rights of any preferred stock then outstanding. Holders of common stock have no preemptive or conversion rights or other subscription rights and there are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock. All outstanding shares of common stock are, and the common stock offered, when issued, will be, fully paid and nonassessable.

Transfer Agent and Registrar for Common Stock

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare. Its offices are located at 250 Royall Street, Canton, MA 02021, and its telephone number is (800) 736-3001.

Preferred Stock

General. We are authorized to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of October 26, 2015, no shares of preferred stock were issued and outstanding. Our board of directors has the authority, without further action by our stockholders, to issue from time to time the preferred stock in one or more series, and to fix the number of shares, designations, preferences, powers, and other rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions as our board of directors may authorize, including:

 

    the distinctive designation of each series and the number of shares that will constitute the series;

 

    the purchase price;

 

    the voting rights, if any, of shares of the series and the terms and conditions of the voting rights;

 

    the dividend rate on the shares of the series, the dates on which dividends are payable, any restriction, limitation or condition upon the payment of dividends, whether dividends will be cumulative, and the dates from and after which dividends shall accumulate;

 

    the prices at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be redeemed, if the shares are redeemable;

 

    the procedures for any auction or remarketing, if any;

 

    the terms and conditions of a sinking or purchase fund for the purchase or redemption of shares of the series, if such a fund is provided;

 

    any preferential amount payable upon shares of the series in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon the distribution of any of our assets; and

 

    any listing of the preferred stock on any securities exchange or market;

 

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    preemption rights, if any;

 

    restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

 

    the prices or rates of conversion or exchange at which, and the terms and conditions on which, the shares of the series may be converted or exchanged into other securities, if the shares are convertible or exchangeable; and

 

    any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the preferred stock.

When we issue shares of preferred stock, the shares will be fully paid and nonassessable and will not have, or be subject to, any preemptive or similar rights.

Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides that the holders of preferred stock will have the right to vote separately as a class on any proposal involving fundamental changes in the rights of holders of that preferred stock. This right is in addition to any voting rights that may be provided for in the applicable certificate of designation.

The issuance of preferred stock could decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to holders of common stock or adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the holders of common stock. In addition, the issuance of preferred stock could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company, which could depress the market price of our common stock.

Series A Participating Preferred Stock. Of the 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock currently authorized, we have currently designated 150,000 shares as series A participating preferred stock. As of October 26, 2015, no shares of series A participating preferred stock were issued and outstanding.

Voting Rights . The holders of our series A participating preferred stock are entitled to 1,000 votes per share, subject to certain adjustments, for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Except as otherwise provided, holders of shares of series A participating preferred stock and the holders of shares of common stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders.

Dividends . Subject to preferences that may be applicable to any then outstanding preferred stock, holders of series A participating preferred stock are entitled to receive ratably dividends, if any, as may be declared by our board of directors out of funds legally available therefor, to be paid on a quarterly basis in an amount per share equal to, subject to certain adjustments, 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in shares of common stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of common stock. We will not declare any dividend on, make any distribution on or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of common stock after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of series A participating preferred stock unless we concurrently declare a dividend on the series A participating preferred stock. When dividends payable to holders of series A participating preferred stock are in arrears, we will not take certain actions until such all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions on shares of series A participating preferred stock are paid in full. We have not declared any dividends and have no plans to do so.

Other Rights . Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares ranking junior to the series A participating preferred stock unless the holders of series A participating preferred stock have received an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment plus an amount equal to the greater of (i) $1,000 per share, or an adjusted amount if we do not have sufficient assets, and (ii) 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount to be distributed to the holders of common stock, subject to certain adjustments. Upon a consolidation, merger, combination or other transaction in which shares of our common stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other property, each share of series A participating preferred stock shall be exchanged or changed in an amount equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or any other property into which or for which each share of common stock is changed or exchanged, subject to certain adjustments. Holders of series A participating preferred stock have no redemption rights. All outstanding shares of series A participating preferred stock, when issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable.

 

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ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONCERNING OUR CAPITAL STOCK

Anti-Takeover Effects of Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

Our certificate of incorporation and by-laws include a number of provisions that may have the effect of encouraging persons considering unsolicited tender offers or other unilateral takeover proposals to negotiate with our board of directors rather than pursue non-negotiated takeover attempts. These provisions:

 

    authorize the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock without any need for action by stockholders;

 

    provide for a classified board of directors with staggered terms;

 

    require supermajority stockholder voting to effect certain amendments to our certificate of incorporation and by-laws;

 

    eliminate the ability of stockholders to call special meetings of stockholders;

 

    prohibit stockholder action by written consent; and

 

    establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to the board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted on by stockholders at stockholder meetings. These provisions could discourage, delay or prevent certain types of transactions involving an actual or potential change in control of us, including transactions in which stockholders might otherwise receive a premium for their shares over current market prices.

Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of Delaware Law

We are subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the DGCL. In general, the statute prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the date that person became an “interested stockholder,” unless the business combination was approved in a prescribed manner. A “business combination” includes a merger, asset sale or other transaction resulting in a financial benefit to an interested stockholder. An “interested stockholder” is a person who, together with affiliates and associates, owns, or, within the three years prior to the determination of interested stockholder status, owned, 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock.

Section 203 of the DGCL makes it more difficult for an interested stockholder to effect various business combinations with a corporation for a three-year period. This statute could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts not approved in advance by our board of directors, and as a result could discourage attempts to acquire us, which could depress the market price of our common stock.

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by the Delaware law, our certificate of incorporation provides that directors shall not be personally liable to us or any of our stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director. However, this provision does not eliminate the duty of care, and in appropriate circumstances, equitable remedies such as injunctive or other forms of nonmonetary relief that will remain available under Delaware law. In addition, each director will continue to be subject to liability for (i) breach of the directors duty of loyalty to us or our stockholders, (ii) acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) violating Section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. The provision also does not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other law, such as the federal securities laws or state or federal environmental laws.

Our bylaws provide that we shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by the Delaware law, indemnify each of our directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of our company. Our bylaws also provide that we shall have the power to, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted by the Delaware law, indemnify each of our employees and agents against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of our company. Our bylaws provide that expenses incurred in defending any such action or proceeding shall be paid in advance of the final disposition of such action or proceeding upon the receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the indemnified party to repay such amount if it shall be ultimately determined that the indemnified party is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized by our bylaws. The indemnification provided by our bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may have been entitled under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, to the extent that such additional rights to indemnification are authorized in our certificate of incorporation.

We also maintain liability insurance for our officers and directors and have entered into indemnification agreements with them.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following description, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any future debt securities we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any debt securities we offer under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below.

The following summary description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the form of indenture filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, as it may be supplemented, amended or modified from time to time, as well as the notes and supplemental agreements relating to each series of debt securities that will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement that includes this prospectus or as exhibits to a current report on Form 8-K if we offer debt securities.

We will issue senior debt securities under one or more senior indentures that we will enter into with a trustee named in the relevant senior indenture. We will issue subordinated debt securities under one or more subordinated indentures that we will enter into with a trustee named in the relevant subordinated indenture. We have filed a form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We use the terms “indenture” and “indentures” in this prospectus to refer to both the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture.

The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We use the term “debenture trustee” to refer to either the trustee under the senior indenture or the trustee under the subordinated indenture, as applicable.

The following summaries of material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the debt securities that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the indenture that would contain the terms of the debt securities. Except as we may otherwise indicate, the terms of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture would be identical.

General

We will describe in each prospectus supplement the following terms relating to a series of debt securities:

 

    the title;

 

    the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;

 

    any limit on the amount that may be issued;

 

    whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, the terms and who the depositary will be;

 

    the maturity date;

 

    whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a U.S. person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts;

 

    the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;

 

    whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

 

    the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;

 

    the place where payments will be payable;

 

    restrictions on transfer, sale or other assignment, if any;

 

    our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of any such deferral period;

 

    the date, if any, after which, and the price at which, we may, at our option, redeem the series of debt securities pursuant to any optional or provisional redemption provisions and the terms of those redemptions provisions;

 

    the date, if any, on which, and the price at which we are obligated, pursuant to any mandatory sinking fund or analogous fund provisions or otherwise, to redeem, or at the holder’s option to purchase, the series of debt securities and the currency or currency unit in which the debt securities are payable;

 

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    whether the indenture will restrict our ability and/or the ability of our subsidiaries to:

 

    incur additional indebtedness;

 

    issue additional securities;

 

    create liens;

 

    pay dividends and make distributions in respect of our capital stock and the capital stock of our subsidiaries;

 

    redeem capital stock;

 

    place restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets;

 

    make investments or other restricted payments;

 

    sell or otherwise dispose of assets;

 

    enter into sale-leaseback transactions;

 

    engage in transactions with stockholders and affiliates;

 

    issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; or

 

    effect a consolidation or merger;

 

    whether the indenture will require us to maintain any interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios;

 

    a discussion of any material or special U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

 

    information describing any book-entry features;

 

    provisions for a sinking fund purchase or other analogous fund, if any;

 

    whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an “original issue discount” as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code;

 

    the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; and

 

    any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided with respect to the debt securities, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

We will set forth in the prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

Any successor to or acquiror of the indentures must assume all of our obligations under the indentures or the debt securities, as appropriate. If the debt securities are convertible for our other securities or securities of other entities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property must make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.

 

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Events of Default Under the Indenture

Unless otherwise provided in any applicable prospectus supplement, documents incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, the following will be events of default under the indenture with respect to each series of debt securities issued thereunder:

 

    if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 30 days, or within such other time period as may be specified in the applicable indenture, and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred;

 

    if we fail to pay the principal, premium or sinking fund payment, if any, when due and payable and the time for payment has not been extended or delayed;

 

    if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur; and

 

    if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, other than a covenant specifically relating to another series of debt securities, and our failure continues for 60 days, or within such other time period as may be specified in the applicable indenture, after we receive notice from the debenture trustee or holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series, or such other percentage as may be specified in the applicable indenture, in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series.

If an event of default with respect to debt securities of any series occurs and is continuing, other than an event of default specified in the last bullet point above, the debenture trustee or the holders of at least 25%, or such other percentage as may be specified in the applicable indenture, in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series, by notice to us in writing, and to the debenture trustee if notice is given by such holders, may declare the unpaid principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest, if any, due and payable immediately. If an event of default specified in the last bullet point above occurs with respect to us, the principal amount of and accrued interest, if any, of each issue of debt securities then outstanding shall be due and payable without any notice or other action on the part of the debenture trustee or any holder.

The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series may waive any default or event of default with respect to the series and its consequences, except defaults or events of default regarding payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, unless we have cured the default or event of default in accordance with the indenture. Any waiver shall cure the default or event of default.

Subject to the terms of the indentures, if an event of default under an indenture shall occur and be continuing, the debenture trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under such indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders of the applicable series of debt securities, unless such holders have offered the debenture trustee reasonable indemnity. The holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the debenture trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the debenture trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series, provided that:

 

    the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture; and

 

    subject to its duties under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the debenture trustee need not take any action that might involve it in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the holders not involved in the proceeding.

A holder of the debt securities of any series will only have the right to institute a proceeding under the indentures or to appoint a receiver or trustee, or to seek other remedies if:

 

    the holder has given written notice to the debenture trustee of a continuing event of default with respect to that series;

 

    the holders of at least 25% (or, in the case of a default of the type described under subsection (d), above, a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of an affected series), or such other percentage as may be specified in the applicable indenture, in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the debenture trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and

 

    the debenture trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 60 days, or within such other time period as may be specified in the applicable indenture, after the notice, request and offer of indemnity.

These limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a holder of debt securities if we default in the payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities.

We will periodically file statements with the debenture trustee regarding our compliance with specified covenants in the indentures.

 

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Modification of Indenture; Waiver

We and the debenture trustee may change an indenture without the consent of any holders with respect to specific matters:

 

    to evidence the succession of another corporation to us and the assumption by any such successor of our covenants in such indenture and in the debt securities issued thereunder;

 

    to add to our covenants or to surrender any right or power conferred on us pursuant to the indenture;

 

    to establish the form and terms of debt securities issued thereunder;

 

    to evidence and provide for a successor trustee under such indenture with respect to one or more series of debt securities issued thereunder or to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts under such indenture by more than one trustee;

 

    to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the indenture that may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of the indenture or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under such indenture; provided that no such action adversely affects the interests of the holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder in any material respect;

 

    to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of securities under the indenture;

 

    to add any additional events of default with respect to all or any series of debt securities;

 

    to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture as may be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities, provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of any holder of an outstanding debt security of such series or any other security in any material respect;

 

    to make provisions with respect to the conversion or exchange rights of holders of debt securities of any series;

 

    to pledge to the trustee as security for the debt securities of any series any property or assets;

 

    to add guarantees in respect of the debt securities of one or more series;

 

    to change or eliminate any of the provisions of the indenture, provided that any such change or elimination becomes effective only when there is no security of any series outstanding created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture which is entitled to the benefit of such provision;

 

    to provide for certificated securities in addition to or in place of global securities;

 

    to qualify such indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;

 

    with respect to the debt securities of any series, to conform the text of the indenture or the debt securities of such series to any provision of the description thereof in our offering memorandum or prospectus relating to the initial offering of such debt securities, to the extent that such provision, in our good faith judgment, was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the indenture or such securities; or

 

    to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of holders of any series of debt securities issued thereunder in any material respect.

In addition, under the indentures, the rights of holders of a series of debt securities may be changed by us and the debenture trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected. However, we and the debenture trustee may only make the following changes with the consent of each holder of any outstanding debt securities affected:

 

    extending the fixed maturity of the series of debt securities;

 

    reducing the principal amount, reducing the rate of or extending the time of payment of interest, or reducing any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt securities;

 

    reducing the percentage of debt securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any amendment, supplement, modification or waiver; or

 

    make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any security into or for common stock or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of the applicable debt security.

 

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Each indenture provides that we can elect to be discharged from our obligations with respect to one or more series of debt securities, except for specified obligations, including obligations to:

 

    register the transfer or exchange of debt securities of the series;

 

    replace stolen, lost or mutilated debt securities of the series;

 

    maintain paying agencies;

 

    hold monies for payment in trust;

 

    recover excess money held by the debenture trustee;

 

    compensate and indemnify the debenture trustee; and

 

    appoint any successor trustee.

In order to exercise our rights to be discharged, we must deposit with the debenture trustee money or government obligations sufficient to pay all the principal of, any premium, if any, and interest on, the debt securities of the series on the dates payments are due.

Form, Exchange and Transfer

We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof. The indentures provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement with respect to that series. See “Legal Ownership of Securities” for a further description of the terms relating to any book-entry securities.

At the option of the holder, subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities described in the applicable prospectus supplement, the holder of the debt securities of any series can exchange the debt securities for other debt securities of the same series, in any authorized denomination and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

Subject to the terms of the indentures and the limitations applicable to global securities set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the debt securities may present the debt securities for exchange or for registration of transfer, duly endorsed or with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly executed if so required by us or the security registrar, at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us for this purpose. Unless otherwise provided in the debt securities that the holder presents for transfer or exchange, we will make no service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange, but we may require payment of any taxes or other governmental charges.

We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

If we elect to redeem the debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

 

    issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days, or within such other time period as may be specified in the applicable indenture, before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or

 

    register the transfer of or exchange any debt securities so selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt securities we are redeeming in part.

Repurchases on the Open Market

We, or an affiliate of ours, may at any time or from time to time repurchase any debt security in the open market or otherwise. Such debt securities may, at our option (or our affiliate’s option), be held, resold or surrendered to the trustee for cancellation.

 

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Information Concerning the Debenture Trustee

The debenture trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of an event of default under an indenture, undertakes to perform only those duties as are specifically set forth in the applicable indenture. Upon an event of default under an indenture, the debenture trustee must use the same degree of care as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the debenture trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers given him or her by the indentures at the request of any holder of debt securities unless he or she is offered reasonable security and indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that he or she might incur.

Payment and Paying Agents

Unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.

We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in a prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the debenture trustee in the City of New York as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

All money we pay to a paying agent or the debenture trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.

Governing Law

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is applicable.

Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

The subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement. The subordinated indenture does not limit the amount of subordinated debt securities that we may issue. It also does not limit us from issuing any other secured or unsecured debt.

Outstanding Debt Securities

We have no outstanding registered debt securities.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and the related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the particular terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

The following summary description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the form of warrant agreement and form of warrant certificate relating to each series of warrants that will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K if we offer warrants.

General

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of warrants, including:

 

    the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

    the currency for which the warrants may be purchased;

 

    if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;

 

    if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

 

    in the case of warrants to purchase common stock, the number of shares of common stock purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at which these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;

 

    the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants;

 

    the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;

 

    any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

    the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire;

 

    the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified;

 

    federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;

 

    the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants; and

 

    any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase the securities that we specify in the applicable prospectus supplement at the exercise price that we describe in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants at any time up to 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time on the expiration date that we set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.

Holders of the warrants may exercise the warrants by delivering the warrant certificate representing the warrants to be exercised together with specified information, and paying the required amount to the warrant agent in immediately available funds, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. We will set forth on the reverse side of the warrant certificate and in the applicable prospectus supplement the information that the holder of the warrant will be required to deliver to the warrant agent.

Upon receipt of the required payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will issue and deliver the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by the warrant certificate are exercised, then we will issue a new warrant certificate for the remaining amount of warrants. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.

 

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Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants

Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.

Outstanding Warrants

We have no outstanding warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. The terms of any units offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below.

The following summary description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the form of unit agreement and form of unit certificate relating to each series of units that will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus or as an exhibit to a current report on Form 8-K if we offer units.

General

We may issue units comprised of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, warrants or any combination thereof. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.

We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including:

 

    the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;

 

    any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and

 

    any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.

The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities” and “Description of Warrants” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security or warrants included in each unit, respectively.

Issuance in Series

We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.

Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units

Any unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.

Title

We, any unit agents and any of their agents may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary. See “Legal Ownership of Securities” below.

Outstanding Units

We have no outstanding units.

 

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LEGAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES

We can issue securities in registered form or in the form of one or more global securities. We describe global securities in greater detail below. We refer to those persons who have securities registered in their own names on the books that we or any applicable trustee, depositary or warrant agent maintain for this purpose as the “holders” of those securities. These persons are the legal holders of the securities. We refer to those persons who, indirectly through others, own beneficial interests in securities that are not registered in their own names, as “indirect holders” of those securities. As we discuss below, indirect holders are not legal holders, and investors in securities issued in book-entry form or in street name will be indirect holders.

Book-Entry Holders

We may issue securities in book-entry form only, as we will specify in the applicable prospectus supplement. This means securities may be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a financial institution that holds them as depositary on behalf of other financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system. These participating institutions, which are referred to as participants, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the securities on behalf of themselves or their customers.

Only the person in whose name a security is registered is recognized as the holder of that security. Securities issued in global form will be registered in the name of the depositary or its participants. Consequently, for securities issued in global form, we will recognize only the depositary as the holder of the securities, and we will make all payments on the securities to the depositary. The depositary passes along the payments it receives to its participants, which in turn pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the securities.

As a result, investors in a book-entry security will not own securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system or holds an interest through a participant. As long as the securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the securities.

Street Name Holders

We may terminate a global security or issue securities in non-global form. In these cases, investors may choose to hold their securities in their own names or in “street name.” Securities held by an investor in street name would be registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution that the investor chooses, and the investor would hold only a beneficial interest in those securities through an account he or she maintains at that institution.

For securities held in street name, we will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the securities are registered as the holders of those securities, and we will make all payments on those securities to them. These institutions pass along the payments they receive to their customers who are the beneficial owners, but only because they agree to do so in their customer agreements or because they are legally required to do so. Investors who hold securities in street name will be indirect holders, not holders, of those securities.

Legal Holders

Our obligations, as well as the obligations of any applicable trustee and of any third parties employed by us or a trustee, run only to the legal holders of the securities. We do not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a security or has no choice because we are issuing the securities only in global form.

For example, once we make a payment or give a notice to the holder, we have no further responsibility for the payment or notice even if that holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, we may want to obtain the approval of the holders to amend an indenture, to relieve us of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of the indenture or for other purposes. In such an event, we would seek approval only from the holders, and not the indirect holders, of the securities. Whether and how the holders contact the indirect holders is up to the holders.

 

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Special Considerations for Indirect Holders

If you hold securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, you should check with your own institution to find out:

 

    how it handles securities payments and notices;

 

    whether it imposes fees or charges;

 

    how it would handle a request for the holders’ consent, if ever required;

 

    whether and how you can instruct it to send you securities registered in your own name so you can be a holder, if that is permitted in the future;

 

    how it would exercise rights under the securities if there were a default or other event triggering the need for holders to act to protect their interests; and

 

    if the securities are in book-entry form, how the depositary’s rules and procedures will affect these matters.

Global Securities

A global security is a security that represents one or any other number of individual securities held by a depositary. Generally, all securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms.

Each security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that we deposit with and register in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that we select. The financial institution that we select for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless we specify otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all securities issued in book-entry form.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary, its nominee or a successor depositary, unless special termination situations arise. We describe those situations below under “Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered owner and holder of all securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account with the depositary or with another institution that does. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a holder of the security, but only an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

If the prospectus supplement for a particular security indicates that the security will be issued in global form only, then the security will be represented by a global security at all times unless and until the global security is terminated. If termination occurs, we may issue the securities through another book-entry clearing system or decide that the securities may no longer be held through any book-entry clearing system.

Special Considerations for Global Securities

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities transfers. We do not recognize an indirect holder as a holder of securities and instead deal only with the depositary that holds the global security.

If securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

 

    An investor cannot cause the securities to be registered in his or her name, and cannot obtain non-global certificates for his or her interest in the securities, except in the special situations we describe below;

 

    An investor will be an indirect holder and must look to his or her own bank or broker for payments on the securities and protection of his or her legal rights relating to the securities, as we describe above;

 

    An investor may not be able to sell interests in the securities to some insurance companies and to other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in non-book-entry form;

 

    An investor may not be able to pledge his or her interest in a global security in circumstances where certificates representing the securities must be delivered to the lender or other beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective;

 

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    The depositary’s policies, which may change from time to time, will govern payments, transfers, exchanges and other matters relating to an investor’s interest in a global security. We and any applicable trustee have no responsibility for any aspect of the depositary’s actions or for its records of ownership interests in a global security. We and the trustee also do not supervise the depositary in any way;

 

    The depositary may, and we understand that DTC will, require that those who purchase and sell interests in a global security within its book-entry system use immediately available funds, and your broker or bank may require you to do so as well;

 

    Financial institutions that participate in the depositary’s book-entry system, and through which an investor holds its interest in a global security, may also have their own policies affecting payments, notices and other matters relating to the securities; and

 

    There may be more than one financial intermediary in the chain of ownership for an investor. We do not monitor and are not responsible for the actions of any of those intermediaries.

Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated

In a few special situations described below, the global security will terminate and interests in it will be exchanged for physical certificates representing those interests. After that exchange, the choice of whether to hold securities directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in securities transferred to their own name, so that they will be direct holders. We have described the rights of holders and street name investors above.

The global security will terminate when the following special situations occur:

 

    if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling, unable or no longer qualified to continue as depositary for that global security and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days;

 

    if we notify any applicable trustee that we wish to terminate that global security; or

 

    if an event of default has occurred with regard to securities represented by that global security and has not been cured or waived.

The prospectus supplement may also list additional situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of securities covered by the prospectus supplement. When a global security terminates, the depositary, and not we or any applicable trustee, is responsible for deciding the names of the institutions that will be the initial direct holders.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities being offered by this prospectus separately or together through any of the following methods:

 

    to or through one or more underwriters or dealers in a public offering and sale by them;

 

    directly to investors;

 

    through agents;

 

    through block trades in which the broker or dealer engaged to handle the block trade will attempt to sell the securities as agent, but may position and resell a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction;

 

    through any combination if these methods of sale; or

 

    in any manner, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may distribute securities from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

    at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

    at market prices prevailing at the times of sale;

 

    at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

    at negotiated prices.

We will describe the method of distribution of the securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may also determine the price or other terms of the securities offered under this prospectus by use of an electronic auction. We will describe how any auction will determine the price or any other terms, how potential investors may participate in the auction and the nature of the obligations of the underwriter, dealer or agent in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, each class or series of securities will be a new issue with no established trading market, other than our common stock, which is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market. We may elect to list any other class or series of securities on any exchange, but we are not obligated to do so. It is possible that one or more underwriters may make a market in a class or series of securities, but the underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We cannot give any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or our purchasers (as their agents in connection with the sale of the securities). In addition, underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they act as agent. These underwriters, dealers or agents may be considered to be underwriters under the Securities Act. As a result, discounts, commissions, or profits on resale received by the underwriters, dealers or agents may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions. The prospectus supplement will identify any such underwriter, dealer or agent, and describe any compensation received by them from us. Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement. Unless the prospectus supplement states otherwise, our agent will act on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

We may authorize agents or underwriters to solicit offers by certain types of institutional investors to purchase securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. We will describe the conditions to these contracts and the commissions we must pay for solicitation of these contracts in the prospectus supplement.

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments made by the underwriters, dealers or agents, under agreements between us and the underwriters, dealers and agents.

 

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Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act, and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of our common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of our common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of our common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to our common stock.

We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of the securities an option to purchase additional securities to cover overallotments, if any, in connection with the distribution. Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the common stock in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the common stock originally sold by the dealer is purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the common stock to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. If any such activities will occur, they will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Underwriters or agents and their associates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business and any such relationships will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

If more than 10% of the net proceeds of any offering of securities made under this prospectus will be received by FINRA members participating in the offering or affiliates or associated persons of such FINRA members, the offering will be conducted in accordance with FINRA Conduct Rule 5110(h).

To the extent required, this prospectus may be amended or supplemented from time to time to describe a specific plan of distribution.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Morrison & Foerster LLP, Palo Alto, California. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in an applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements and schedule included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements and schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information at the SEC’s public reference rooms at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and our website at www.durect.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information contained on our website and you should not consider it to be part of this prospectus. In addition, you can read and copy our SEC filings at the office of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. at 1735 K Street, Washington, D.C. 20006.

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. In addition, information we file with the SEC in the future will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 3, 2015;

 

    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015 filed with the SEC on May 1, 2015, August 8, 2015 and November 3, 2015, respectively;

 

    our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2015, March 2, 2015, March 10, 2015, March 30, 2015 (two), May 13, 2015, May 18, 2015, June 16, 2015 and June 23, 2015; and

 

    our definitive Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on June 15, 2015 filed with the SEC on April 22, 2015 (other than information furnished rather than filed).

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, excluding, in each case, information deemed furnished and not filed until we sell all of the securities we are offering. Any statements contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement.

We will provide to you at no cost a copy of any and all of the information incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You may make a request for copies of this information in writing or by telephone. Requests should be directed to:

DURECT Corporation

10260 Bubb Road

Cupertino, CA 95014

Attn: Investor Relations

(408) 777-1417

 

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The information in this prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus supplement is not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities, in any state or other jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED NOVEMBER 3, 2015

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

LOGO

Up to $40,000,000

Common Stock

 

 

DURECT Corporation has entered into a Controlled Equity Offering SM sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., relating to shares of our common stock, par value US$0.0001, offered by this prospectus supplement. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $40,000,000 from time to time through Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., acting as agent. Sales of the shares of common stock, if any, may be made on the NASDAQ Global Market at market prices and such other sales as agreed upon by the Durect Corporation and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “DRRX.” On October 26, 2015, the last reported sale price of the common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market was $1.94 per share.

Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement may be made in sales deemed to be “at-the-market” equity offerings as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, including sales made directly on or through the NASDAQ Global Market, the existing trading market for our common stock, sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices related to such prevailing market prices, and/or any other method permitted by law, including in privately negotiated transactions. Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. will act as sales agent on a best efforts basis and use commercially reasonable efforts to sell on our behalf all of the shares of common stock requested to be sold by us, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on mutually agreed terms between Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. and us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. will be entitled to compensation at a fixed commission rate of 3.0% of the gross sales price per share sold. In connection with the sale of our common stock on our behalf, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts.

 

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES A HIGH DEGREE OF RISK. YOU SHOULD CAREFULLY READ AND CONSIDER THE RISK FACTORS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT, ANY ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND IN THE DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE INTO THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. SEE “ RISK FACTORS ” BEGINNING ON PAGE S-9.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

LOGO

The date of this prospectus supplement is             , 2015


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

     S-1   

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     S-2   

RISK FACTORS

     S-9   

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

     S-10   

USE OF PROCEEDS

     S-12   

DILUTION

     S-13   

PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

     S-14   

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     S-15   

LEGAL MATTERS

     S-16   

EXPERTS

     S-16   

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     S-17   

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     S-17   

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, we may offer shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $40,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus supplement at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering.

We provide information to you about this offering of shares of our common stock in two separate documents that are bound together: (1) this at-the-market sales agreement prospectus supplement, which describes the specific details regarding this offering; and (2) the accompanying base prospectus, which provides general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. Generally, when we refer to this “prospectus,” we are referring to both documents combined. If information in this at-the-market prospectus supplement is inconsistent with the accompanying base prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus supplement. However, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date—for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus—the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement as our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the earlier date.

You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering. We have not, and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., or Cantor, has 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. We are not, and Cantor is not, making an offer to sell or soliciting an offer to buy our securities in any jurisdiction in which an offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making that offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to make an offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of those respective documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Documents By Reference.”

We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of the common stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.

For purposes of this prospectus, references to the terms “DURECT,” we,” “us” and “our” refer to DURECT Corporation, unless the context otherwise requires.

This prospectus and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein include trademarks, service marks and trade names owned by us or other companies. All trademarks, service marks and trade names included or incorporated by reference into this prospectus are the property of their respective owners.

 

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary highlights certain information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, any free writing prospectus that we have been authorized to use and the documents incorporated by reference herein and in the accompanying base prospectus. This summary does not contain all the information you will need in making your investment decision. You should carefully read this entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying base prospectus, any free writing prospectus that we have been authorized to use and the documents incorporated by reference herein and in the accompanying base prospectus. You should pay special attention to the “Risk Factors” section of this prospectus and the financial statements and other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Our Business

Overview

We are a biopharmaceutical company focused on the development of pharmaceuticals based on our proprietary drug delivery technology platforms, new chemical entities derived from our Epigenomic Regulator Program, and our expertise in drug development. Our research and development programs broadly fall into one of two categories: (i) Drug Delivery Programs, in which we apply our formulation expertise and technologies largely to active pharmaceutical ingredients whose safety and efficacy have previously been established but which we aim to improve in some manner through a new formulation, and (ii) New Chemical Entities derived from our Epigenomic Regulator Program, in which we attempt to discover and develop molecules which have not previously been approved and marketed as therapeutics. We also manufacture and sell osmotic pumps used in laboratory research and design, develop and manufacture a wide range of standard and custom biodegradable polymers and excipients for pharmaceutical and medical device clients for use as raw materials in their products.

Our product pipeline currently consists of seven investigational drug candidates in clinical development, with three programs in Phase 3 or NDA stage, one program in Phase 2 and three programs in Phase 1. The most advanced programs are in the field of pain management and we believe that each of these targets large market opportunities with product features that are differentiated from existing therapeutics. We have other programs underway in fields outside of pain management, including central nervous system disorders, metabolic disorders, cardiovascular disease, acute organ injury, ophthalmic conditions and other chronic diseases.

A central aspect of our business strategy involves advancing multiple product candidates at one time, which is enabled by leveraging our resources with those of corporate collaborators. Thus, certain of our programs are currently licensed to corporate collaborators on terms that typically call for our collaborator to fund all or a substantial portion of future development costs and then pay us milestone payments based on specific development or commercial achievements plus a royalty on product sales. At the same time, we have retained the rights to other programs, which are the basis of potential future collaborations and which over time may provide a pathway for us to develop our own commercial, sales and marketing organization.

Additional details of our programs and related strategic agreements are contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and in our Note 2 of our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015.

POSIMIR™ (SABER ® -Bupivacaine, also previously known as POSIDUR™)

Our post-operative pain relief depot, POSIMIR, is a sustained release injectable using our SABER delivery system to deliver bupivacaine, an off-patent pharmaceutical agent. SABER is a patented controlled drug delivery technology that is administered via the parenteral (i.e., injectable) route to deliver drugs that act systemically or locally. POSIMIR is designed to be administered to a surgical site at the end of surgery for post-operative pain relief and is intended to provide local analgesia for up to 3 days, which we believe coincides with the time period of the greatest need for post-surgical pain control in most patients. We are in discussions with potential partners regarding licensing development and commercialization rights to POSIMIR, for which we hold worldwide rights.

 

NOTE: POSIMIR™, SABER ® , CLOUD™, TRANSDUR ® , ORADUR ® , DURIN ® , ALZET ® and LACTEL ® are trademarks of DURECT Corporation. Other trademarks referred to belong to their respective owners.

 



 

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        In April 2013, we submitted an NDA as a 505(b)(2) application, which relies in part on the FDA’s findings of safety and effectiveness of a reference drug. In June 2013, we announced that our NDA submission had been accepted by the FDA indicating that the application is sufficiently complete to permit a substantive review. In February 2014, we received a Complete Response Letter from the FDA. Based on its review, the FDA determined that they cannot approve the NDA in its present form, stating the NDA does not contain sufficient information to demonstrate that POSIMIR is safe when used in the manner described in the proposed label, and the FDA indicated that additional clinical safety studies need to be conducted. We had face-to-face meetings with the FDA in September and December 2014 to discuss what needs to be done to address the issues cited in the Complete Response Letter. As a result of these meetings and based on subsequent communications with the FDA, we announced in June 2015 that we plan to conduct a new POSIMIR Phase 3 clinical trial consisting of slightly over 300 patients undergoing laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) surgery. We are referring to this trial as PERSIST ( P lacebo Controlled Trial of SAB ER ™-Bupivacaine for the Management of Po s toperat i ve Pain Following Laparo s copic Cholecys t ectomy). We recently began recruiting patients for this trial and expect that it will take approximately one year to complete enrollment. This clinical trial is designed to generate data necessary to support an NDA resubmission.

REMOXY ® and other ORADUR ® -based opioid products licensed to Pain Therapeutics

In December 2002, we entered into an agreement with Pain Therapeutics, amended in December 2005, under which we granted Pain Therapeutics the exclusive, worldwide right to develop and commercialize selected long-acting oral opioid products using our ORADUR technology incorporating four specified opioid drugs. The first product being developed under the collaboration is REMOXY, a novel long-acting oral formulation of the opioid oxycodone targeted to decrease the potential for oxycodone abuse. REMOXY is intended for patients with chronic pain. In November 2005, Pain Therapeutics and King entered into collaboration and license agreements for the development and commercialization of REMOXY by King. In February 2011, Pfizer acquired King and thereby assumed the rights and obligations of King with respect to REMOXY and to the other ORADUR-based opioids.

Pain Therapeutics submitted an NDA for REMOXY to the FDA in June 2008, and in August 2008 the FDA accepted the NDA and granted priority review. In December 2008, Pain Therapeutics received a Complete Response Letter for its NDA for REMOXY in which the FDA determined that the NDA was not approved. According to Pain Therapeutics, the FDA indicated that additional non-clinical data would be required to support the approval of REMOXY, but the FDA had not requested or recommended additional clinical efficacy studies prior to approval. King assumed responsibility for further development of REMOXY from Pain Therapeutics in March 2009. In July 2009, King met with the FDA to discuss the Complete Response Letter. King took over the NDA from Pain Therapeutics and resubmitted the NDA in December of 2010. In February 2011, King was acquired by Pfizer. On June 23, 2011, a Complete Response Letter from the FDA was received by Pfizer on the resubmission to the NDA for REMOXY. The FDA’s June 2011 Complete Response Letter raised concerns related to, among other matters, the Chemistry, Manufacturing, and Controls section of the NDA for REMOXY. Pfizer undertook efforts to resolve these issues. In October 2013, Pfizer stated that, having achieved technical milestones related to manufacturing, they would continue the development program for REMOXY. Following guidance received from the FDA earlier in 2013, Pfizer announced that they were proceeding with the additional clinical studies and other actions required to address the Complete Response Letter. Pfizer stated that these new clinical studies would include, in part, a pivotal bioequivalence study with the modified REMOXY formulation to bridge to the clinical data related to the original REMOXY formulation, and an abuse-potential study with the modified formulation. We understand these studies have been completed, although we have not seen the results. It is possible that the results of such studies will not be satisfactory to the FDA or that they could suggest a lower commercial potential for REMOXY than previously had been expected. In October 2014, Pfizer notified Pain Therapeutics that Pfizer had decided to discontinue development of REMOXY, and that Pfizer would return all rights, including responsibility for regulatory activities, to Pain Therapeutics and that Pfizer would continue ongoing activities under the agreement until the scheduled termination date in April 2015. On April 21, 2015, Pain Therapeutics stated that it had resumed responsibility for REMOXY under the terms of a letter agreement with Pfizer. Pain Therapeutics further stated that Pfizer had started to transfer to Pain Therapeutics documents, data and regulatory responsibilities related to REMOXY, and that they expected the transfer to be substantially completed in the second quarter of 2015. In July 2015, Pain Therapeutics stated that it had substantially completed the transition of REMOXY from Pfizer, and that Pain Therapeutics expected to resubmit the NDA in the first quarter of 2016.

Phase I clinical trials have been conducted for two of the other ORADUR-based opioid product candidates (hydrocodone and hydromorphone), and an Investigational New Drug (IND) application has been accepted by the FDA for the fourth ORADUR-based opioid (oxymorphone). In October 2013, Pain Therapeutics stated that it had regained all rights from Pfizer with respect to the three other ORADUR-based opioid drug candidates (hydrocodone, hydromorphone and oxymorphone). In May 2015, Pain Therapeutics sent a letter to us that provided us with formal written notice that Pain Therapeutics is deleting, effective as of January 12, 2015, the opioid drug hydrocodone (and only hydrocodone) as a licensed product under our agreement. The letter does not alter the terms of our agreement regarding the remaining three licensed products (REMOXY, hydromorphone or oxymorphone) or otherwise amend the agreement.

 



 

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ELADUR ® (TRANSDUR ® -Bupivacaine)

Our transdermal bupivacaine patch (ELADUR) uses our proprietary TRANSDUR transdermal technology and is intended to provide continuous delivery of bupivacaine for up to three days from a single application, as compared to a wearing time limited to 12 hours with currently available lidocaine patches. In December 2007, we announced positive results from a 60 patient Phase IIa study for post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN or post-shingles pain).

Effective in October 2008, we entered into a development and license agreement with Alpharma granting Alpharma the exclusive worldwide rights to develop and commercialize ELADUR. Alpharma paid us an upfront license fee of $20 million in October 2008. Alpharma was acquired by King in December 2008 and, as a result, the rights and obligations of the agreement were assumed by King. In February 2011, Pfizer acquired King and thereby assumed the rights and obligations of King with respect to ELADUR.

We reported top line data from a Phase II clinical trial conducted by King for ELADUR in April 2011. In this study of 263 patients suffering from chronic low back pain, the primary efficacy endpoint of demonstrating a positive treatment difference for the mean change in pain intensity scores from baseline to the mean of weeks 11 and 12 between ELADUR as compared to placebo was not met.

In February 2012, Pfizer gave notice that its rights with respect to ELADUR were being returned to us. In January 2014, we and Impax Laboratories, Inc. (Impax) entered into a definitive agreement (the Impax Agreement) pursuant to which we have granted Impax an exclusive worldwide license to our proprietary TRANSDUR transdermal delivery technology and other intellectual property to develop and commercialize ELADUR, in addition to selling certain assets and rights in and related to the product. Impax will control and fund the development and commercialization programs, and the parties have established a joint management committee to oversee, review and coordinate the development and commercialization activities of the parties under the Impax Agreement.

ORADUR-ADHD Program

We are developing drug candidates (ORADUR-ADHD) based on DURECT’s ORADUR Technology for the treatment of ADHD. These drug candidates are intended to provide once-a-day dosing, or immediate release dosing, in each case with added tamper-resistant characteristics to address common methods of abuse and misuse of these types of drugs.

In August 2009, we entered into a development and license agreement with Orient Pharma Co., Ltd., a diversified multinational pharmaceutical, healthcare and consumer products company with headquarters in Taiwan, under which we granted to Orient Pharma development and commercialization rights in certain defined Asian and South Pacific countries to ORADUR-Methylphenidate. DURECT retains rights to North America, Europe, Japan and all other countries not specifically licensed to Orient Pharma. Since 2010, we and Orient Pharma have conducted several Phase I clinical trials in this program with multiple formulations. In 2013, we and Orient Pharma selected a lead formulation based on its potential for rapid onset of action, long duration for once-a-day dosing and target pharmacokinetic profile as demonstrated in a Phase 1 trial. In addition, this product candidate is expected to utilize a small capsule size relative to the leading existing long-acting products on the market. Orient Pharma has initiated a Phase 3 study in Taiwan and anticipates completing it in 2016. We retain rights to all other territories in the world and are engaged in licensing discussions with other companies.

Relday (risperidone) Program

On July 11, 2011, we and Zogenix, Inc. (Zogenix) entered into a development and license agreement for the purpose of developing and commercializing Relday, a proprietary, long-acting injectable formulation of risperidone using our SABER-controlled release formulation technology. Risperidone is one of the most widely prescribed medications used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar I disorder in adults and teenagers 13 years of age and older. Under the agreement, we granted Zogenix worldwide development and commercialization rights to Relday.

 



 

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On January 3, 2013, Zogenix reported positive single-dose pharmacokinetic (PK) results from the Phase 1 clinical trial of Relday. According to Zogenix, adverse events in the Phase 1 trial in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia were generally mild to moderate and consistent with other risperidone products. The Phase 1 clinical trial for Relday was conducted as a single-center, open-label, safety and PK trial of 30 patients with chronic, stable schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Per Zogenix, based on the favorable safety and PK profile demonstrated with the 25 mg and 50 mg once-monthly doses tested in the Phase 1 trial, Zogenix extended the study to include a 100 mg dose of the same formulation. In May 2013, Zogenix announced positive results with the 100 mg arm, demonstrating dose proportionality across the full dose range that would be anticipated to be used in clinical practice.

In March 2015, Zogenix commenced a Phase 1b multi-dose parallel clinical trial, enrolling 60 subjects, for which Zogenix announced positive top line results in September 2015. According to Zogenix, the results for Relday demonstrated that risperidone plasma concentrations in the therapeutic range were achieved on the first day of dosing, reached steady state levels following the second dose and consistently maintained therapeutic levels throughout the four-month period. Also according to Zogenix, Relday was generally safe and well-tolerated, with results consistent with the profile of risperidone and the previous Phase 1 single-dose clinical trial. Zogenix further stated that it has now initiated efforts to secure a development and commercialization partner for Relday, and that Relday is well-positioned to begin a Phase 3 program once a partner is secured.

Epigenomic Regulator Program and New Chemical Entities

DURECT’s Epigenomic Regulator Program involves a multi-year collaborative effort between DURECT and the Department of Internal Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), the VCU Medical Center and the McGuire VA Medical Center. The discoveries in this program are a result of more than 20 years of lipid research by Shunlin Ren, M.D., Ph.D., Professor of Internal Medicine at the VCU Medical Center and a recipient of multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for metabolic disease research. Epigenetics is the study of how reversible modifications of a cell’s DNA or histones (proteins associated with DNA) affect gene expression without altering the DNA sequence. Epigenomics is the study of large scale effects on cellular function and interrelated collections of epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic and epigenomics modifications play an important role in regulation of key cellular processes. DUR-928 is the program’s lead product candidate. DURECT holds the exclusive worldwide right to develop and commercialize DUR-928 and related molecules discovered in the program.

During the course of this program, a number of compounds have been identified that may have therapeutic utility for various diseases and syndromes for orphan indications as well as for broader patient populations. The lead compound from this program DUR-928 is an endogenous, orally bioavailable small molecule that modulates the activity of various nuclear receptors that play an important regulatory role in lipid homeostasis, inflammation and cell survival. A systems biology study involving over 23,000 genes showed that DUR-928 modulates the activity of more than 240 genes, including ACC, FAS, HMGR, Cyp7A1, LXR, PPAR g , NF k B/I k B, TNF a , IL-1 a , IL-6, COX-2, PCSK9, and others.

The biological activity of DUR-928 has been demonstrated in 8 different animal disease models involving three animal species. Four of these models represent acute organ injury (endotoxin shock, kidney, liver and brain) and four represent chronic disorders of hepatic lipid accumulation and dysfunction (e.g., nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)).

In pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies conducted in mice, hamsters, rats, dogs and monkeys, DUR-928 has been found to be orally bioavailable and safe at all doses tested to date. These non-clinical results supported the initiation of DUR-928 into human safety trials with an oral formulation. An oral formulation, envisioned for use in chronic conditions, has undergone initial testing in humans. Pharmacokinetic and toxicity studies with an injectable formulation were also conducted in rats and dogs; these non-clinical results supported the initiation of DUR-928 into human safety trials with the injectable formulation as well.

The initial Phase 1 trial of DUR-928 was a single-site, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single-ascending-dose study that evaluated the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of DUR-928 when orally administered. The 30-subject study evaluated DUR-928 in five cohorts of healthy volunteers receiving DUR-928 at escalating doses that resulted in peak plasma concentrations at least 100-fold higher than endogenous levels. DUR-928 was well-tolerated at all dose levels, with no treatment-related adverse events reported and no subjects withdrawing from the study. We subsequently conducted a Phase 1 multiple-ascending-dose, oral administration trial in 20 healthy subjects, evaluating DUR-928 in two consecutive 10-subject cohorts, the first receiving DUR-928 at a lower dose and the second at a higher dose. Following multiple dosing, DUR-928 was well-tolerated at both dose levels, with no clinically significant changes in vital signs, laboratory values or ECG parameters, no severe or serious drug-related adverse events reported and no subjects withdrawing from the study. Peak plasma concentrations achieved were at least 100-fold higher than endogenous levels, no accumulation in plasma concentrations were observed with repeat dosing, and dose related increases in plasma concentrations were observed with peak plasma concentration at approximately 2–6 hours after dosing.

 



 

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In addition to the oral administration studies described above, in August 2015 DURECT commenced a Phase 1 single-site, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, single-ascending-dose study that evaluated the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of DUR-928 when administered by injection. The 18 subject study evaluated DUR-928 in three cohorts of healthy volunteers receiving DUR-928 at escalating doses that resulted in peak plasma concentrations at least 100-fold higher than endogenous levels. DUR-928 was well-tolerated at all dose levels, with no treatment-related adverse events reported. DURECT will now move on to a multiple-dose Phase 1 trial with the injectable formulation.

Future Development Plans

DURECT is currently evaluating potential indications for DUR-928 in order to prioritize the development program. Long term opportunities fall into four broad categories: (a) orphan acute indications, (b) broader acute indications, (c) orphan chronic indications, and (d) broader chronic indications. DURECT’s initial patient studies, which we expect to commence in 2016, will be designed to evaluate safety and pharmacokinetics in liver and kidney function impaired patients at varying doses.

Other Programs

Depot Injectable Programs

In addition to biologic drugs, many traditional small molecule drugs have to be given by frequent injections, which is costly, inconvenient and may result in either unwanted side effects or suboptimal efficacy. We have active programs underway to improve our depot injectable systems and to apply those systems to various drugs and drug candidates, and have entered into a number of feasibility studies with biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to test their products in our systems. The Relday program with Zogenix and the ophthalmic program with Santen are two projects which started as depot injectable feasibility projects and then matured into development and license agreements.

Research and Development Programs in Other Therapeutic Categories

We have underway a number of research programs covering medical diseases and conditions other than pain. Such programs include various diseases and disorders of the central nervous system, cardiovascular disease, ophthalmic conditions and metabolic disorders. In conducting our research programs and determining which particular efforts to prioritize for formal development, we employ a rigorous opportunity assessment process that takes into account the unmet medical need, commercial opportunity, technical feasibility, clinical viability, intellectual property considerations, and the development path including costs to achieve various critical milestones.

Product Revenues

We also currently generate product revenue from the sale of three product lines:

 

    ALZET ® osmotic pumps for animal research use;

 

    LACTEL ® biodegradable polymers which are used by our customers as raw materials in their pharmaceutical and medical products; and

 

    certain key excipients that are included in REMOXY and one excipient that is included in a currently marketed animal health product.

Because we consider our core business to be developing and commercializing pharmaceuticals, we do not intend to significantly increase our investments in or efforts to sell or market any of our existing product lines. However, we expect that we will continue to make efforts to increase our revenue related to collaborative research and development by entering into additional research and development agreements with third-party collaborators to develop product candidates based on our drug delivery technologies.

 



 

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Our Corporate Information

We were incorporated in February 1998 under the laws of the State of Delaware. Our principal executive offices are located at 10260 Bubb Road, Cupertino, California 95014, and our telephone number is (408) 777-1417. Our website is www.durect.com. The information on or accessible through our website does not constitute part of this prospectus and should not be relied upon in connection with making any investment in our securities.

The common stock of DURECT is listed on NASDAQ under symbol “DRRX.”

 



 

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THE OFFERING

 

Common stock to be offered by us    Shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $40,000,000.
Common shares to be outstanding after this offering    141,140,966
Manner of offering    “At-the-market” offering that may be made from time to time through our sales agent, Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. See “Plan of Distribution.”
Use of Proceeds    We currently expect to use the net proceeds primarily for general corporate purposes, which may include clinical trials, research and development activities, capital expenditures, selling, general and administrative costs, facilities expansion and to meet working capital needs. See “Use of Proceeds.”
Risk Factors    Before investing in our common stock, you should carefully read and consider the “Risk Factors.”
NASDAQ Global Market symbol    “DRRX.”

 

The number of shares of common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 120,522,410 shares of common stock outstanding as of September 30, 2015 and a total offering of an aggregate of 20,618,556 shares of our common stock at a public offering price of $1.94 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on October 26, 2015, and excludes as of September 30, 2015:

 

    27,274,999 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under our stock option plans at a weighted average exercise price of $2.41 per share and 2,483,244 additional shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our stock option plan;

 

    an aggregate of 418,865 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and

 

    an aggregate of 4,242,229 shares of common stock issuable under our December 2013 Controlled Equity Offering SM sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., based on a public offering price of $1.94 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on October 26, 2015.

 



 

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RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the specific risks described below and the risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 and in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2015, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus in their entirety, as well as the other information contained in this prospectus and the other documents incorporated by reference, before making an investment decision. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information By Reference.” Any of the risks we describe below or in the information incorporated herein by reference in this prospectus could cause our business, financial condition or operating results to suffer. The market price of our common stock could decline if one or more of these risks and uncertainties develop into actual events. You could lose all or part of your investment.

A substantial number of shares may be sold in the market following this offering, which may depress the market price for our common stock.

Sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market following this offering could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. Although there can be no assurance that all $40,000,000 worth of shares being offered under this prospectus will be sold or the price at which any such shares might be sold, assuming that an aggregate of 20,618,556 shares of our common stock are sold during the term of the sales agreement with Cantor, in each case, for example, at a price of $1.94 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Select Market on October 26, 2015, upon completion of this offering, based on our shares outstanding as of September 30, 2015, we will have outstanding an aggregate of 141,140,966 shares of common stock, assuming no exercise of outstanding stock options and no purchases of stock under our employee stock purchase plan. A substantial majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock are, and all of the shares sold in this offering upon issuance will be, freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, unless these shares are owned or purchased by “affiliates” as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. In addition, we have also registered all of the shares of common stock that we may issue under our stock option and employee stock purchase plans, and as of September 30, 2015, 27,274,999 shares of common stock were issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under our stock option plans at a weighted average exercise price of $2.41 per share, 2,483,244 additional shares of common stock were reserved for issuance under our stock option plan, and an aggregate of 418,865 shares of common stock were reserved for future issuance under our 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. We have also registered for sale up to $8.2 million additional shares of our common stock under a Controlled Equity Offering SM program entered into with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. in December 2013. As a result, these shares can be freely sold in the public market upon issuance, subject to restrictions under the securities laws.

We may use the net proceeds of this offering in ways with which you may disagree.

We intend to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include clinical trials, research and development activities, capital expenditures, facilities expansion and working capital needs. Our management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering and could spend the proceeds in ways that do not improve our results of operations or enhance the value of our common stock. Accordingly, you will be relying on the judgment of our management with regard to the use of net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. Our failure to apply these funds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business, delay the development of our product candidates and cause the price of our common stock to decline.

You may experience future dilution as a result of future equity offerings or other equity issuances.

In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer and issue additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share in this offering. As of September 30, 2015, an aggregate of 418,865 shares of common stock were reserved and available for future grant under our 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Also as of such date, options to purchase 27,274,999 shares of our common stock were outstanding. You will incur dilution upon the grant of any shares pursuant to such plan, upon vesting of any stock awards under any such plan, or upon exercise of any such outstanding options.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION

This prospectus and the documents we incorporate by reference in this prospectus contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included or incorporated in this prospectus regarding our strategy, future operations, financial position, future revenues, projected costs, prospects, plans and objectives of management are forward-looking statements. We may, in some cases, use words such as “believe,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “estimate,” “project,” “expect” and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These statements are based on assumptions and assessments made by our management in light of its experience and its perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors our management believes to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those risks described or incorporated by reference in this prospectus under “Risk Factors” above.

Forward-looking statements included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus include, for example, statements about:

 

    potential regulatory filings for or approval of POSIMIR, REMOXY, DUR-928 or any of our other product candidates;

 

    the progress of our third-party collaborations, including estimated milestones;

 

    our intention to seek, and ability to enter into and maintain strategic alliances and collaborations;

 

    the potential benefits and uses of our products;

 

    responsibilities of our third-party collaborators, including the responsibility to make cost reimbursement, milestone, royalty and other payments to us, and our expectations regarding our collaborators’ plans with respect to our products and continued development of our products;

 

    our responsibilities to our third-party collaborators, including our responsibilities to conduct research and development, clinical trials and manufacture products;

 

    our ability to protect intellectual property, including intellectual property licensed to our collaborators;

 

    market opportunities for products in our product pipeline;

 

    the progress and results of our research and development programs;

 

    requirements for us to purchase supplies and raw materials from third parties, and the ability of third parties to provide us with required supplies and raw materials;

 

    the results and timing of clinical trials, including for POSIMIR, REMOXY, Relday, ORADUR-ADHD or DUR-928, and the possible commencement of future clinical trials;

 

    conditions for obtaining regulatory approval of our product candidates;

 

    submission and timing of applications for regulatory approval;

 

    the impact of FDA, DEA, EMEA and other government regulation on our business;

 

    the impact of potential Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) on our business;

 

    uncertainties associated with obtaining and protecting patents and other intellectual property rights, as well as avoiding the intellectual property rights of others;

 

    products and companies that will compete with the products we license to third-party collaborators;

 

    the possibility we may commercialize our own products and build up our commercial, sales and marketing capabilities and other required infrastructure;

 

    the possibility that we may develop additional manufacturing capabilities;

 

    our employees, including the number of employees and the continued services of key management, technical and scientific personnel;

 

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    our future performance, including our anticipation that we will not derive meaningful revenues from our products in development for at least the next twelve months, potential for future inventory write-offs and our expectations regarding our ability to achieve profitability;

 

    sufficiency of our cash resources, anticipated capital requirements and capital expenditures, our ability to comply with covenants of our term loan, and our need for additional financing, including potential sales under our shelf registration statement;

 

    our expectations regarding marketing expenses, research and development expenses, and selling, general and administrative expenses;

 

    the composition of future revenues; and

 

    accounting policies and estimates, including revenue recognition policies.

Any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results, developments and business decisions may differ from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements. We disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statements. You should also carefully consider other information set forth in reports or other documents that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

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USE OF PROCEEDS

The amount of proceeds from this offering will depend upon the number of shares of our common stock sold and the market price at which they are sold. There can be no assurance that we will be able to sell any shares under or fully utilize the sales agreement with Cantor as a source of financing. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the shares of common stock under this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include clinical trials, research and development activities, capital expenditures, selling, general and administrative costs, facilities expansion, and to meet working capital needs. We expect from time to time to evaluate the acquisition of businesses, products and technologies for which a portion of the net proceeds may be used, although we currently are not planning or negotiating any such transactions

The amounts actually expended for each purpose may vary significantly depending upon numerous factors, including the amount and timing of the proceeds from this offering and progress with the development of our products. Expenditures will also depend upon the establishment of collaborative arrangements with other companies, the availability of additional financing and other factors. Investors will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of the proceeds of any sale of shares of our common stock.

As of the date of this prospectus, we cannot specify with certainty all of the particular uses of the proceeds from this offering. Accordingly, we will retain broad discretion over the use of such proceeds. Pending the use of the net proceeds from this offering as described above, we intend to invest the net proceeds in investment-grade, interest-bearing securities.

 

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DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock, your interest will be diluted immediately to the extent of the difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of common stock after this offering.

The net tangible book value of our common stock as of September 30, 2015 was approximately $10.8 million, or approximately $0.09 per share. Net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets less total liabilities divided by the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding.

Dilution per share to new investors represents the difference between the amount per share paid by purchasers for our common stock in this offering and the net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately following the completion of this offering.

After giving effect to the sale of shares of common stock offered by this prospectus at an assumed public offering price of $1.94 per share (the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on October 26, 2015), and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value as of September 30, 2015 would have been approximately $49.4 million, or approximately $0.35 per share. This represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of approximately $0.26 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in as adjusted net tangible book value of approximately $1.59 per share to purchasers of our common stock in this offering, as illustrated by the following table:

 

Assumed public offering price per share

      $ 1.94   

Net tangible book value per share at September 30, 2015

   $ 0.09      

Increase in net tangible book value per share attributable to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering

   $ 0.26      
  

 

 

    

As adjusted net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2015 after giving effect to this offering

      $ 0.35   
     

 

 

 

Dilution per share to investors purchasing our common stock in this offering

      $ 1.59   
     

 

 

 

The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 20,618,556 shares of our common stock are sold at a price of $1.94 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on October 26, 2015, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $40,000,000. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices. An increase of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $2.94 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $40,000,000 is sold at that price, would increase our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $0.37 per share and would increase the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors to $2.57 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us. A decrease of $1.00 per share in the price at which the shares are sold from the assumed offering price of $0.94 per share shown in the table above, assuming all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $40,000,000 is sold at that price, would decrease our as adjusted net tangible book value per share after the offering to $0.30 per share and would decrease the dilution in net tangible book value per share to new investors to $0.64 per share, after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us.

The information discussed above is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual public offering price and other terms of this offering determined at pricing.

The above table is based on 120,522,410 shares outstanding as of September 30, 2015, and excludes as of such date:

 

    27,274,999 shares of common stock issuable upon the exercise of stock options outstanding under our stock option plans at a weighted average exercise price of $2.41 per share and 2,483,244 additional shares of common stock reserved for issuance under our stock option plan;

 

    an aggregate of 418,865 shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our 2000 Employee Stock Purchase Plan; and

 

    an aggregate of 4,242,229 shares of common stock issuable under our December 2013 Controlled Equity Offering SM sales agreement with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., based on a public offering price of $1.94 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NASDAQ Global Market on October 26, 2015.

To the extent that outstanding options are exercised, you will experience further dilution. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

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PRICE RANGE OF COMMON STOCK

Our common stock has been traded on the NASDAQ Global Market under the symbol “DRRX” since our initial public offering on September 28, 2000. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales prices for our common stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Market.

 

     Common Stock
Price
 

Year ended December 31, 2013

   Low      High  

First Quarter

   $ 0.90       $ 1.48   

Second Quarter

     0.76         1.85   

Third Quarter

     0.98         1.45   

Fourth Quarter

     1.20         1.77   

Year ended December 31, 2014

             

First Quarter

   $ 1.30         2.69   

Second Quarter

     1.26         1.89   

Third Quarter

     1.42         1.85   

Fourth Quarter

     0.68         1.48   

Year ending December 31, 2015

             

First Quarter

   $ 0.74         2.05   

Second Quarter

     1.80         3.42   

Third Quarter

     1.74         2.87   

Fourth Quarter (through October 26, 2015)

     1.79         2.22   

The closing sale price of our common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global Market on October 26, 2015 was $1.94 per share. As of that date there were approximately 113 holders of record of the common stock. This does not include the number of persons whose stock is in nominee or “street name” accounts through brokers. The market price of our common stock has been and may continue to be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of events and factors, such as progress in our development programs, quarterly variations in our operating results, announcements of technological innovations or new products by us or our competitors, changes in financial estimates and recommendations by securities analysts, the operating and stock performance of other companies that investors may deem comparable to us, and news reports relating to trends in our markets. These fluctuations, as well as general economic and market conditions, may adversely affect the market price for our common stock.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We have entered into a Controlled Equity Offering SM sales agreement, dated November 3, 2015, with Cantor (the “sales agreement”) under which we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate gross sales price of up to $40,000,000 from time to time through Cantor acting as agent. Sales of the shares of common stock, if any, may be made on the NASDAQ Global Market at market prices and such other sales as agreed upon by us and Cantor. The sales agreement has been filed as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form S-3 of which this prospectus forms a part.

Upon delivery of a placement notice and subject to the terms and conditions of the sales agreement, Cantor may sell our common stock by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the NASDAQ Global Market, on any other existing trading market for our common stock or to or through a market maker. Cantor may also sell our common stock by any other method permitted by law, including in privately negotiated transactions. We may instruct Cantor not to sell common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us from time to time. We or Cantor may suspend the offering of common stock upon notice and subject to other conditions.

We will pay Cantor commissions, in cash, for its services in acting as agent in the sale of our common stock. Cantor will be entitled to compensation at a fixed commission rate of 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds from each sale of our common stock. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. We have also agreed to reimburse Cantor for certain specified expenses, including the fees and disbursements of its legal counsel in an amount not to exceed $50,000, as provided in the sales agreement. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation and reimbursements payable to Cantor under the terms of the sales agreement, will be approximately $180,000.

Settlement for sales of common stock will occur on the third business day following the date on which any sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and Cantor in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of our common stock as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Cantor may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

Cantor will use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal sales and trading practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market, to solicit offers to purchase the common stock shares under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the sales agreement. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, Cantor will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of Cantor will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Cantor against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

The offering of our common stock pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate as permitted therein. We and Cantor may each terminate the sales agreement at any time upon 10 days’ prior notice.

Cantor and its affiliates may in the future provide various investment banking, commercial banking and other financial services for us and our affiliates, for which services they may in the future receive customary fees. To the extent required by Regulation M, Cantor will not engage in any market making activities involving our common stock while the offering is ongoing under this prospectus.

This prospectus in electronic format may be made available on a website maintained by Cantor and Cantor may distribute this prospectus electronically.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

The validity of the securities being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon by Morrison & Foerster LLP of Palo Alto, California. Cantor is being represented in connection with this offering by Cooley LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our financial statements and schedule included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, as set forth in their reports, which are incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements and schedule are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s reports, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We are a reporting company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC. You may read and copy these reports, proxy statements and other information at the SEC’s public reference rooms at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. You can request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference rooms. Our SEC filings are also available at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and our website at www.durect.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information contained on our website and you should not consider it to be part of this prospectus. In addition, you can read and copy our SEC filings at the office of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. at 1735 K Street, Washington, D.C. 20006.

We have filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the SEC relating to the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all of the information in the registration statement. For further information about us and the securities we are offering under this prospectus, you should refer to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed with the registration statement. With respect to the statements contained in this prospectus regarding the content of any agreement or any other document, in each instance, the statement is qualified in all respects by the complete text of the agreement or document, a copy of which has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. You may review a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet site at www.sec.gov.

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus. In addition, information we file with the SEC in the future will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

This prospectus incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that we have previously filed with the SEC:

 

    our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014 filed with the SEC on March 3, 2015;

 

    our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2015, June 30, 2015 and September 30, 2015 filed with the SEC on May 1, 2015, August 8, 2015 and November 3, 2015, respectively;

 

    our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 13, 2015, March 2, 2015, March 10, 2015, March 30, 2015 (two), May 13, 2015, May 18, 2015, June 16, 2015 and June 23, 2015; and

 

    our definitive Proxy Statement for our Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on June 15, 2015 filed with the SEC on April 22, 2015 (other than information furnished rather than filed).

We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, excluding, in each case, information deemed furnished and not filed until we sell all of the securities we are offering. Any statements contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference into this prospectus is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement.

We will provide to you at no cost a copy of any and all of the information incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You may make a request for copies of this information in writing or by telephone. Requests should be directed to:

DURECT Corporation

Investor Relations

10260 Bubb Road

Cupertino, CA 95014

Attn: Investor Relations

(408) 777-1417

 

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LOGO

Up to $40,000,000

Common Stock

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

 

LOGO

                    , 2015

 

 

 


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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other expenses of issuance and distribution

The following table sets forth all expenses, other than the underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with this offering. All the amounts shown are estimates except for the registration fee.

 

SEC registration fee

   $ 12,588   

Accounting fees and expenses

     50,000

Legal fees and expenses

     50,000

Transfer agent and registrar fees

     5,000

Printing expenses

     15,000

Miscellaneous

     2,412
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 135,000
  

 

 

 

 

* The fees listed represent fees attributable to the offer and sale of shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $40,000,000 from time to time under the prospectus supplement that forms a part of this registration statement. Fees associated with other offerings of securities pursuant to this registration statement will be calculated based on the securities offered and the number of such offerings, and, accordingly, we cannot estimate such additional fees at this time.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Our Amended Bylaws provide generally for indemnification of our officers, directors, agents and employees to the extent authorized by the DGCL. Pursuant to Section 145 of the DGCL, a corporation generally has the power to indemnify its present and former directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses incurred by them in connection with any suit to which they are, or are threatened to be made, a party by reason of their serving in such positions so long as they acted in good faith and in a manner they reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of a corporation, and with respect to any criminal action, they had no reasonable cause to believe their conduct was unlawful. With respect to suits by or in the right of a corporation, however, indemnification is not available if such person is adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation unless the court determines that indemnification is appropriate. In addition, a corporation has the power to purchase and maintain insurance for such person. The statute also expressly provides that the power to indemnify that it authorizes is not exclusive of any rights granted under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

As permitted by Section 102 of the DGCL, our stockholders have approved and incorporated provisions into Article XIII of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Article VI of our Amended Bylaws eliminating a director’s personal liability for monetary damages to us and our stockholders arising from a breach of a director’s fiduciary duty, except for liability under Section 174 of the DGCL or liability for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or its stockholders, for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or for any transaction in which the director derived an improper personal benefit. DURECT has also entered into agreements with its directors and certain of its officers that will require DURECT, among other things, to indemnify them against certain liabilities that may arise by reason of their status or service as directors to the fullest extent not prohibited by law.

Under Section 145 of the DGCL, we have broad powers to indemnify our directors and officers against liabilities they may incur in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

We have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our officers and directors in which we agree to indemnify and hold harmless the officer or director to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, or any inquiry or investigation not initiated by the officer or director, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of ours, or is or was serving at our request as a director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any and all expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and settlement amounts actually and reasonably incurred by such officer or director or on his or her behalf (including mandatory advancement of expenses), if such person acted in good faith and in a manner which such person believed to be or not opposed to our best interests. The indemnification agreements set forth procedures that apply in the event of a claim for indemnification thereunder.

 

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We also maintain insurance to protect ourselves and our directors, officers, employees and agents against expenses, liabilities and losses incurred by such persons in connection with their service in the foregoing capacities.

Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

(a) The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated herein by reference:

 

Exhibit
Number
   Description
  1.1    Controlled Equity Offering SM Sales Agreement, dated November 3, 2015, by and between the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
  1.2    Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Common Stock)*
  1.3    Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Preferred Stock)*
  1.4    Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Debt Securities)*
  3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (1)
  3.2    Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed on July 1, 2010)
  3.3    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (1)
  3.4    Amendment to Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 17, 2014)
  3.5    Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (2)
  3.6    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock of DURECT Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on August 5, 2010)
  4.1    Form of Common Stock Certificate (1)
  4.2    Form of Preferred Stock Certificate*
  4.3    Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement (including warrant certificate)*
  4.4    Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement (including warrant certificate)*
  4.5    Form of Unit Agreement (including form of unit certificate)*
  4.6    Form of Indenture
  5.1    Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP
12.1    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements
23.1    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2    Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1    Powers of Attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereto)
25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Debt Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Debt Securities) (3)

 

* To be filed by amendment or by a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
(1) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), originally filed with the SEC on April 20, 2000.

 

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(2) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-31615), filed with the SEC on July 10, 2001 (Exhibit A of Preferred Shares Rights Agreement).
(3) To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

Item 17. Undertakings

(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;

(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 a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement,

Provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the Registration Statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:

(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

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(i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

(ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;

(iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and

(iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.

 

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(7) That, insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(8) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Cupertino, State of California, on the 3rd day of November, 2015.

 

DURECT CORPORATION.
By:  

/s/ JAMES E. BROWN

 

James E. Brown

President and Chief Executive Officer

SIGNATURES AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints James E. Brown and Felix Theeuwes, and each of them severally, as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign this Registration Statement on Form S-3 to be filed in connection with the offering of securities of DURECT Corporation, and any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and any subsequent registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same with exhibits thereto, and the other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as they might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact or his substitutes, each acting alone, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has executed this Power of Attorney as of the date indicated.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and as of the dates indicated.

 

Signature

  

Title

  

Date

/S/ JAMES E. BROWN

James E. Brown

  

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

   November 3, 2015

/S/ FELIX THEEUWES

Felix Theeuwes

   Chairman and Chief Scientific Officer    November 3, 2015

/S/ MATTHEW J. HOGAN

Matthew J. Hogan

  

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Principal Accounting Officer)

   November 3, 2015

/S/ SIMON X. BENITO

Simon X. Benito

   Director    November 3, 2015

/S/ TERRENCE F. BLASCHKE

Terrence F. Blaschke

   Director    November 3, 2015

/S/ DAVID R. HOFFMANN

David R. Hoffmann

   Director    November 3, 2015

/S/ ARMAND P. NEUKERMANS

Armand P. Neukermans

   Director    November 3, 2015

/S/ JON S. SAXE

Jon S. Saxe

   Director    November 3, 2015

/S/ JAY SHEPARD

Jay Shepard

   Director    November 3, 2015

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
   Description
  1.1    Control Equity Offering SM Sales Agreement, dated November 3, 2015, by and between the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
  1.2    Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Common Stock)*
  1.3    Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Preferred Stock)*
  1.4    Form of Underwriting Agreement (for Debt Securities)*
  3.1    Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (1)
  3.2    Certificate of Amendment of the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to our Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to our Registration Statement on Form S-3, filed on July 1, 2010)
  3.3    Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (1)
  3.4    Amendment to Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed on December 17, 2014)
  3.5    Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (2)
  3.6    Certificate of Amendment to Certificate of Designation of Rights, Preferences and Privileges of Series A Participating Preferred Stock of DURECT Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.7 to our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (File No. 000-31615) filed on August 5, 2010)
  4.1    Form of Common Stock Certificate (1)
  4.2    Form of Preferred Stock Certificate*
  4.3    Form of Common Stock Warrant Agreement (including warrant certificate)*
  4.4    Form of Preferred Stock Warrant Agreement (including warrant certificate)*
  4.5    Form of Unit Agreement (including form of unit certificate)*
  4.6    Form of Indenture
  5.1    Opinion of Morrison & Foerster LLP
12.1    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividend Requirements
23.1    Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2    Consent of Counsel (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1    Powers of Attorney (included as part of the signature pages hereto)
25.1    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of Debt Trustee (to be filed prior to any issuance of Debt Securities) (3)

 

* To be filed by amendment or by a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
(1) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended (File No. 333-35316), originally filed with the SEC on April 20, 2000.
(2) Incorporated by reference to our Registration Statement on Form 8-A (File No. 000-31615), filed with the SEC on July 10, 2001 (Exhibit A of Preferred Shares Rights Agreement).
(3) To be filed in accordance with the requirements of Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

 

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Exhibit 1.1

DURECT C ORPORATION

Shares of Common Stock

(par value $0.0001 per share)

Controlled Equity Offering SM

Sales Agreement

November 3, 2015

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

499 Park Avenue

New York, NY 10022

Ladies and Gentlemen:

DURECT Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), confirms its agreement (this “ Agreement ”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (the “ Agent ”), as follows:

1. Issuance and Sale of Shares . The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through the Agent, shares of common stock (the “ Placement Shares ”) of the Company, par value $0.0001 per share (the “ Common Stock ”); provided , however , that in no event shall the Company issue or sell through the Agent such number or dollar amount of Placement Shares that would (a) exceed the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock registered on the effective Registration Statement (defined below) pursuant to which the offering is being made, (b) exceed the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock, (c) exceed the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock permitted to be sold under Form S-3 (including General Instruction I.B.6 thereof, if applicable) or (d) exceed the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock for which the Company has filed a Prospectus Supplement (defined below) (the lesser of (a), (b), (c) and (d), the “ Maximum Amount ”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 on the amount of Placement Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of Placement Shares through Agent will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed by the Company and at no earlier time than such time as the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue Common Stock.


On the date of this Agreement, the Company has filed or will file, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “ Securities Act ”) and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “ Securities Act Regulations ”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3, including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Placement Shares to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference certain documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and the rules and regulations thereunder. The Company has prepared a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus included as part of the registration statement, which prospectus supplement relates to the Placement Shares to be issued from time to time by the Company (the “ Prospectus Supplement ”). The Company will furnish to the Agent, for use by the Agent, copies of the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Placement Shares to be issued from time to time by the Company. The Company may file one or more additional registration statements from time to time that will contain one or more base prospectuses with respect to the Placement Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement(s), including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations, is herein called the “ Registration Statement .” The base prospectus or base prospectuses, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented, if necessary, by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus or prospectuses and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act Regulations, together with any issued Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below), is herein called the “ Prospectus .”

Any reference herein to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any Prospectus Supplement or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (defined below), shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein (the “ Incorporated Documents ”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act on or after the most-recent effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of the Prospectus Supplement, Prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated therein by reference. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the most recent copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System, or if applicable, the Interactive Data Electronic Application system when used by the Commission (collectively, “ EDGAR ”).

 

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2. Placements . Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell Placement Shares hereunder (each, a “ Placement ”), it will notify the Agent by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of the number of Placement Shares, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Placement Shares that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (a “ Placement Notice ”), the form of which is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 3 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Agent set forth on Schedule 3, as such Schedule 3 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective unless and until (i) the Agent declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, within two (2) Business Days (as defined below) of receipt, (ii) the entire amount of the Placement Shares thereunder have been sold, (iii) the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 13 . The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to Agent in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 2. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agent and the Agent does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control.

3. Sale of Placement Shares by Agent . Subject to the provisions of Section 5(a) , the Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the NASDAQ Global Market (the “ Exchange ”), to sell the Placement Shares up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice. The Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder setting forth the number of Placement Shares sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by the Agent (as set forth in Section 5(b) ) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. Subject to the terms of the Placement Notice, the Agent may sell Placement Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act Regulations, including without limitation sales made directly on the Exchange, on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker. Subject to the terms of a Placement Notice, the Agent may also sell Placement Shares by any other method permitted by law, including but not limited to in privately negotiated transactions, subject to the prior written consent of the Company. “ Trading Day ” means any day on which Common Stock is traded on the Exchange.

 

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4. Suspension of Sales . The Company or the Agent may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3), suspend any sale of Placement Shares (a “ Suspension ”); provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair any party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. While a Suspension is in effect any obligation under Sections 7(l) , 7(m) , and 7(n) with respect to the delivery of certificates, opinions, or comfort letters to the Agent, shall be waived. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against any other party unless it is made to and acknowledged (other than via auto-reply) by one of the individuals named on Schedule 3 hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

5. Sale and Delivery to the Agent; Settlement .

(a) Sale of Placement Shares . On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Agent’s acceptance of the terms of a Placement Notice, and unless the sale of the Placement Shares described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Placement Shares up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Agent will be successful in selling Placement Shares, (ii) the Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Placement Shares as required under this Agreement and (iii) the Agent shall be under no obligation to purchase Placement Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by the Agent and the Company.

(b) Settlement of Placement Shares . Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the third (3 rd ) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “ Settlement Date ”). The Agent shall notify the Company of each sale of Placement Shares no later than the opening of the Trading Day immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder. The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the “ Net Proceeds ”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by the Agent, after deduction for (i) the Agent’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, and (ii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.

 

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(c) Delivery of Placement Shares . On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Placement Shares being sold by crediting the Agent’s or its designee’s account (provided the Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee at least one Trading Day prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, the Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Placement Shares on a Settlement Date through no fault of the Agent, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 11(a) hereto, it will (i) hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) and (ii) pay to the Agent any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

(d) Denominations; Registration . If the Placement Shares are not being delivered in book-entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company, certificate, certificates for the Placement Shares, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Agent may request in writing at least one full Business Day (as defined below) before the Settlement Date. The certificates for the Placement Shares, if any, will be made available by the Company for examination and packaging by the Agent in The City of New York not later than noon (New York time) on the Business Day prior to the Settlement Date.

(e) Limitations on Offering Size . Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Placement Shares, the aggregate gross sales proceeds of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) together with all sales of Placement Shares under this Agreement, the Maximum Amount, (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement and (C) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Company’s board of directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to the Agent in writing. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to the Agent in writing. Further, under no circumstances shall the Company cause or permit the aggregate offering amount of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement to exceed the Maximum Amount.

 

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6. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with Agent that as of the date of this Agreement and as of each Applicable Time (as defined below), except as set forth below:

(a) Registration Statement and Prospectus . The Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements for and comply with the conditions for the use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has been or will be filed with the Commission and will be declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act before the date of the first Placement Notice. The Prospectus Supplement will name the Agent as the agent in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.” The Company has not received, and has no notice of, any order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, or threatening or instituting proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement and the offer and sale of Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement meet the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act and comply in all material respects with the rule. Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been or will be so described or filed. Copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, and all Incorporated Documents that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered, or are available through EDGAR, to the Agent and its counsel. The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of each Settlement Date and completion of the distribution of the Placement Shares, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Placement Shares other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, including any Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below).

(b) Listing . The Common Stock of the Company is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the Exchange under the ticker symbol “DRRX.” The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from the Exchange, nor has the Company received any notice that (i) it is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of the Exchange or (ii) the Commission or the Exchange is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. To the Company’s knowledge, it is in compliance with all applicable listing requirements of the Exchange. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements, other than with respect to the minimum bid price requirement. A registration statement relating to the Common Stock on Form 8-A or other applicable form under the Exchange Act has become effective.

(c) No Misstatement or Omission . The Registration Statement, when it became or becomes effective, did not, and will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto, on the date thereof and at each Applicable Time, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Incorporated Documents did not, and any further Incorporated Documents filed after the date of this Agreement will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such document or necessary to make the statements in such document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, any such document made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Company by Agent specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

 

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(d) Conformity with Securities Act and Exchange Act . The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and the Incorporated Documents, when such documents were or are filed with the Commission under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or became or will become effective under the Securities Act, as the case may be, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable. At each Settlement Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of such date, will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act.

(e) Financial Information . The financial statements of the Company (including all notes and schedules thereto) set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company for the periods specified in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“ GAAP ”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as otherwise stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and the summary and selected financial data included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein as at the respective dates and for the respective periods specified and are derived from the consolidated financial statements set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and other accounting records of the Company. No other schedules or financial statements are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), or any other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons, that could reasonably be expected to affect materially the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources or significant components of revenue or expenses. There is no non-GAAP financial information included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus

(f) Conformity with EDGAR Filing . The Prospectus delivered to the Agent for use in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement will be identical to the versions of the Prospectus created to be transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

(g) Organization . The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as currently being conducted and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification, except where the failure to have such power or authority or be so qualified in any such jurisdiction would not, individually, or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, operations, earnings, properties, assets, financial condition, prospects, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company, or prevent or materially interfere with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”). Complete and correct copies of the charter and bylaws of the Company and all amendments thereto have been filed publicly with the Commission, and no changes therein will be made on or after the date hereof through and including each Settlement Date, as the case may be.

 

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(h) Subsidiaries . The Company has no subsidiaries (as defined under the Securities Act) and no significant subsidiaries (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission). The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity interests or long term debt securities of any corporation, firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity, except for a single investment in a privately held Company with a value that is not material to the Company.

(i) No Violation or Default . The Company is not in breach or violation of nor in default under (nor has any event occurred which, with notice, lapse of time or both, would result in any breach or violation of, constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) (i) its charter or bylaws or other organizational documents; (ii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, lease, license, contract or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound or affected; (iii) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule, including, without limitation, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”) or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; (iv) any rule or regulation of any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the rules and regulations of the Exchange); or (v) any decree, judgment or order applicable to it or any of its properties, except for such defaults specified under subparagraphs (ii) through (v) herein that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no other party under any material contract or other agreement to which it is a party is in default in any respect thereunder where such default would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(j) No Material Adverse Change . The Company has not sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or, to the knowledge of the Company, court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as described in the Prospectus, except for such loss or interference as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been (i) any Material Adverse Effect or the occurrence of any development that the Company reasonably expects will result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any change in the capital stock or short-term or long-term debt, or any issuance of options, warrants, convertible securities or other rights to purchase capital stock (in each case, other than as a result of the grant or exercise of stock options and the offer to sell shares of stock and award shares of restricted stock under the Company’s existing equity incentive plans, the repurchase of shares of capital stock pursuant to agreements providing for an option to repurchase or a right of first refusal on behalf of the Company or the exercise of warrants outstanding as of the date hereof), of the Company, or (iii) any material adverse change in or affecting the business, prospects, operations, assets, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company taken as a whole, other than as described or contemplated in the Prospectus. Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company has not incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent taken as a whole (including any off-balance sheet obligations), entered into any material transactions, or declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock.

 

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(k) Capitalization . The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in each case as of the date set forth therein, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, were not issued in violation of or subject to, any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities and conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.” Except as otherwise described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and there are no preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, or any restriction upon the voting or transfer of, any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s charter, bylaws or any agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the Placement Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights for or relating to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company that have not been fully complied with or previously waived. Except as described or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no options, warrants, agreements, commitments, contracts or other rights in existence to purchase or acquire from the Company whether through a conversion, exchange or otherwise any shares of the capital stock of the Company or other securities (other than as a result of the grant of stock options under the Company’s existing equity incentive plans after the date(s) set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus). The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.

(l) Authorization; Enforceability . The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, the authorization, issuance and sale of the Placement Shares as contemplated by this Agreement. All corporate actions (including those of stockholders) necessary for the Company to consummate the transactions contemplated in this Agreement have been taken and are in effect. No approval of the Company (including the approval of its stockholders) is required under the rules and regulations of any trading market for the Company to issue and deliver to the Agents the Placement Shares. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification or contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws and except as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and subject to general principles of equity

 

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(m) Authorization of Placement Shares . The Placement Shares when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly authorized and, validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act and free of any lien, pledge, encumbrance, security interest or other claim including any statutory and contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal and similar rights and of any restriction upon the voting or transfer thereof pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Company’s charter or bylaws or any agreement or other instrument to which the Company is a party. The Placement Shares will conform in all material respects to the description of the Placement Shares contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.

(n) No Consents Required . No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration, qualification, permit, license, exemption, filing or notice (each, an “ Authorization ”) of, from, with or to any court, government, governmental or regulatory authority, self-regulatory organization or body (each, a “ Regulatory Body ”) is required for the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement or the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares by the Company, except (i) the registration of the Placement Shares under the Securities Act; and (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under the rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“ FINRA ”) or state securities or Blue Sky laws or any securities laws of jurisdictions outside of the United States or the Exchange; and no event has occurred that allows or results in, or after notice or lapse of time or both would allow or result in, revocation, suspension, termination or invalidation of any such Authorization or any other impairment of the rights of the holder or maker of any such Authorization.

(o) No Preferential Rights . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) no person, as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act (each, a “ Person ”), has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to issue or sell to such Person any Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, (ii) no Person has any preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal, or any other rights (whether pursuant to a “poison pill” provision or otherwise) to purchase any Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, (iii) no Person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Common Stock, and (iv) no Person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to require the Company to register under the Securities Act any Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, or to include any such shares or other securities in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby, whether as a result of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the sale of the Placement Shares as contemplated thereby or otherwise.

 

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(p) Independent Public Accounting Firm . Ernst & Young LLP (the “ Accountant ”), who has certified certain financial statements of the Company filed as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is (i) an independent public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board; (ii) a registered public accounting firm (as defined in Section 2(a)(12) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act; and (iii) in the performance of its work for the Company, not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(q) Enforceability of Agreements . All agreements between the Company and third parties expressly referenced in the Prospectus are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and, (ii) the indemnification provisions of certain agreements may be limited by federal or state securities laws or public policy considerations in respect thereof.

(r) No Litigation . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (i) there are no legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings pending, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any legal, governmental or regulatory audits or investigations, to which the Company is a party or to which any property of the Company is the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, no such actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; (iii) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory audits or investigations, actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Prospectus that are not so described; and (iv) there are no contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so filed.

(s) Consents and Permits . The Company holds, and is operating in compliance with, all franchises, grants, authorizations, licenses, permits, easements, consents, certificates, exemptions, designations, orders and other authorizations (each, a “ Permit ) of any Regulatory Body, including without limitation the United States Food and Drug Administration (the “ FDA ”) or any other federal, state or foreign agencies or bodies engaged in the regulation of clinical trials, pharmaceuticals, biologics, animal or human clinical studies or biohazardous substances, required for the conduct of its business or necessary for the ownership or lease of its properties, except where the failure to hold or comply with any such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; all such Permits are valid and in full force and effect; and the Company has not received written notice of any limitation, revocation, suspension, non-renewal or material modification of any such Permit or has reason to believe that any such Permit will not be renewed in the ordinary course of business. To the extent required by applicable laws and regulations of the FDA, the Company or a third party on its behalf has submitted to the FDA an Investigational New Drug Application or amendment or supplement thereto for each clinical trial it has conducted or sponsored or is conducting or sponsoring; all such submissions were in material compliance with applicable laws and rules and regulations when submitted and no material deficiencies have been asserted by the FDA with respect to any such submissions.

 

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(t) Regulatory Filings . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not failed to file with the applicable regulatory authorities (including, without limitation, the FDA, or any foreign, federal, state, provincial or local governmental or regulatory authority performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA) any required filing, declaration, listing, registration, report or submission, except for such failures that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, all such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions were in compliance with applicable laws when filed and no deficiencies have been asserted by any applicable regulatory authority with respect to any such filings, declarations, listings, registrations, reports or submissions, except for any failure to comply or deficiencies that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has operated and currently is, in all material respects, in compliance with the United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, all applicable rules and regulations of the FDA and other federal, state, local and foreign governmental bodies exercising comparable authority.

(u) Intellectual Property . Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company owns, possesses, licenses or has other rights to use all foreign and domestic patents, patent applications, trade and service marks, trade and service mark registrations, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, Internet domain names, know-how and other intellectual property (collectively, the “ Intellectual Property ”), necessary for the conduct of its business as now conducted except to the extent that the failure to own, possess, license or otherwise hold adequate rights to use such Intellectual Property would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (i) there are no rights of third parties to any such Intellectual Property owned by the Company; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (iii) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the Company’s rights in or to any such Intellectual Property, and the Company is unaware of any facts which could form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, proceeding or claim; (iv) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property; (v) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes or otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of others; (vi) to the Company’s knowledge, there is no third-party U.S. patent or published U.S. patent application which contains claims for which an Interference Proceeding (as defined in 35 U.S.C. § 135) has been commenced against any patent or patent application described in the Prospectus as being owned by or licensed to the Company; and (vii) the Company has complied in all material respects with the terms of each agreement pursuant to which Intellectual Property has been licensed to the Company, and all such agreements are in full force and effect, except, in the case of any of clauses (i)-(vii) above, for any such infringement by third parties or any such pending or threatened suit, action, proceeding or claim as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(v) Clinical Studies . The Company has operated and currently is in compliance with the United States Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, as amended, all applicable rules and regulations of the FDA and other federal, state, local and foreign governmental bodies exercising comparable authority, except where the failure to so operate or be in compliance would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The clinical studies conducted by or, to the Company’s knowledge, on behalf of the Company that are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus were, and, if still pending, are being, conducted in all material respects in accordance with the protocols submitted to the FDA and all applicable laws and regulations and the protocols, procedures and controls pursuant to, where applicable, accepted professional and scientific standards for products or product candidates comparable to those being developed by the Company; preclinical studies conducted by or, to the Company’s knowledge, on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries that are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus were, and, if still pending, are being, conducted in all material respects in accordance with experimental protocols, procedures and controls pursuant to, where applicable, accepted professional and scientific standards for products or product candidates comparable to those being developed by the Company; the descriptions of the tests and preclinical and clinical studies, and results thereof, conducted by or, to the Company’s knowledge, on behalf of the Company contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are accurate and complete in all material respects; and the Company is not aware of any other trials or studies, the results of which reasonably call into question the results described or referred to in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and the Company has not received any written notice or correspondence from the FDA or any foreign, state or local governmental body exercising comparable authority requiring the termination, suspension, or clinical hold of any preclinical or clinical studies with respect to product candidates currently under development, or such written notice or correspondence from any Institutional Review Board or comparable authority requiring the termination or suspension of a clinical study, conducted by or on behalf of the Company, which termination, suspension, or clinical hold would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) Market Capitalization . At the time the Registration Statement was or will be originally declared effective, and at the time the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K was filed with the Commission, the Company met or will meet the then applicable requirements for the use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, including but not limited to General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3. The Company satisfies the pre-1992 eligibility requirements for the use of a registration statement on Form S-3 in connection with this offering (the pre-1992 eligibility requirements for the use of the registration statement on Form S-3 include (i) having a non-affiliate, public common equity float of at least $150 million or a non-affiliate, public common equity float of at least $100 million and annual trading volume of at least three million shares and (ii) having been subject to the Exchange Act reporting requirements for a period of 36 months). The Company is not a shell company (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) and has not been a shell company for at least 12 calendar months previously and if it has been a shell company at any time previously, has filed current Form 10 information (as defined in General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3) with the Commission at least 12 calendar months previously reflecting its status as an entity that is not a shell company.

 

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(x) No Material Defaults . The Company has not defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not filed a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the filing of its last Annual Report on Form 10-K, indicating that it (i) has failed to pay any dividend or sinking fund installment on preferred stock or (ii) has defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) Certain Market Activities . Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement Shares.

(z) Broker/Dealer Relationships . Neither the Company nor any related entities (i) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or (ii) directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is a “person associated with a member” or “associated person of a member” (within the meaning set forth in the FINRA Manual).

(aa) No Reliance . The Company has not relied upon the Agent or legal counsel for the Agent for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares.

(bb) Taxes . The Company has timely filed all federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed and is not in default in the payment of any taxes which were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto, other than any that the Company is contesting in good faith, except for such returns, taxes and assessments the failure of which to file or pay would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no pending dispute with any taxing authority relating to any of such returns, and the Company has not received written notice of any proposed liability for any material tax to be imposed upon the properties or assets of the Company for which there is not an adequate reserve reflected in accordance with GAAP in the Company’s financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Except as otherwise disclosed in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company, which has or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or, in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no knowledge of any federal, state or other governmental tax deficiency whish has been or might be asserted or threatened against it which would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(cc) Title to Real and Personal Property . The Company has good and marketable title to all real property and material personal property (other than Intellectual Property) described in the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus as being owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made of such property by the Company; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made of such property and buildings by the Company. Each of the properties of the Company complies with all applicable codes, laws and regulations (including, without limitation, building and zoning codes, laws and regulations and laws relating to access to such properties), except to the extent disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or except for such failures to comply that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to interfere in any material respect with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received from any governmental or regulatory authorities any notice of any condemnation of, or zoning change affecting, the properties of the Company, and the Company knows of no such condemnation or zoning change which is threatened, except for such that would not reasonably be expected to interfere in any material respect with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or otherwise have a Material Adverse Effect, individually or in the aggregate.

(dd) Environmental Laws . The Company (i) is in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”); (ii) has received and is in compliance with all Permits required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its business; and (iii) has not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except in any such case for any such failure to comply, failure to receive required Permits or liability as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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(ee) Disclosure Controls . The Company maintains systems of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting (other than as set forth in the Prospectus). Since the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company included in the Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (other than as set forth in the Prospectus). The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to the certifying officers by others within the Company, including during the period in which the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, as the case may be, is being prepared. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of the Form 10-K for the fiscal year most recently ended (such date, the “ Evaluation Date ”). The Company presented in its Form 10-K for the fiscal year most recently ended the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date and the disclosure controls and procedures were effective. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls (as such term is defined in Item 307(b) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act) or, to the Company’s knowledge, in other factors that could significantly affect the Company’s internal controls.

(ff) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Each of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company (or each former principal executive officer of the Company and each former principal financial officer of the Company as applicable) has made all certifications required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it or furnished by it to the Commission. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

(gg) Finder’s Fees . Except as contemplated by this Agreement and as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no person is entitled to receive from the Company a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the transactions contemplated herein.

(hh) Labor Disputes . No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(ii) Investment Company Act . The Company is not or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Placement Shares, will not be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “ Investment Company Act ”).

 

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(jj) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements . There are no transactions, arrangements and other relationships between and/or among the Company, and/or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its affiliates and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structural finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity (each, an “ Off Balance Sheet Transaction ”) that could reasonably be expected to affect materially the Company’s liquidity or the availability of or requirements for its capital resources, including those Off Balance Sheet Transactions described in the Commission’s Statement about Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations (Release Nos. 33-8056; 34-45321; FR-61), required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as required.

(kk) Operations . The operations of the Company is and has been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions to which the Company or its Subsidiaries are subject, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”), except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(ll) Underwriter Agreements . The Company is not a party to any agreement with an agent or underwriter for any other “at-the-market” or continuous equity transaction.

(mm) ERISA . Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its affiliates for employees or former employees of the Company has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to, ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”). No prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption, including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 408 of ERISA and the regulatory guidance thereunder; and for each such plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no “accumulated funding deficiency” as defined in Section 412 of the Code has been incurred, whether or not waived, and the fair market value of the assets of each such plan (excluding for these purposes accrued but unpaid contributions) exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such plan determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions.

 

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(nn) Forward Looking Statements . No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) (a “ Forward Looking Statement ”) contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith. The Forward Looking Statements incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year most recently ended (i) are within the coverage of the safe harbor for forward looking statements set forth in Section 27A of the Securities Act, Rule 175(b) under the Securities Act or Rule 3b-6 under the Exchange Act, as applicable, (ii) were made by the Company with a reasonable basis and in good faith and reflect the Company’s good faith commercially reasonable best estimate of the matters described therein, and (iii) have been prepared in accordance with Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.

(oo) Agent Purchases . The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Agent has informed the Company that the Agent may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell Common Stock for its own account while this Agreement is in effect, provided, that (i) no such purchase or sales shall take place while a Placement Notice is in effect (except to the extent each Agent may engage in sales of Placement Shares purchased or deemed purchased from the Company as a “riskless principal” or in a similar capacity) and (ii) the Company shall not be deemed to have authorized or consented to any such purchases or sales by the Agent.

(pp) Margin Rules . Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Placement Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(qq) Insurance . The Company carries, or is covered by, insurance issued by insurers of nationally recognized financial responsibility in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries; and the Company has not (i) received written notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance; or (ii) reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business. All such insurance is outstanding and in force on the date hereof.

(rr) Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or an affiliate, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, or to the knowledge of the Company, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company, on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or by the rules of FINRA, and which is not so described. There are no outstanding loans, advances or guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the executive officers or directors of the Company in violation of applicable laws, including Section 402 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

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(ss) FCPA; Other Improper Practices . Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company, including without limitation any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company has, directly or indirectly, while acting on behalf of the Company (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity (including on behalf of himself or herself); (ii) made any unlawful payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state, municipal, or foreign office, any employees or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds or any other person charged with similar public or quasi public duties in violation of any law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; (iii) violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended or made any payment of funds of the Company or received or retained any funds in violation of any other law, rule or regulation, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. (i) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers and stockholders of the Company, on the other hand, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is not so described; (ii) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, or stockholders of the Company, on the other hand, that is required by the rules of FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is not so described; (iii) except as described in the Prospectus, there are no material outstanding loans or advances or material guarantees of indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of its officers or directors or any of the members of the families of any the Company; and (iv) the Company has not offered, or caused any placement agent to offer, Common Stock to any person with the intent to influence unlawfully (A) a customer or supplier of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or (B) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or any of its products or services.

(tt) Status Under the Securities Act . At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Placement Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, nor an “excluded issuer” as defined in Rule 164 under the Securities Act.

(uu) No Misstatement or Omission in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus . Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and as of each Applicable Time (as defined below), did not, does not and will not, through the completion of the Placement for which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is used or deemed used, include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any Incorporated Document that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent specifically for use therein.

 

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(vv) No Conflicts . Neither the execution of this Agreement, nor the issuance, offering or sale of the Placement Shares, nor the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated herein, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with, or will result in a breach of, any of the terms and provisions of, or has constituted or will constitute a default under, or has resulted in or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any contract or other agreement to which the Company may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, except (i) such conflicts, breaches or defaults as may have been waived and (ii) such conflicts, breaches and defaults that would not have a Material Adverse Effect; nor will such action result (x) in any violation of the provisions of the organizational or governing documents of the Company, or (y) in any material violation of the provisions of any statute or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or of any court or of any federal, state or other regulatory authority or other government body having jurisdiction over the Company.

(ww) Foreign Practice . Neither the Company nor any of its controlled affiliates does business, or has engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealing or transactions with the government of, or with any person located in any country in a manner that violates in any respect any of the economic sanctions programs or similar sanctions-related measures of the United States as administered by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority; and the net proceeds from this offering will not be used directly or indirectly to fund any operations in, finance any investments in or make any payments to any country, or to make any payments to any person, in a manner that violates any of the economic sanctions of the United States administered by the United States Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control or other relevant sanctions authority.

(xx) Stock Transfer Taxes . On each Settlement Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes) which are required to be paid in connection with the sale and transfer of the Placement Shares to be sold hereunder will be, or will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company and all laws imposing such taxes will be or will have been fully complied with.

 

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(yy) Compliance with Laws . The Company: (A) is and at all times has been in compliance in all material respects with all statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, marketing, labeling, promotion, sale, offer for sale, storage, import, export or disposal of any product manufactured or distributed by the Company (“ Applicable Laws ”), except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; (B) has not received any FDA Form 483, notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from the FDA or any other governmental authority alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any licenses, certificates, approvals, clearances, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto required by any such Applicable Laws (“ Authorizations ”); (C) possesses all material Authorizations and such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and are not in material violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (D) has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any governmental authority or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such governmental authority or third party is considering any such claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; (E) has not received notice that any governmental authority has taken, is taking or intends to take action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such governmental authority is considering such action; (F) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments were complete and correct on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission); and (G) has not, either voluntarily or involuntarily, initiated, conducted, or issued or caused to be initiated, conducted or issued, any recall, market withdrawal or replacement, safety alert, post-sale warning, “dear doctor” letter, or other notice or action relating to the alleged lack of safety or efficacy of any product or any alleged product defect or violation and, to the Company’s knowledge, no third party has initiated, conducted or intends to initiate any such notice or action.

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Agent or to counsel for the Agent pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company, as applicable, to the Agent as to the matters set forth therein.

7. Covenants of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees with Agent that:

(a) Registration Statement Amendments . After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by Agent under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), (i) the Company will notify the Agent promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Agent’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Agent’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by the Agent (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the failure to make such filing shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares or a security convertible into the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to Agent within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Agent has not objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy Agent shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to obtain such consent shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement); (iv) the Company will furnish to the Agent at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (v) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or, in the case of any document to be incorporated therein by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed (the determination to file or not file any amendment or supplement with the Commission under this Section 7(a) , based on the Company’s reasonable opinion or reasonable objections, shall be made exclusively by the Company).

 

 

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(b) Notice of Commission Stop Orders . The Company will advise the Agent, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued. The Company will advise the Agent promptly after it receives any request by the Commission for any amendments to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplements to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information related to the offering of the Placement Shares or for additional information related to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

(c) Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes . During any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act with respect to the offer and sale of the Placement Shares, (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, it will use best efforts to comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430B and to notify the Agent promptly of all such filings. If during the pendency of any Placement Notice that has not been suspended any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify Agent to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, provided, however, that the Company may delay any such amendment or supplement if, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, it is in the best interests of the Company to do so.

 

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(d) Listing of Placement Shares . During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act with respect to the offer and sale of the Placement Shares, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on the Exchange.

(e) Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus . The Company will furnish to the Agent and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all Incorporated Documents) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all Incorporated Documents filed with the Commission during such period), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request and, at the Agent’s request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Shares may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to the Agent to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.

(f) Earnings Statement . The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 of the Securities Act.

(g) Use of Proceeds . The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”

 

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(h) Notice of Other Sales . Without the prior written consent of Agent, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock during the period beginning on the fifth (5th) Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which any Placement Notice is delivered to Agent hereunder and ending on the fifth (5th) Trading Day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Shares sold pursuant to such Placement Notice (or, if the Placement Notice has been terminated or suspended prior to the sale of all Placement Shares covered by a Placement Notice, the date of such suspension or termination); and will not directly or indirectly in any other “at-the-market” or continuous equity transaction offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, Common Stock prior to the later of the termination of this Agreement and the sixtieth (60 th ) day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Shares sold pursuant to such Placement Notice; provided, however, that such restrictions will not apply in connection with the Company’s issuance or sale of (i) Common Stock, options to purchase Common Stock or Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options, pursuant to any employee or director stock option or benefits plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan (but not Common Stock subject to a waiver to exceed plan limits in its dividend reinvestment plan) of the Company whether now in effect or hereafter implemented, (ii) Common Stock issuable upon conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding, and disclosed in filings by the Company available on EDGAR or otherwise in writing to the Agent and (iii) Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock as consideration for mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations, or strategic alliances occurring after the date of this Agreement which are not issued for capital raising purposes.

(i) Change of Circumstances . The Company will, at any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice advise the Agent promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document required to be provided to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement.

(j) Due Diligence Cooperation . The Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Agent or its representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as the Agent may reasonably request.

(k) Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Shares . The Company agrees that on such dates as the Securities Act shall require the filing of a prospectus supplement with respect to the sale of Placement Shares hereunder, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (each and every filing date under Rule 424(b), a “ Filing Date ”), which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the amount of Placement Shares sold through the Agent, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent with respect to such Placement Shares, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market.

(l) Representation Dates Certificate . (1) On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice and (2) following delivery of the first Placement Notice each time the Company:

(i) files the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares or amends or supplements (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to an offering of securities other than the Placement Shares) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares;

 

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(ii) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act (including any Form 10-K/A containing amended financial information or a material amendment to the previously filed Form 10-K);

(iii) files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or

(iv) files a current report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information “furnished” pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act, if the Agent reasonably determines that the information contained in such Form 8-K is material (the filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clause (i) through (iv) shall be a “ Representation Date ”);

the Company shall furnish the Agent (but in the case of clause (iv) above only if the Agent reasonably determines that the information contained in such Form 8-K is material) with a certificate dated the Representation Date, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l). The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time in which no Placement Notice is pending (including as a result of a Suspension being in effect), which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers instructions for the sale of Placement Shares hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Representation Date when a Suspension was in effect and did not provide the Agent with a certificate under this Section 7(l ), then before the Company delivers the instructions for the sale of Placement Shares or the Agent sells any Placement Shares pursuant to such instructions, the Company shall provide the Agent with a certificate in conformity with this Section 7(l) dated as of the date that the instructions for the sale of Placement Shares are issued.

(m) Legal Opinions . (1) On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice and (2) within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable and excluding the date of this Agreement, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agent a written opinion and negative assurance letter of each of (A) Morrison & Foerster LLP (“ Company Counsel ”), or other counsel satisfactory to the Agent and (B) Steve Helmer (“ IP Counsel ”), or other counsel satisfactory to the Agent, in each case in form and substance satisfactory to Agent and its counsel, substantially similar to the forms attached hereto as Exhibits 7(m)-1 and 7(m)-2, respectively, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, however, the Company shall be required to furnish to Agent no more than one opinion from each of Company Counsel and IP Counsel hereunder per calendar quarter; provided, further, that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent periodic filings under the Exchange Act, counsel may furnish the Agent with a letter (a “ Reliance Letter ”) to the effect that the Agent may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(m) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the date of the Reliance Letter).

 

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(n) Comfort Letter . (1) On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice and (2) within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable and excluding the date of this Agreement, the Company shall cause its independent registered public accounting firm to furnish the Agent letters (the “ Comfort Letters ”), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, which shall meet the requirements set forth in this Section 7(n) ; provided, that if requested by the Agent, the Company shall cause a Comfort Letter to be furnished to the Agent within ten (10) Trading Days of the date of occurrence of any material transaction or event, including the restatement of the Company’s financial statements. The Comfort Letter from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm shall be in a form and substance satisfactory to the Agent, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “ Initial Comfort Letter ”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

(o) Market Activities . The Company has not and will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of Common Stock or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase the Placement Shares, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Placement Shares other than the Agent.

(p) Investment Company Act . The Company is not and will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that it will not be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, required to register as an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

(q) No Offer to Sell . Other than a Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, neither the Agent nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Agent in its capacity as such) will make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), required to be filed with the Commission, that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy Placement Shares hereunder.

 

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(r) Blue Sky and Other Qualifications . The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Agent, to qualify the Placement Shares for offering and sale, or to obtain an exemption for the Placement Shares to be offered and sold, under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Agent may designate and to maintain such qualifications and exemptions in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement); provided , however , that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Placement Shares have been so qualified or exempt, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification or exemption, as the case may be, in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement).

(s) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . The Company will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting its assets and maintain internal accounting controls in a manner designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (iii) that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with management’s and the Company’s directors’ authorization, and (iv) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company will maintain such controls and other procedures, including, without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the applicable regulations thereunder that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to them by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which such periodic reports are being prepared.

(t) Secretary’s Certificate; Further Documentation . On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice, the Company shall deliver to the Agent a certificate of the Secretary of the Company and attested to by an executive officer of the Company, dated as of such date, certifying as to (i) the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, (ii) the By-laws of the Company, (iii) the resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the issuance of the Placement Shares and (iv) the incumbency of the officers duly authorized to execute this Agreement and the other documents contemplated by this Agreement. Within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such further information, certificates and documents as the Agent may reasonably request.

 

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8. Payment of Expenses . The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, including any fees required by the Commission, and the printing or electronic delivery of the Prospectus as originally filed and of each amendment and supplement thereto, in such number as the Agent shall deem necessary, (ii) the printing and delivery to the Agent of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates, if any, for the Placement Shares to the Agent, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares to the Agent, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Company, (v) the fees and disbursements of the counsel to the Agent, payable upon the execution of this Agreement, in an amount not to exceed $50,000; (vi) the qualification or exemption of the Placement Shares under state securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(r) hereof, including filing fees, (vii) the printing and delivery to the Agent of copies of any Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto in such number as the Agent shall deem necessary, (viii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the Agent of copies of the blue sky survey, (ix) the fees and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock, (x) the filing and other fees incident to any review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Placement Shares including the fees of the Agent’s counsel (subject to the cap, set forth in clause (v) above), and (xi) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange.

9. Representations and Covenants of Agent . Agent represents and warrants that it is duly registered as a broker-dealer under FINRA, the Exchange Act and the applicable statutes and regulations of each state in which the Placement Shares will be offered and sold, except such states in which Agent is exempt from registration or such registration is not otherwise required. Agent shall continue, for the term of this Agreement, to be duly registered as a broker-dealer under FINRA, the Exchange Act and the applicable statutes and regulations of each state in which the Placement Shares will be offered and sold, except such states in which Agent is exempt from registration or such registration is not otherwise required, during the term of this Agreement. Agent will comply with all applicable law and regulations in connection with the Placement Shares, including but not limited to Regulation M.

 

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10. Conditions to Agent’s Obligations . The obligations of the Agent hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company herein, to the due performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, to the completion by the Agent of a due diligence review satisfactory to it in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by the Agent in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions as of each Representation Date:

(a) Registration Statement Effective . The Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be available for the (i) resale of all Placement Shares issued to the Agent and not yet sold by the Agent and (ii) sale of all Placement Shares contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice.

(b) No Material Notices . None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus if such post effective amendments or supplements have not been made and become effective; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material Incorporated Document untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or material Incorporated Document so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and so that, in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(c) No Misstatement or Material Omission . The Agent shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in the Agent’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in the Agent’s reasonable opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

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(d) Material Changes . Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change in the authorized capital stock of the Company or any Material Adverse Effect or any development that could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect, or a downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities) by any rating organization or a public announcement by any rating organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating of any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities), the effect of which, in the case of any such action by a rating organization described above, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent (without relieving the Company of any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

(e) Legal Opinion . The Agent shall have received the opinions of Company Counsel and IP Counsel required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(m) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(m) .

(f) Comfort Letter . The Agent shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n) on or before the date on which such delivery of such Comfort Letter is required pursuant to Section 7(n) .

(g) Representation Certificate . The Agent shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(l) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(l) .

(h) No Suspension . Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended on the Exchange and the Common Stock shall not have been delisted from the Exchange.

(i) Other Materials . On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(l) , the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such appropriate further information, opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Agent may reasonably request. All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof.

(j) Securities Act Filings Made . All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

(k) Approval for Listing . The Placement Shares shall either have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or the Company shall have filed a notice for listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.

(l) FINRA . FINRA shall have raised no objection to the terms of this offering and the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Agent as described in the Prospectus.

(m) No Termination Event . There shall not have occurred any event that would permit the Agent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 13(a) .

 

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11. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) Company Indemnification . The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent, its partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 11(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be delayed or withheld; and

(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above,

provided , however , that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made solely in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

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(b) Agent Indemnification . Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 11(a) , as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or the Prospectus, (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the Agent expressly for use therein. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Agent has furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the seventh and eighth paragraphs under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus.

(c) Procedure . Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 11 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 11 , notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 11 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 11 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent if such consent is required by this Section 11(c) . No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 11 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (1) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (2) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

32


(d) Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse . If an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 11(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (1) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (2) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (3) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

(e) Contribution . In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 11 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable from the Company or the Agent, the Company and the Agent will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than the Agent, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and the Agent may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total Net Proceeds from the sale of the Placement Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by the Agent (before deducting expenses) from the sale of Placement Shares on behalf of the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Agent, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 11(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 11(e) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 11(e) , any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 11(c) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11(e) , the Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 11(e) , any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of the Agent, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each director of the Company and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 11(e) , will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 11(e) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 11(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 11(c) hereof.

 

33


12. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery . The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 11 of this Agreement and all representations and warranties of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any of its officers, directors or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

13. Termination .

(a) The Agent may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (1) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the business, properties, earnings, results of operations or prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which individually or in the aggregate, in the sole judgment of the Agent is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Placement Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Shares, (2) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Agent, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Placement Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Shares, (3) if trading in the Common Stock has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or if trading generally on the Exchange has been suspended or limited, or minimum prices for trading have been fixed on the Exchange, (4) if any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market shall have occurred and be continuing, (5) if a major disruption of securities settlements or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred and be continuing, or (6) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. Federal or New York authorities. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If the Agent elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 13(a) , the Agent shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 14 (Notices).

 

34


(b) The Company shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8 , Section 11 , Section 12 , Section 18 and Section 19 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(c) The Agent shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 8 , Section 11 , Section 12 , Section 18 and Section 19 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(d) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 13(a) , (b)  or (c)  above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 8 , Section 11 , Section 12 , Section 18 and Section 19 shall remain in full force and effect.

(e) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agent or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

35


14. Notices . All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified, and if sent to the Agent, shall be delivered to:

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
499 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention:    Capital Markets/Jeff Lumby
Facsimile:    (212) 307-3730

with copies to

 

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.
499 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10022
Attention:    General Counsel
Facsimile:    (212) 829-4708

and with a copy to:

 

Cooley LLP
1114 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10036
Attention:    Daniel I. Goldberg, Esq.
Facsimile:    (212) 479-6275

and if to the Company, shall be delivered to:

 

Durect Corporation
10260 Bubb Road
Cupertino, California 95014
Attention:    Matthew J. Hogan
   Chief Financial Officer
Facsimile:    (408) 777 3577

with a copy to:

 

Morrison & Foerster LLP
755 Page Mill Road
Palo Alto, California 94304
Attention:    Stephen B. Thau
Facsimile:    (650) 251-3745

 

36


Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally or by verifiable facsimile transmission (with an original to follow) on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, “ Business Day ” shall mean any day on which the Exchange and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.

An electronic communication (“ Electronic Notice ”) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this Section 14 if sent to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party under separate cover. Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives verification of receipt by the receiving party. Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a nonelectronic form (“ Nonelectronic Notic e ”) which shall be sent to the requesting party within ten (10) days of receipt of the written request for Nonelectronic Notice.

15. Successors and Assigns . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Agent and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 11 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the Agent may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate thereof without obtaining the Company’s consent.

16. Adjustments for Stock Splits . The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Placement Shares.

17. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability . This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto and Placement Notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Agent. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement.

 

37


18. Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial . THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME. THE COMPANY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

19. Consent to Jurisdiction . EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR THAT THE VENUE OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF (CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.

20. Use of Information. The Agent may not provide any information gained in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including due diligence, to any third party other than its legal counsel advising it on this Agreement unless expressly approved by the Company in writing.

21. Counterparts . This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile transmission.

22. Effect of Headings .

The section and exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

38


23. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses .

The Company represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Agent, and the Agent represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Placement Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Agent or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a “ Permitted Free Writing Prospectus .” The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit 23 hereto are Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.

24. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

(a) the Agent is acting solely as agent in connection with the public offering of the Placement Shares and in connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transactions, and no fiduciary or advisory relationship between the Company or any of its respective affiliates, stockholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not the Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters, and the Agent has no obligation to the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement;

(b) it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

(c) neither the Agent nor its affiliates have provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;

(d) it is aware that the Agent and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Agent and its affiliates have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and

(e) it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Agent or its affiliates for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale of Placement Shares under this Agreement and agrees that the Agent and its affiliates shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Company, employees or creditors of Company, other than in respect of the Agent’s obligations under this Agreement and to keep information provided by the Company to the Agent and the Agent’s counsel confidential to the extent not otherwise publicly-available.

 

39


25. Definitions .

As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

Applicable Time ” means (i) each Representation Date and (ii) the time of each sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Placement Shares that (1) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (2) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (3) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Placement Shares or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act Regulations.

Rule 164 ,” “ Rule 172 ,” “ Rule 405 ,” “ Rule 415 ,” “ Rule 424 ,” “ Rule 424(b) ,” “ Rule 430B ,” and “ Rule 433 ” refer to such rules under the Securities Act Regulations.

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433, are not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; and all references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include, without limitation, any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Shares by the Agent outside of the United States.

[ Signature Page Follows ]

 

40


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the Agent, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Agent.

 

Very truly yours,
DURECT CORPORATION
By:  

/s/ Matthew J. Hogan

  Name: Matthew J. Hogan
  Title: Chief Financial Officer
ACCEPTED as of the date first-above written:
CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.
By:  

/s/ Jeffrey Lumby

  Name: Jeffrey Lumby
  Title: Senior Managing Director


SCHEDULE 1

 

 

FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE

 

 

 

From:    DURECT Corporation.
To:   

Cantor Fitzgerald & Co.

Attention:                     

Subject:    Placement Notice
Date:    [●], 201[●]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Sales Agreement between Durect Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“ Agent ”), dated November 3, 2015, the Company hereby requests that the Agent sell up to                      of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share, at a minimum market price of $         per share, during the time period beginning [month, day, time] and ending [month, day, time].

[    ]

[Name, Title]

 

cc: [    ]


SCHEDULE 2

 

 

Compensation

 

 

The Company shall pay to the Agent in cash, upon each sale of Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement, an amount equal to 3.0% of the aggregate gross proceeds from each sale of Placement Shares.


SCHEDULE 3

 

 

Notice Parties

 

 

The Company

Matthew J. Hogan (matt.hogan@durect.com)

Jian Li (jian.li@durect.com)

The Agent

Jeff Lumby (jlumby@cantor.com)

Josh Feldman (jfeldman@cantor.com)

Sameer Vasudev (svasudev@cantor.com)

With copy to:

Controlled Equity Offering Group (CFCEO@cantor.com)


EXHIBIT 7(l)

Form of Representation Date Certificate

The undersigned, the duly qualified and elected                                         , of Durect Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), does hereby certify in such capacity and on behalf of the Company, pursuant to Section 7(l) of the Sales Agreement, dated November 3, 2015 (the “ Sales Agreement ”), between the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., that to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned:

(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in Section 6 of the Sales Agreement (A) to the extent such representations and warranties are subject to qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, are true and correct on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof, except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date, and (B) to the extent such representations and warranties are not subject to any qualifications or exceptions, are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof as if made on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof, except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date; and

(ii) The Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied pursuant to the Sales Agreement at or prior to the date hereof.

 

DURECT CORPORATION
By:  

 

Name:  

 

Title:  

 

 

Date:  

 


Exhibit 23

Permitted Free Writing Prospectus

None.

EXHIBIT 4.6

DURECT CORPORATION

AND

 

 

 

 

Trustee

INDENTURE

Dated as of                    

Debt Securities


Reconciliation and tie between

Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended,

and the Indenture

 

Trust Indenture Act Section

   Indenture Section

(S)310(a)(1)

   6.8

(a)(2)

   6.8

(b)

   6.9

(S)312(a)

   7.1

(b)

   7.2

(c)

   7.2

(S)313(a)

   7.3

(b)(2)

   7.3

(c)

   7.3

(d)

   7.3

(S)314(a)

   7.4

(c)(1)

   1.2

(c)(2)

   1.2

(e)

   1.2

(f)

   1.2

(S)316(a) (last sentence)

   1.1

(a)(1)(A)

   5.2, 5.12

(a)(1)(B)

   5.13

(b)

   5.8

(S)317(a)(1)

   5.3

(a)(2)

   5.4

(b)

   10.3

(S)318(a)

   1.8

Note: This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

                Page  

ARTICLE 1

     DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION      1   
  Section 1.1      Definitions; Rules of Construction      1   
  Section 1.2      Compliance Certificates and Opinions      11   
  Section 1.3      Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee      11   
  Section 1.4      Acts of Holders      12   
  Section 1.5      Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company      14   
  Section 1.6      Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver      14   
  Section 1.7      Language of Notices      15   
  Section 1.8      Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act; Trust Indenture Act Controls      15   
  Section 1.9      Effect of Headings and Table of Contents      15   
  Section 1.10      Successors and Assigns      15   
  Section 1.11      Separability Clause      16   
  Section 1.12      Benefits of Indenture      16   
  Section 1.13      Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury      16   
  Section 1.14      Legal Holidays      16   
  Section 1.15      Counterparts      16   
  Section 1.16      Judgment Currency      17   
  Section 1.17      Limitation on Individual Liability      17   

ARTICLE 2

     SECURITIES FORMS      18   
  Section 2.1      Forms Generally      18   
  Section 2.2      Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication      18   
  Section 2.3      Securities in Global Form      18   

ARTICLE 3

     THE SECURITIES      20   
  Section 3.1      Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series      20   
  Section 3.2      Currency; Denominations      23   
  Section 3.3      Execution; Authentication; Delivery and Dating      24   
  Section 3.4      Temporary Securities      25   
  Section 3.5      Registration; Transfer and Exchange      25   
  Section 3.6      Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities      30   

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

                Page  
  Section 3.7      Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved      30   
  Section 3.8      Persons Deemed Owners      32   
  Section 3.9      Cancellation      33   
  Section 3.10      Computation of Interest      33   
  Section 3.11      CUSIP and ISIN Numbers      33   

ARTICLE 4

     SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE      33   
  Section 4.1      Satisfaction and Discharge      33   
  Section 4.2      Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance      35   
  Section 4.3      Application of Trust Money      39   
  Section 4.4      Qualifying Trustee      39   

ARTICLE 5

     REMEDIES      39   
  Section 5.1      Events of Default      39   
  Section 5.2      Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment      41   
  Section 5.3      Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee      42   
  Section 5.4      Trustee May File Proofs of Claim      43   
  Section 5.5      Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities      44   
  Section 5.6      Application of Money Collected      44   
  Section 5.7      Limitations on Suits      44   
  Section 5.8      Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts      45   
  Section 5.9      Restoration of Rights and Remedies      45   
  Section 5.10      Rights and Remedies Cumulative      45   
  Section 5.11      Delay or Omission Not Waiver      46   
  Section 5.12      Control by Holders of Securities      46   
  Section 5.13      Waiver of Past or Existing Defaults      46   
  Section 5.14      Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws      47   
  Section 5.15      Undertaking for Costs      47   

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

                Page  

ARTICLE 6

     THE TRUSTEE      47   
  Section 6.1      Certain Duties and Responsibilities      47   
  Section 6.2      Certain Rights of Trustee      48   
  Section 6.3      Notice of Defaults      50   
  Section 6.4      Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities      51   
  Section 6.5      May Hold Securities      51   
  Section 6.6      Money Held in Trust      51   
  Section 6.7      Compensation and Reimbursement      52   
  Section 6.8      Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility; Conflicting Interests      53   
  Section 6.9      Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor      53   
  Section 6.10      Acceptance of Appointment by Successor      55   
  Section 6.11      Merger; Conversion; Consolidation; or Succession to Business      56   
  Section 6.12      Appointment of Authenticating Agent      57   

ARTICLE 7

     HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY      59   
  Section 7.1      Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders      59   
  Section 7.2      Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders      59   
  Section 7.3      Reports by Trustee      59   
  Section 7.4      Reports by Company      60   

ARTICLE 8

     CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES      61   
  Section 8.1      Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms      61   
  Section 8.2      Successor Person Substituted for Company      61   

ARTICLE 9

     SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES      62   
  Section 9.1      Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders      62   
  Section 9.2      Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders      64   
  Section 9.3      Execution of Supplemental Indentures      65   
  Section 9.4      Revocation of Consents      65   

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

                Page  
  Section 9.5      Effect of Supplemental Indentures      66   
  Section 9.6      Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures      66   
  Section 9.7      Conformity with Trust Indenture Act      66   
  Section 9.8      Notice of Supplemental Indenture      66   

ARTICLE 10

     COVENANTS      67   
  Section 10.1      Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts      67   
  Section 10.2      Maintenance of Office or Agency      67   
  Section 10.3      Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust      68   
  Section 10.4      Additional Amounts      69   
  Section 10.5      Waiver of Certain Covenants      70   
  Section 10.6      Company Statement as to Compliance      70   

ARTICLE 11

     REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES      71   
  Section 11.1      Applicability of Article      71   
  Section 11.2      Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee      71   
  Section 11.3      Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed      71   
  Section 11.4      Notice of Redemption      72   
  Section 11.5      Deposit of Redemption Price      73   
  Section 11.6      Securities Payable on Redemption Date      73   
  Section 11.7      Securities Redeemed in Part      74   
  Section 11.8      Repurchases on the Open Market      74   

ARTICLE 12

     SINKING FUNDS      74   
  Section 12.1      Applicability of Article      74   
  Section 12.2      Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities      75   
  Section 12.3      Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund      75   

ARTICLE 13

     REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS      76   
  Section 13.1      Applicability of Article      76   

ARTICLE 14

     SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES      76   
  Section 14.1      Applicability of Article      76   

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

                Page  

ARTICLE 15

     MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES      77   
  Section 15.1      Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called      77   
  Section 15.2      Call, Notice and Place of Meetings      77   
  Section 15.3      Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings      77   
  Section 15.4      Quorum; Action      78   
  Section 15.5      Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings      79   
  Section 15.6      Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings      79   

 

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INDENTURE (the “ Indenture ”), dated as of                     ,                      between DURECT CORPORATION, a corporation existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “ Company ”), and                    , as trustee (the “ Trustee ”).

RECITALS

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter called the “ Securities ”), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates of interest, to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

All things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders (as herein defined) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series thereof as follows:

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

  Section 1.1 Definitions; Rules of Construction

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or unless the context otherwise requires, for all purposes of this Indenture:

(1) the terms defined in this Article 1 have the meanings assigned to them in this Article 1, and include the plural as well as the singular;

(2) all other terms used herein that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein;

(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the terms “generally accepted accounting principles” or “GAAP” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted as of the date hereof;

(4) the words “herein,” “hereof,” “hereto” and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision;

 

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(5) the word “or” is always used inclusively (for example, the phrase “A or B” means “A or B or both,” not “either A or B but not both”);

(6) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;

(7) any reference to gender includes the masculine, feminine and the neuter, as the case may be;

(8) references to agreements and other instruments include subsequent amendments thereto and restatements thereof;

(9) “including” means “including without limitation”;

(10) all exhibits are incorporated by reference herein and expressly made a part of this Indenture;

(11) all references to articles, sections and exhibits (and subparts thereof) are to this Indenture; and

(12) any transaction or event shall be considered “permitted by” or made “in accordance with” or “in compliance with” this Indenture or any particular provision thereof if such transaction or event is not expressly prohibited by this Indenture or such provision, as the case may be.

Certain terms used principally in certain Articles hereof are defined in those Articles.

Act ,” when used with respect to any Holders, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

Additional Amounts ” means any additional amounts which are required by this Indenture or by any Security, under circumstances specified herein or therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes, assessments or other governmental charges imposed on Holders specified therein and which are owing to such Holders.

Additional Interest ” means any additional interest which is required by any Security to be paid as a result of a failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform the covenants and agreements set forth in Section 7.4.

Affiliate ” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control,” when used with respect to any specified Person, means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have the meanings correlative to the foregoing.

 

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Applicable Procedures ” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Security, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange at the relevant time.

Authenticating Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.12 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

Authorized Newspaper ” means a newspaper, in an official language of the place of publication or in the English language, customarily published on each day that is a Business Day in the place of publication, whether or not published on days that are Legal Holidays in the place of publication, and of general circulation in each place in connection with which the term is used or in the financial community of each such place. Where successive publications are required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the foregoing requirements and in each case on any day that is a Business Day in the place of publication. If it shall be impractical in the opinion of the Trustee to make any publication of any notice required hereby in an Authorized Newspaper, any publication or other notice in lieu thereof which is made or given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.

Board of Directors ” means:

(1) with respect to the Company, the board of directors of the Company or any committee of the board of directors of the Company duly authorized to act generally or in any particular respect for the Company under this Indenture;

(2) with respect to any other corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any authorized committee thereof;

(3) with respect to a limited liability company, the managing member or managing members of such limited liability company or any authorized committee thereof;

(4) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership or any authorized committee thereof; and

(5) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

Board Resolution ” means a copy of one or more resolutions (which may be standing resolutions), certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

Business Day ” means, unless otherwise specified with respect to any Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, each day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or another Place of Payment are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.

 

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Commission ” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or any successor agency.

Common Stock ” includes any stock of any class of the Company which has no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company.

Company ” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.

Company Request ” and “ Company Order ” mean, respectively, a written request or order, as the case may be, signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company, a Vice Chairman, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary or other person authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

Corporate Trust Office ” means the designated office of the Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Trustee shall at any particular time be administered, which office at the date of original execution of this Indenture is located at                                         .

Corporation ” includes corporations and limited liability companies and, except for purposes of Article 8, associations, companies (other than limited liability companies) and business trusts.

Currency ” means, with respect to any payment, deposit or other transfer in respect of the principal of or any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security, Dollars or Foreign Currency, as the case may be, in which such payment, deposit or other transfer is required to be made by or pursuant to the terms hereof or such Security and, with respect to any other payment, deposit or transfer pursuant to or contemplated by the terms hereof or such Security, means Dollars.

CUSIP number ” means the alphanumeric designation assigned to a Security by Standard & Poor’s Corporation, CUSIP Service Bureau.

Defaulted Interest ” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

Definitive Security ” means a certificated Security registered in the name of the Holder thereof (other than a Depositary or its nominee) issued under this Indenture pursuant to Section 3.1 and Section 3.5.

 

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Dollars ” or “ $ ” means a dollar or other equivalent unit of legal tender for payment of public or private debts in the United States of America.

Event of Default ” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

Foreign Currency ” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the euro, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

GAAP ” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, which are in effect from time to time.

Global Security ” means a Security issued under this Indenture in global form pursuant to Section 3.1, bearing the legend set forth in Section 2.3 and deposited with, or on behalf of, and registered in the name of, the Depositary or its nominee.

Government Obligations ” means securities which are (i) direct obligations of the United States of America or the other government or governments in the confederation which issued the Foreign Currency in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security or any Additional Amounts in respect thereof shall be payable, in each case where the payment or payments thereunder are supported by the full faith and credit of the United States or such government or governments or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or such other government or governments, in each case where the timely payment or payments thereunder are unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or such other government or governments, and which, in the case of (i) or (ii), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a Depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a Depositary 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 Depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by such Depositary receipt.

Holder ” means, in the case of any Registered Security, the Person in whose name such Security is registered in the Security Register.

Indenture ” means this instrument as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and, with respect to any Security of any series, by the terms

 

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and provisions of such Security established pursuant to Section 3.1 (as such terms and provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof); provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this instrument, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to any one or more series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of those particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established pursuant to Section 3.1, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm ” means a firm of accountants that, with respect to the Company and any other obligor under the Securities, is an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder, who may be the independent registered public accounting firm regularly retained by the Company or who may be another independent registered public accounting firm. Such firm shall be entitled to rely upon any Opinion of Counsel as to the interpretation of any legal matters relating to this Indenture or certificates required to be provided hereunder.

Indexed Security ” means a Security the terms of which provide that the principal amount thereof payable at Stated Maturity may be more or less than the principal face amount thereof at original issuance.

Indirect Participant ” means an entity that, with respect to any Depositary, clears through or maintains a direct or indirect, custodial relationship with a Participant.

interest ” means any interest specified in any Security as being payable with respect to that Security, including any Additional Interest when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Interest, and, with respect to any Original Issue Discount Security, which by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after Maturity and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 10.4, includes such Additional Amounts.

Interest Payment Date ” means, with respect to any Security, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.

Judgment Currency ” has the meaning specified in Section 1.16.

Legal Holiday ” has the meaning specified in Section 1.14.

Maturity ” means, with respect to any Security, the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, notice of redemption or repurchase, notice of option to elect repayment or otherwise, and includes the Redemption Date.

 

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New York Banking Day ” has the meaning specified in Section 1.16.

Office ” or “ Agency ,” means, with respect to any Securities, an office or agency of the Company maintained or designated as a Place of Payment for such Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 or any other office or agency of the Company maintained or designated for such Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 or, to the extent designated or required by Section 10.2 in lieu of such office or agency, the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

Officer ” means, with respect to any Person, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice President (without regard to qualifiers such as “Executive” or “Senior”), the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person or other Person authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Officer’s Certificate ” means a certificate signed by an Officer, that, if applicable, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act and is delivered to the Trustee.

Opinion of Counsel ” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company or other counsel that, if applicable, complies with the requirements of Section 314(e) of the Trust Indenture Act.

Original Issue Discount Security ” means a Security issued pursuant to this Indenture that provides, at any time prior to the final Stated Maturity of such Security, for declaration of an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration pursuant to Section 5.2.

Outstanding ” means, when used with respect to any Securities, as of the date of determination, all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:

(1) any such Security theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation including Securities tendered and exchanged for other securities of the Company;

(2) any such Security of any series for which payment at the Maturity thereof money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited pursuant hereto (other than pursuant to Section 4.2) with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such series of Securities, provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

 

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(3) any such Security of any series with respect to which the Company has effected defeasance or covenant defeasance pursuant to the terms hereof, except to the extent provided in Section 4.2;

(4) any such Security which has been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, unless there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Security is held by a “protected purchaser” (as such term is defined in the New York Uniform Commercial Code) in whose hands such Security is a valid obligation of the Company; and

(5) any such Security converted or exchanged as contemplated by this Indenture into Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property, if the terms of such Security provide for such conversion or exchange pursuant to Section 3.1;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series for quorum purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security would be declared (or shall have been declared to be) due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 at the time of such determination, and (ii) the principal amount of any Indexed Security that may be counted in making such determination and that shall be deemed Outstanding for such purpose shall be equal to the principal face amount of such Indexed Security at original issuance, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, and (iii) the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be the Dollar equivalent, determined on the date of original issuance of such Security, of the principal amount (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, the Dollar equivalent on the date of original issuance of such Security of the amount determined as provided in (i) above) of such Security, and (iv) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in making any such determination or relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which shall have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of a Responsible Officer (A) the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and (B) that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or an Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

Participant ” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.

 

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Paying Agent ” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security on behalf of the Company.

Person ” or “ person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, joint-stock company, association, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Place of Payment ” means, with respect to any Security, the place or places where the principal of, or any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Security are payable as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

Predecessor Security ” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.6 in exchange for or in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same indebtedness as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security.

Redemption Date ” means, with respect to any Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, each date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

Redemption Price ” means, with respect to any Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, the price at which it is to be redeemed including, if applicable, accrued and unpaid interest and Additional Amounts as determined by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security.

Registered Security ” means any Security established pursuant to Section 2.1 which is registered in the Security Register.

Regular Record Date ” for the interest payable on any Registered Security on any Interest Payment Date therefor means the date, if any, specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the “Regular Record Date.”

Required Currency ” has the meaning specified in Section 1.16.

Responsible Officer ” means any officer of the Trustee in its Corporate Trust Office with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

Security ” or “ Securities ” means any note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however, that, if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this Indenture, “Securities,” with respect to any such Person, shall mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such Person is not Trustee.

 

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Security Register ,” “ Security Registrar ” and “ Registrar ” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.

series ” means a series of Securities established under this Indenture.

Special Record Date ” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Registered Security means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.

Stated Maturity ” means, with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, the date established by or pursuant to this Indenture or such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is, or such Additional Amounts are, due and payable.

Trust Indenture Act ” or “ TIA ” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and any reference herein to the Trust Indenture Act or a particular provision thereof shall mean such Act or provision, as the case may be, as amended or replaced from time to time or as supplemented from time to time by rules or regulations adopted by the Commission under or in furtherance of the purposes of such Act or provision, as the case may be.

Trustee ” means the Person named as the “Trustee” in the first paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Trustee” shall mean each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder; provided, however, that if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person and as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean only the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

United States ” means, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, the United States of America (including the states thereof and the District of Columbia), its territories and possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.

United States Alien ” means, except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, any Person who, for United States federal income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual, a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust, or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United States federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

U.S. Depositary ” or “ Depositary ” means, with respect to any Security issuable or issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as U.S. Depositary or Depositary by the Company in or pursuant to this Indenture, which Person

 

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must be, to the extent required by applicable law or regulation, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, if so provided with respect to any Security, any successor to such Person. If at any time there is more than one such Person, “U.S. Depositary” or “Depositary” shall mean, with respect to any Securities, the qualifying entity which has been appointed with respect to such Securities.

Vice President ” means, when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or words added before or after the title “Vice President.”

 

  Section 1.2 Compliance Certificates and Opinions

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent, if any, have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents or any of them is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate delivered pursuant to Section 10.6) shall include:

(1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such condition or covenant and the definitions herein relating thereto;

(2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;

(3) a statement that, in the opinion of each such individual, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such condition or covenant has been complied with; and

(4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

 

  Section 1.3 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with

 

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respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

Any certificate or opinion of an Officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon an Opinion of Counsel, unless such Officer knows that the opinion with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous. Any such Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an Officer or Officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company unless such counsel knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous. Any certificate, statement or opinion of an Officer of the Company or any Opinion of Counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such Officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous.

Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture or any Security, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

  Section 1.4 Acts of Holders

(1) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by or pursuant to this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments (including instruments in electronic, digital or other machine-readable form) of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders (whether in person or through signatures in electronic, digital or other machine-readable form) or by an agent duly appointed in writing (including writings in electronic, digital or other machine-readable form) or may be embodied in and evidenced by the record of Holders voting in favor thereof, either in person or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article 15, or a combination of such instruments or record. Except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments or record or both (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “ Act ” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments or so voting at any such meeting. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.4. The record of any meeting of Holders of Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 15.6.

 

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Without limiting the generality of this Section 1.4, unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, a Holder, including a U.S. Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security, may make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities to be made, given or taken by Holders, and a U.S. Depositary that is a Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security through such U.S. Depositary’s standing instructions and customary practices.

The Trustee may fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Persons who are beneficial owners of interests in any permanent Global Security held by a U.S. Depositary entitled under the procedures of such U.S. Depositary to make, give or take, by a proxy or proxies duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided in or pursuant to this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders.

(2) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing referred to in this Section 1.4 may be proved in any reasonable manner which the Trustee deems sufficient and in accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine; and the Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the matters referred to in this Section 1.4.

(3) The ownership, principal amount and serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of the commencement and the date of the termination of holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

(4) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of any Registered Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, the Company may, at its option (but is not obligated to), by Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Registered Securities entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of Registered Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement or consent by the Holders of Registered Securities shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.

 

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(5) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act by the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such Act is made upon such Security.

 

  Section 1.5 Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with:

(1) the Trustee by any Holder or the Company shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (which may be via facsimile) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office; or

(2) the Company by the Trustee or any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid or airmail postage prepaid if sent from outside the United States, to the Company addressed to the attention of its Treasurer (with a copy to the General Counsel) at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

 

  Section 1.6 Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver

Except as otherwise expressly provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of all or any series of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered Securities of such series if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered Securities given as provided herein. Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given or provided. In the case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders of Securities shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

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  Section 1.7 Language of Notices

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election or waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English language, except that, if the Company so elects, any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication (with a copy in English to be provided to the Trustee).

 

  Section 1.8 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act; Trust Indenture Act Controls

(a) If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties that would be imposed by any of Sections 310 to 317 of the Trust Indenture Act through operation of Section 318(c) thereof on any person, such imposed duties shall control. The following Trust Indenture Act terms have the following meanings:

“indenture securities” means the Securities;

“indenture security holder” means a Holder;

“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;

“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and

“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any other obligor on the indenture securities.

All other Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined in the Trust Indenture Act by reference to another statute or defined by SEC Rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

(b) If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the Trust Indenture Act, the provision required by the Trust Indenture Act shall control.

 

  Section 1.9 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents

The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

  Section 1.10 Successors and Assigns

All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

 

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  Section 1.11 Separability Clause

In case any provision in this Indenture or any Security shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

  Section 1.12 Benefits of Indenture

Nothing in this Indenture or any Security, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, any Authentication Agent and their successors hereunder and the Holders of Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

  Section 1.13 Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state. Each of the Company and the Trustee hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

  Section 1.14 Legal Holidays

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity or Maturity of any Security, or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert or exchange Securities of a series that are convertible or exchangeable shall not be a Business Day (a “ Legal Holiday ”) at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security other than a provision in any Security that specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu hereof) payment need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, and such Securities need not be converted or exchanged on such date but such payment may be made, and such Securities may be converted or exchanged, on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or at the Stated Maturity or Maturity or on such last day for conversion or exchange, and no interest shall accrue on the amount payable on such date or at such time for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Stated Maturity, Maturity or last day for conversion or exchange, as the case may be, to the next succeeding Business Day. If this Indenture provides for a time period that ends or requires performance of any non-payment obligation by a day that is not a Business Day, then such time period shall instead be deemed to end on, and such obligation shall instead be performed by, the next succeeding Business Day.

 

  Section 1.15 Counterparts

This Indenture may be executed in several counterparts, each of which shall be an original and all of which shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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  Section 1.16 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 premium or interest, if any, or Additional Amounts 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 requisite amount of the Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which a final unappealable judgment is given and (b) its obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with clause (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 or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to be closed.

 

  Section 1.17 Limitation on Individual Liability

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor, either directly or through the Company or any successor, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors, as such, of the Company or any successor, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any Security or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any Security or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Security.

 

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ARTICLE 2

SECURITIES FORMS

 

  Section 2.1 Forms Generally

Each Registered Security and temporary or permanent Global Security or Definitive Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be in the form established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the Officers executing such Security as evidenced by their execution of such Security.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall be issuable in registered form without coupons and shall not be issuable upon the exercise of warrants.

Definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the Officers of the Company executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

  Section 2.2 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication

Subject to Section 6.12, the Trustee’s certificate of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

  , as Trustee
By  

 

 
  Authorized Signatory  
Dated:  

 

  Section 2.3 Securities in Global Form

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, the Securities shall be issuable in permanent global form. If Securities of a series shall be issuable in global form, any such Security may provide that it or any number of such Securities shall represent the aggregate amount of all Outstanding Securities of such

 

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series (or such lesser amount as is permitted by the terms thereof) from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be increased or reduced to reflect exchanges, redemptions or transfer of beneficial interests from one Global Security to another Global Security. Any endorsement of any Global Security to reflect the amount, or any increase or decrease in the amount, or changes in the rights of Holders, of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be delivered pursuant to Section 3.3 or Section 3.4 with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 3.3 and, if applicable, Section 3.4, the Trustee shall deliver and redeliver any Security in permanent global form in the manner and upon instructions given by the Person or Persons specified therein or in the applicable Company Order. If a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.3 or Section 3.4 has been, or simultaneously is, delivered, any instructions by the Company with respect to a Global Security shall be in writing but need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officer’s Certificate and need not be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.7, unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Securities, payment of principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts in respect of, any Security in temporary or permanent global form shall be made to the Person or Persons specified therein.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.8 and except as provided in the preceding paragraph, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall treat as the Holder of such principal amount of Outstanding Securities as is represented by a Global Security in the case of a Global Security in registered form, the Holder of such Global Security in registered form.

Each Global Security shall bear a legend in substantially the following form (unless otherwise specified by the Depositary):

“THIS DEBT SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS DEBT SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. EVERY DEBT SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS DEBT SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.”

 

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ARTICLE 3

THE SECURITIES

 

  Section 3.1 Amount Unlimited; 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. With respect to any Securities to be authenticated and delivered hereunder, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto,

(1) the title of such Securities and the series, including CUSIP numbers in which such Securities shall be included;

(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 9.6 or Section 11.7, upon repayment in part of any Registered Security of such series pursuant to Article 13 or upon surrender in part of any Registered Security for conversion or exchange into Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property pursuant to its terms, or pursuant to the terms of such Securities and except for any Securities, which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

(3) if any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form, when any of such Securities are to be issuable in global form and (i) whether such Securities are to be issued in temporary or permanent global form or both, (ii) whether beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security may exchange such interests for Securities of the same series and of like tenor and of any authorized form and denomination, and the circumstances under which any such exchanges may occur, if other than in the manner specified in Section 3.5, and (iii) the name of the Depositary or the U.S. Depositary, as the case may be, with respect to any Global Security;

(4) the date as of which any Global Security shall be dated (if other than the date of original issuance of the first of such Securities to be issued);

(5) the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates shall be determined, on which the principal and premium, if any, of such Securities is payable;

(6) the rate or rates at which such Securities shall bear interest, if any, or the method or methods, if any, by which such rate or rates are to be determined, the date or dates, if any, from which such interest shall accrue or the method or methods, if any, by which such date or dates are to be determined, the Interest Payment Dates, if any, on which such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date, if any, for the interest payable on Registered Securities on any Interest Payment Date, whether and under what

 

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circumstances Additional Interest on such Securities or any of them shall be payable, whether and under what circumstances Additional Amounts on such Securities or any of them shall be payable, the notice, if any, to Holders regarding the determination of interest on a floating rate Security and the manner of giving such notice, and the basis upon which interest shall be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

(7) if in addition to or other than the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, the place or places where the principal of, any premium and interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities shall be payable, any of such Securities that are Registered Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, any of such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange and notices or demands to or upon the Company in respect of such Securities and this Indenture may be served, the extent to which, or the manner in which, any interest payment or Additional Amounts on a Global Security on an Interest Payment Date, will be paid and the manner in which any principal of or premium, if any, on any Global Security will be paid;

(8) whether any of such Securities are to be redeemable at the option of the Company and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

(9) whether the Company is obligated to redeem or purchase any of such Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of any Holder thereof and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation, and any provisions for the remarketing of such Securities so redeemed or purchased;

(10) the denominations in which any of such Securities that are Registered Securities shall be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and any multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

(11) whether the Securities of the series will be convertible into shares of Common Stock and/or exchangeable for other securities, cash or other property of the Company or of any other Person, and if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture to permit or to facilitate the issuance of such convertible or exchangeable Securities or the administration thereof;

(12) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any of such Securities that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the method by which such portion is to be determined;

 

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(13) if other than Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities shall be payable;

(14) if the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any of such Securities are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in Currency other than that in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made, and the time and manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which such Securities are stated to be payable and the Currency in which such Securities or any of them are to be paid pursuant to such election, and any deletions from or modifications of or additions to the terms of this Indenture to provide for or to facilitate the issuance of Securities denominated or payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof or otherwise, in a Foreign Currency;

(15) whether the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula, financial or economic measure or other method or methods (which index, formula, measure or method or methods may be based, without limitation, on one or more Currencies, commodities, equity indices or other indices), and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which such amounts shall be determined and paid or be payable;

(16) any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the Events of Default or covenants of the Company with respect to any of such Securities, whether or not such Events of Default or covenants are consistent with the Events of Default or covenants set forth herein;

(17) whether either or both of Section 4.2(2) relating to defeasance or Section 4.2(3) relating to covenant defeasance shall not be applicable to the Securities of such series, and any covenants relating to the Securities of such series which shall be subject to covenant defeasance, and, if the Securities of such series are subject to repurchase or repayment at the option of the Holders thereof, whether the Company’s obligation to repurchase or repay such Securities will be subject to defeasance or covenant defeasance, and any deletions from, or modifications or additions to, the provisions of Article 4 in respect of the Securities of such series;

(18) whether any of such Securities are to be issuable upon the exercise of warrants, and the time, manner and place for such Securities to be authenticated and delivered;

(19) if there is more than one Trustee or a Trustee other than                                         , the identity of the Trustee and, if not the Trustee, the identity of each Security Registrar, Paying Agent or Authenticating Agent with respect to such Securities;

 

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(20) whether the Securities are senior or subordinated debt securities, and if subordinated debt securities, the terms of such subordination;

(21) whether the Securities of the series will be guaranteed by any Persons and, if so, the identity of such Persons, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be guaranteed and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the respective guarantors and may be released;

(22) whether the Securities of the series will be secured by any collateral and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities shall be secured and, if applicable, upon which such liens may be subordinated to other liens securing other indebtedness of the Company or any guarantor and may be released; and

(23) any other terms of such Securities and any deletions from or modifications or additions to this Indenture in respect of such Securities.

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided by the Company in or pursuant to the Board Resolution and set forth in the Officer’s Certificate or in any indenture or indentures supplemental hereto pertaining to such series of Securities. The terms of the Securities of any series may provide, without limitation, that the Securities of such series shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee on original issue from time to time in accordance with such procedures as are acceptable to the Trustee (including authentication and delivery by the Trustee on original issue from time to time upon telephonic or written order of persons designated in the Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture (telephonic instructions to be promptly confirmed in writing by such person) and that such persons are authorized to determine, consistent with such Officer’s Certificate or any applicable supplemental indenture, such terms and conditions of the Securities of such series as are specified in such Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture). All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise so provided by the Company, a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series or to establish additional terms of such series of Securities. If any of the terms of the Securities of any series shall be established by action taken by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Board Resolution shall be delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of such series.

 

  Section 3.2 Currency; Denominations

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security, the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities shall be payable in Dollars. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, Registered Securities denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Securities not denominated in Dollars shall be issuable in such denominations as are established with respect to such Securities in or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

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  Section 3.3 Execution; Authentication; Delivery and Dating

Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by any Officer of the Company. The signature of any such Officer on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.

Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper Officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities, executed by the Company, to the Trustee for authentication and, provided that the Board Resolution and Officer’s Certificate or supplemental indenture or indentures with respect to such Securities referred to in Section 3.1 and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities have been delivered to the Trustee, the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order and subject to the provisions hereof and of such Securities shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be provided with, and (subject to Sections 315(a) through 315(d) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Opinion of Counsel and an Officer’s Certificate that contain the statements required by Section 1.2.

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of the preceding paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officer’s Certificate or Company Order otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued. This paragraph shall not be applicable to Securities of a series that are issued as part of a reopening pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3.1.

Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for in Section 2.2 or Section 6.12 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee or by the Authenticating Agent by the manual

 

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signature of one of its authorized signatories. Such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 3.9, for all purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

 

  Section 3.4 Temporary Securities

Pending the preparation of Definitive Securities, the Company may execute and deliver to the Trustee and, upon Company Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in Section 3.3, temporary Securities in lieu thereof which are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the Definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the Officers of the Company executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Such temporary Securities may be in the form of Global Securities.

Except in the case of temporary Global Securities, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary Securities are issued, the Company shall cause Definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of Definitive Securities of the same series and containing terms and provisions that are identical to those of any temporary Securities, such temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for such Definitive Securities upon surrender of such temporary Securities at an Office or Agency for such Securities, without charge to any Holder thereof. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of Definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series and containing identical terms and provisions. Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture with respect to a temporary Global Security, until so exchanged the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as Definitive Securities of such series.

 

  Section 3.5 Registration; Transfer and Exchange

With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if any, the Company shall cause to be kept a register (each such register being herein sometimes referred to as the “ Security Register ”) at an Office or Agency for such series in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Registered Securities of such series and of transfers of the Registered Securities of such series.

 

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Such Office or Agency shall be the “ Security Registrar ” or “ Registrar ” for that series of Securities. Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities, the Trustee shall be the initial Security Registrar for each series of Securities. The Company shall have the right to remove and replace from time to time the Security Registrar for any series of Securities; provided that no such removal or replacement shall be effective until a successor Security Registrar with respect to such series of Securities shall have been appointed by the Company and shall have accepted such appointment by the Company. In the event that the Trustee shall not be or shall cease to be Security Registrar with respect to a series of Securities, it shall have the right to examine the Security Register for such series at all reasonable times. There shall be only one Security Register for each series of Securities.

A Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, except as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.1, any Global Security or any beneficial interest therein shall be exchangeable for Definitive Securities only if (i) the Depositary is at any time unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as Depositary and a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of the date the Company is so informed in writing, (ii) the Depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (iii) the Company (subject to the Applicable Procedures) executes and delivers to the Trustee a Company Order to the effect that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable or (iv) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such Securities. If the holder of a Global Security or the beneficial owners of interests in a Global Security are entitled to exchange such interests for Definitive Securities as the result of an event specified in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) of the preceding sentence, the Company shall promptly make available to the Trustee Definitive Securities in such form and denominations as are required by or pursuant to this Indenture, and of the same series, containing identical terms and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security, executed by the Company. Such Global Security shall be surrendered from time to time by the U.S. Depositary or such other Depositary as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto, and in accordance with instructions given to the Trustee and the U.S. Depositary or such other Depositary, as the case may be (which instructions shall be in writing but need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate or be accompanied by an Opinion of Counsel), as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, as the Company’s agent for such purpose, to be exchanged, in whole or in part, for Definitive Securities as described above without charge. The Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange for each portion of such surrendered Global Security, a like aggregate principal amount of Definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor as the portion of such Global Security to be exchanged; provided, however, that no such exchanges may occur during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any selection of Securities of the same series to be redeemed and ending on the relevant Redemption Date. Promptly following any such exchange in part, such Global Security shall be returned by the Trustee to such Depositary or the

 

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U.S. Depositary, as the case may be, or such other Depositary or U.S. Depositary referred to above in accordance with the instructions of the Company referred to above. If a Registered portion of a Global Security is exchanged for Definitive Registered Securities after the close of business at the Office or Agency for such Security where such exchange occurs on or after (i) any Regular Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the next Interest Payment Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date for such Security and before the opening of business at such Office or Agency on the related proposed date for payment of interest or Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, interest shall not be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of such Definitive Registered Security, but shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, only to the Person to whom interest in respect of such portion of such Global Security shall be payable in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture.

The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Securities shall be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Transfers and exchanges of beneficial interests in the Global Securities also shall require compliance with either subparagraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following paragraphs, as applicable:

(1) Beneficial interests in any Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global Security. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this subparagraph (1).

(2) In connection with the transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in any Global Security to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a different Global Security, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar (i) an order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Security in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase. Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Securities contained in this Indenture and such Securities or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Security(s) pursuant to this paragraph.

If any Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Security or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Security in the event of the occurrence of any of the conditions set forth in the third paragraph of this Section 3.5, then, upon delivery to the Registrar of (i) an order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Security in an amount equal

 

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to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged and (ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Security shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in clause (i), the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Security to be reduced accordingly as described below, and the Company shall execute and, upon receipt of a Company Order pursuant to Section 3.3, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Security in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Security issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this paragraph shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the Holder of such beneficial interest shall instruct the Registrar through instructions from the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.

A Holder of a Definitive Security may exchange such Security for a beneficial interest in a Global Security or transfer such Definitive Securities to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Security at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee shall cancel the applicable Definitive Security and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Security.

At the option of the Holder, Definitive Securities of any series may be exchanged for other Definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Definitive Securities to be exchanged at an Office or Agency. Whenever any Definitive Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Definitive Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Securities and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this paragraph, the Registrar shall register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Securities. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder shall present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Securities duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. A Holder of Definitive Securities may transfer such Securities to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Security. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Definitive Securities pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof.

At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Security have been exchanged for Definitive Securities or a particular Global Security has been redeemed, repurchased or cancelled in whole and not in part, each such Global Security shall be returned to or retained and cancelled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 3.9. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security or for Definitive Securities, the principal

 

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amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security, the principal amount of Securities represented by such other Global Security shall be increased accordingly and an endorsement shall be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.

All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be the valid and legally binding obligations of the Company evidencing the same debt and entitling the Holders thereof to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

Every Registered Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or redemption shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar for such Security) be duly endorsed, signature guaranteed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar for such Security duly executed by the Holder thereof, signature guaranteed, or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, or redemption of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses (including fees and expenses of the Trustee) that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Sections 3.4, 3.6, 9.6 and 11.7 not involving any transfer.

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of selection of Securities of like tenor and the same series under Section 11.3 for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such selection, (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed, or (iii) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Security which, in accordance with its terms, has been surrendered for repayment or purchase at the option of the Holder, except the portion, if any, of such Security not to be so repaid.

The Registrar shall retain copies of all certificates, notices and other written communications received pursuant to this Section 3.5. The Company shall have the right to inspect and make copies of all such certificates, notices or other written communications at any reasonable time upon the giving of reasonable written notice to the Registrar.

All certifications and certificates required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 3.5 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile, with an original of such document to be sent promptly thereafter.

 

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  Section 3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 3.6, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

If there be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or to a Responsible Officer that such Security has been acquired by a “protected purchaser” (as such term is defined in the New York Uniform Commercial Code), the Company shall execute and, upon the Company’s request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series containing identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.6, in case any 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 3.6, 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 issued pursuant to this Section 3.6 in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute a separate 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 such series duly issued hereunder.

The provisions of this Section 3.6, as amended or supplemented pursuant to this Indenture with respect to particular Securities or generally, shall be 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 3.7 Payment of Interest and Certain Additional Amounts; Rights to Interest and Certain Additional Amounts Preserved

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Registered Security that shall be payable, and are punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date

 

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shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered as of the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, any interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Registered Security that shall be payable, but shall not be punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for such Registered Security (herein called “ Defaulted Interest ”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder thereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (1) or (2) below:

(1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on such Registered Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit on or prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when so deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Person entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon, the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Holder of such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. The Trustee may, in its discretion, in the name and at the expense of the Company, cause a similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Registered Security (or a Predecessor Security thereof) shall be registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

(2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Security may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

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Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, at the option of the Company, interest on Registered Securities that bear interest may be paid by wire transfer in immediately available funds if the Holder of the Registered Security has provided to the Company and the Trustee wire instructions at least five Business Days prior to the applicable payment date or by check mailed to the address of that Holder as it appears on the books of the Securities Registrar if that Holder has not provided wire instructions; provided that any payment of principal (or premium, if any) in respect of any Security will be made only upon presentation and surrender of such Security at the applicable Office or Agency.

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.7 and Section 3.5, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

In the case of any Registered Security of any series that is convertible, which Registered Security is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the immediately succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Registered Security with respect to which the Maturity is prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion, and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Registered Security (or one or more predecessor Registered Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence, in the case of any Registered Security which is converted, interest with respect to which the Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Registered Security shall not be payable.

 

  Section 3.8 Persons Deemed Owners

Prior to due presentment of a Registered Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Registered Security is registered in the Security Register as the owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of, any premium and (subject to Section 3.5 and Section 3.7) interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Registered Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to such Registered Security shall be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security held on its behalf by a Depositary shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records

 

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relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

 

  Section 3.9 Cancellation

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, exchange or conversion or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee, and any such Securities, as well as Securities surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose, shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be cancelled promptly by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section 3.9, except as expressly permitted by or pursuant to this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

  Section 3.10 Computation of Interest

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, or in any Security, interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

  Section 3.11 CUSIP and ISIN Numbers

The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” and “ISIN” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP and ISIN 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 identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee of any change in the CUSIP and ISIN numbers.

ARTICLE 4

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

 

  Section 4.1 Satisfaction and Discharge

Upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order, this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities specified in such Company Order and the Trustee, on receipt of a Company Order, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when

 

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(1) either

(a) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (other than (i) Securities of such series that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6 and (ii) Securities of such series the payment of money for which has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3); or

(b) all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation:

(i) have become due and payable, or

(ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or

(iii) if redeemable at the option of the Company, are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for such purpose, (x) money in an amount or (y) Government Obligations that through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, money in the amount, or (z) a combination of (x) and (y) in an amount in the Currency in which such series of Securities are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to such Securities then determinable, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Maturity thereof, as the case may be;

(2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series; and

(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series have been complied with.

In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to Securities of such series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions thereto are met.

 

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Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.3, if money, Government Obligations or a combination thereof shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (b) of clause (1) of this Section 4.1, the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series under Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 10.2 and Section 10.3, and the obligations of the Company with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to such Securities as contemplated by Section 10.4 (but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.1(1)(b)), and with respect to any rights to convert or exchange such Securities into Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property shall survive such satisfaction and discharge.

 

  Section 4.2 Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

(1) Unless pursuant to Section 3.1, either or both of (i) defeasance of the Securities of a series under clause (2) of this Section 4.2 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series or (ii) covenant defeasance of the Securities of a series under clause (3) of this Section 4.2 shall not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then such provisions, together with the other provisions of this Section 4.2 (with such modifications thereto as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to any Securities), shall be applicable to such Securities, and the Company may at its option by Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to such Securities, elect to have Section 4.2(2) or Section 4.2(3) be applied to such Outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Section 4.2.

(2) Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 4.2(2) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Outstanding Securities on the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 are satisfied (hereinafter, “ defeasance ”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Outstanding Securities, which shall thereafter be deemed to be “Outstanding” only for the purposes of the Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (i) and (ii) below, and to have satisfied all of its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (i) the rights of Holders of such Outstanding Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to, such Securities when such payments are due, and any rights of such Holder to convert or

 

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exchange such Securities into Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property, (ii) the obligations of the Company and the Trustee with respect to such Securities under Section 3.4, Section 3.5, Section 3.6, Section 10.2 and Section 10.3 and the obligations of the Company with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 10.4 (but only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) below), and with respect to any rights to convert or exchange such Securities into Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property, (iii) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (iv) this Section 4.2. The Company may exercise its option under this Section 4.2(2) notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under clause (3) of this Section 4.2 with respect to such Securities.

(3) Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section 4.2(3) with respect to any Securities of or within a series, (i) the Company shall be released from its obligations to comply with any term, provision or condition under Section 8.1 with respect to such Securities (and, to the extent specified pursuant to Section 3.1, any other restrictive covenant added for the benefit of such Securities) and (ii) unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1, the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.1(7) shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default, in each case on and after the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 are satisfied (hereinafter, “ covenant defeasance ”), and such Securities shall thereafter be deemed to be not “Outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or Act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with any such covenant, but shall continue to be deemed “Outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder. For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to such Outstanding Securities, the Company may omit to comply with, and shall have no liability in respect of, any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any covenant or by reason of reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a default or an Event of Default under Section 5.1(4), Section 5.1(7) or otherwise, as the case may be, insofar as it relates to Section 8.1 and, to the extent specified pursuant to Section 3.1, any other restrictive covenant added for the benefit of such Security, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby; provided that the obligations of the Company with respect to the payment of Additional Amounts, if any, on such Securities as contemplated by Section 10.4 shall remain unsatisfied only to the extent that the Additional Amounts payable with respect to such Securities exceed the amount deposited in respect of such Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 4.2(4)(a) below; provided, further , that notwithstanding a covenant defeasance with respect to Section 8.1, any Person to whom a sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made pursuant to Section 8.1, shall as a condition to such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition, assume by an indenture supplemental hereto in form satisfactory to the Trustee, executed by such successor Person and delivered to the Trustee, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7 and the second to the last paragraph of Section 4.2.

 

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(4) The following shall be the conditions to the application of clause (2) or (3) of this Section 4.2 to any Outstanding Securities of a series:

(a) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.8 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Section 4.2 applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, (1) an amount in Dollars or in such Foreign Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity, or (2) Government Obligations applicable to such Securities (determined on the basis of the Currency in which such Securities are then specified as payable at Stated Maturity), which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Securities, money in an amount, or (3) a combination thereof, in any case, in an amount, sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of such principal and interest, in the opinion of a nationally recognized Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (y) the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest or Additional Amounts then determinable, if any, on such Outstanding Securities at the Maturity of such principal or installment of principal or interest, provided that the Company shall specify whether such Outstanding Securities are being defeased to Stated Maturity or to the Redemption Date and (z) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to such Outstanding Securities on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities.

(b) Such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

(c) No Event of Default or event that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default with respect to such Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than an Event of Default resulting from non-compliance with any covenant from which the Company is released upon effectiveness of such defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable).

(d) In the case of an election under clause (2) of this Section 4.2, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that:

(i) the Company has received from the Internal Revenue Service a letter ruling, or there has been published by the Internal Revenue Service a Revenue Ruling, or

(ii) since the date of execution of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,

 

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in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such 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 defeasance had not occurred.

(e) In the case of an election under clause (3) of this Section 4.2, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, subject to customary assumptions and exclusions, the Holders of such Outstanding Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred.

(f) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance or covenant defeasance under clause (2) or (3) of this Section 4.2 (as the case may be) have been complied with.

(g) If the Securities are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made.

(h) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Section 4.2(4), such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional or substitute terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.1.

The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge, imposed on or assessed against the Government Obligations deposited pursuant to this Section 4.2 or the principal or interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of such Outstanding Securities.

Anything in this Section 4.2 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or Government Obligations (or other property and any proceeds therefrom) held by it as provided in clause (4) of this Section 4.2 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect a defeasance or covenant defeasance, as applicable, in accordance with this Section 4.2.

 

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  Section 4.3 Application of Trust Money

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money and Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section 4.3, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 4.1 or Section 4.2 in respect of any Outstanding Securities of any series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, 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, premium, if any, interest and Additional Amounts, if any, for whose payment such money has or Government Obligations have been deposited with or received by the Trustee; but such money and Government Obligations need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

 

  Section 4.4 Qualifying Trustee

Any trustee appointed pursuant to Section 4.2 for the purpose of holding trust funds deposited pursuant to that Section shall be appointed under an agreement in form acceptable to the Trustee and shall provide to the Trustee a certificate of such trustee, upon which certificate the Trustee shall be entitled to conclusively rely, that all conditions precedent provided for herein to the related defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with. In no event shall the Trustee be liable for any acts or omissions of said trustee.

ARTICLE 5

REMEDIES

 

  Section 5.1 Events of Default

Event of Default ,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless such event is specifically deleted or modified in or pursuant to the supplemental indenture, Board Resolution or Officer’s Certificate establishing the terms of such series pursuant to this Indenture:

(1) default for 30 days in the payment when due of any interest on or any Additional Amount in respect of any Security of such series;

(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of such series when the principal or premium becomes due and payable at Maturity;

 

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(3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment when and as due by the terms of any Security of such series, subject to any cure period specified in any Security of such series;

(4) failure on the part of the Company duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or agreements (other than those described in clause (1), (2) or (3) above) on the part of the Company with respect to that series contained in such Securities or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof or contained in this Indenture (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series), other than the covenant set forth in Section 7.4, and such failure shall continue for a period of 60 days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, upon direction of Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that if such failure is not capable of cure within such 60-day period, such 60-day period shall be automatically extended by an additional 60 days so long as (i) such failure is subject to cure, and (ii) the Company is using commercially reasonable efforts to cure such failure; and provided, further, that a failure to comply with any such other agreement in the indenture that results from a change in GAAP shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default;

(5) a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered adjudging the Company bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking liquidation or reorganization of the Company under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, and such decree or order shall have continued unvacated and unstayed for a period of 90 days; an involuntary case shall be commenced under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law in respect of the Company and shall continue undismissed for a period of 90 days or an order for relief in such case shall have been entered and such order shall have remained in force unvacated and unstayed for a period of 90 days; or a decree or order of a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall have been entered for the appointment on the ground of insolvency or bankruptcy of a receiver, custodian, liquidator, trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or of its property, or for the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall have remained in force unvacated and unstayed for a period of 90 days;

(6) the Company shall institute proceedings to be adjudicated a voluntary bankrupt, shall consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, shall file a petition or answer or consent seeking liquidation or reorganization under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, shall consent to the filing of any such petition or shall consent to the appointment on the ground of insolvency or bankruptcy of a receiver or custodian or liquidator or trustee or assignee in bankruptcy or insolvency of it or of its property, or shall make a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; or

 

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(7) any other Event of Default provided in or pursuant to the Indenture with respect to Securities of the series, provided that any such Event of Default that results from a change in GAAP shall not be deemed to be an Event of Default.

 

  Section 5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment

If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of the definition thereof above occurs, the principal of all Securities shall automatically become due and payable without further action or notice, anything contained in this Indenture or the Securities of each series or established with respect to each series pursuant to Section 3.1 to the contrary notwithstanding. If (a) upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default specified in clause (1) or (2) of the definition thereof, the Company and the Trustee receive notice in writing that Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of that series, or (b) upon the occurrence and continuance of any other Event of Default other than an Event of Default specified in clause (1), (2), (5) and (6) of the definition thereof, the Company and the Trustee receive notice in writing that Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of that series, have declared the principal of all Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, then upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, anything contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of that series or established with respect to that series to the contrary notwithstanding.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration or automatic acceleration with respect to the Securities of any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereafter in this Article 5 provided, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul the declaration or automatic acceleration and its consequences if:

(1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay (A) all overdue installments of interest on all Securities of such series and any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, (B) the principal of and any premium on any Securities of the series which have become due otherwise than by the declaration of acceleration or automatic acceleration and interest thereon and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto at the rate or rates borne by or provided in such Securities, (C) interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities and (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel; and

(2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of such series, other than the non-payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, Securities of such series which shall have become due solely by the acceleration, shall have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.3.

 

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The sole remedy of the Holders for any failure on the part of the Company to duly observe or perform the covenants and agreements set forth in Section 7.4 shall be the right to receive Additional Interest if and to the extent required by any Security, under the circumstances specified therein.

 

  Section 5.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee

The Company covenants that if:

(1) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when such interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable and such default continues for any cure period specified with respect to such Security,

(2) default is made in the payment of any principal of or premium, if any, on, or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any principal of or premium, if any, on any Security at its Maturity; or

(3) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any Security and such default continues for any cure period specified with respect to such Security;

the Company shall, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount of money then due and payable with respect to such Securities, with interest upon the overdue principal, any premium and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, upon any overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts at the rate or rates borne by or provided for in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount of money 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 and all other amounts due to the Trustee under Section 6.7.

If the Company fails to pay the money it is required to pay the Trustee pursuant to the preceding paragraph forthwith upon the demand of the Trustee, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the money so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the monies adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may, and if (A) an Event of Default specified in clause (1), (2), (5) or (6) of the definition thereof occurs and is continuing, and Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series direct, or (B) an Event of Default other than an Event of Default specified in clause (1), (2), (5) or (6) of the definition thereof occurs and is continuing, and Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series

 

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direct, so long as such Holders shall have provided the Trustee with such indemnity as it shall require and subject to the provisions of Section 5.12, the Trustee shall, proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or such Securities or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein or therein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

  Section 5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or 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 any overdue principal, premium, interest or Additional Amounts) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

(1) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the Securities of such series, of the principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts 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 or counsel) and of the Holders of Securities allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

(2) to collect and receive any monies 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 of Securities 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 of Securities, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7.

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security 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 of a Security in any such proceeding.

 

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  Section 5.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession of Securities

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of 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 or judgment, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, shall be for the ratable benefit of each and every Holder of a Security in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

  Section 5.6 Application of Money Collected

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 5 with respect to Securities of any series 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 any premium, interest or Additional Amounts, upon presentation of such Securities, and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee under Section 6.7;

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon such Securities for principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts 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 aggregate amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium, interest and Additional Amounts, respectively; and

THIRD: The balance, if any, to the Company.

 

  Section 5.7 Limitations 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, unless

(1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series;

(2) (a) in the case of an Event of Default specified in clause (1), (2), (5) and (6) of the definition thereof, Holders of not less than 25%, or (b) in the case of an Event of Default other than as specified in clause (1), (2), (5) and (6) of the definition thereof, Holders of not less than a majority, in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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;

 

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(3) 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;

(4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

(5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such 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 or any Security to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other such Holders or Holders of Securities of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other 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 5.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal and any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts

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, any premium and (subject to Section 3.5 and Section 3.7) interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to, such Security, on the respective Stated Maturity or Maturities therefor specified in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of such Holder if provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, on the date such repayment is due) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

  Section 5.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies

If the Trustee or any Holder of a Security 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 the Company, the Trustee and each such Holder shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding, be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and each such Holder shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

  Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to each and every

 

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Holder of a Security is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy, to the extent permitted by law, shall 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, to the extent permitted by law, prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

  Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Security to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article 5 or by law to the Trustee or to any Holder of a Security may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by such Holder, as the case may be.

 

  Section 5.12 Control by Holders of Securities

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:

(1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture or with the Securities of any series and would not involve the Trustee in personal liability,

(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and

(3) such direction is not unduly prejudicial to the rights of the other Holders of Securities of such series not joining in such action.

 

  Section 5.13 Waiver of Past or Existing Defaults

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series may waive any past or existing default or Event of Default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a continuing default:

(1) in the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security of such series, or

(2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article 9 hereof cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

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Upon any such waiver, such default or Event of 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 5.14 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws

The Company covenants that (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company expressly waives (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it will not 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 had been enacted.

 

  Section 5.15 Undertaking for Costs

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his or her acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of any undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.15 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on or Additional Amounts, if any, with respect to any Security on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date, and, in the case of repayment, on or after the date for repayment) or for the enforcement of the right, if any, to convert or exchange any Security into Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with its terms.

ARTICLE 6

THE TRUSTEE

 

  Section 6.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act. Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series of which a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge, the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in

 

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this Indenture with respect to such Securities, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture with respect to such Securities against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (which has not been cured or waived), 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, with respect to such Securities, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers. Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.1.

 

  Section 6.2 Certain Rights of Trustee

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

(1) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, coupon, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

(2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or a Company Order (in each case, other than delivery of any Security to the Trustee for authentication and delivery pursuant to Section 3.3 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors of the Company may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

(3) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence shall be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

(4) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

(5) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by or pursuant to this Indenture or to institute, conduct or defend any litigation hereunder or in relation hereto at the request or direction of any of the Holders of Securities of any series pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have

 

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offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

(6) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, coupon, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may but shall not be obligated to make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine, during business hours and upon reasonable notice, the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney at the expense of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

(7) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents, attorneys or custodians and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent, attorney or custodians appointed with due care by it hereunder;

(8) the Trustee shall not be liable in its individual capacity for any action taken or suffered to be taken, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent, acted in bad faith or engaged in willful misconduct;

(9) the Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, and Security Registrar shall have the same protections as the Trustee set forth hereunder;

(10) the Trustee shall not be liable in its individual capacity with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with this Indenture, and, to the extent not so provided herein, with respect to any act requiring the Trustee to exercise its own discretion, 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 or any Securities, unless it shall be proved that, in connection with any such action taken, suffered or omitted or any such act, the Trustee was negligent, acted in bad faith or engaged in willful misconduct;

(11) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers;

(12) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge or required to take notice of any default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities unless either (A) a Responsible Officer shall have actual knowledge of such default or Event of Default or (B) written notice of such default or Event of Default, which references the Securities and this Indenture, shall have been given to a Responsible Officer by the Company or other obligor on such Securities or by any Holder of such Securities;

 

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(13) the Trustee shall not be liable in its individual capacity for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;

(14) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian, director, officer, employee and other Person employed to act hereunder;

(15) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which Officer’s Certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

(16) the permissive rights of the Trustee to take certain actions under or perform any discretionary act enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as a duty unless so specified herein, and the Trustee shall not be answerable for other than its negligence or willful misconduct in the performance of such action or act;

(17) the Trustee shall not be liable in its individual capacity with respect to any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with this Indenture or at the direction of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising or omitting to exercise any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture;

(18) in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits) even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action; and

(19) in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.

 

  Section 6.3 Notice of Defaults

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series of which a Responsible Officer has actual knowledge, the

 

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Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series entitled to receive reports pursuant to Section 7.3, notice of such default hereunder actually known to a Responsible Officer, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any), or interest, if any, on, or Additional Amounts or any sinking fund or purchase fund installment with respect to, any Security of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the best interest of the Holders of Securities of such series; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.1(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “ default ” means any event that is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

  Section 6.4 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity, sufficiency or priority of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or application by the Company of the Securities or the proceeds thereof. Except with respect to the authentication of Securities pursuant to Section 3.3, the Trustee shall not be responsible for the legality or the validity of this Indenture or any Securities issued or to be issued hereunder.

 

  Section 6.5 May Hold Securities

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other Person that may be an agent of the Trustee or the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other Person.

 

  Section 6.6 Money Held in Trust

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.

 

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  Section 6.7 Compensation and Reimbursement

The Company agrees:

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed upon from time to time in writing between the Company and the Trustee for all services rendered by the Trustee hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

(2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be caused by the Trustee’s own negligence or willful misconduct; and

(3) to fully indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee and its agents, officers, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability, damage, claim or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the Trustee), incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending themselves against any claim or liability (whether asserted by the Company, a Holder of Securities, or any other Person) in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their powers or duties hereunder.

As security for the performance of the payment obligations of the Company under this Section 6.6, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any series upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, and premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, particular Securities. Such lien shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after a default or Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) and 5.1(6) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expense of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expense of administration under U.S. Code, Title 11 or any other similar foreign, federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, to the extent permitted by law any compensation or expense incurred by the Trustee after a default specified in or pursuant to Section 5.1 is intended to constitute an expense of administration under any then applicable bankruptcy or insolvency law. “ Trustee ” for purposes of this Section 6.7 shall include any predecessor Trustee but the negligence or willful misconduct of any Trustee shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee under this Section 6.7.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture to the contrary, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect or consequential damages of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits) even if the Trustee had been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action.

 

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The provisions of this Section 6.7 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the earlier resignation or removal of the Trustee and shall apply with equal force and effect to the Trustee in its capacity as Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent or Security Registrar.

 

  Section 6.8 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility; Conflicting Interests

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a Corporation or a national banking association, organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia, eligible under Section 310(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and that has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000 subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.8, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article 6.

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

  Section 6.9 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor

(1) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article 6 shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee pursuant to Section 6.10.

(2) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.10 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

(3) The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and the Company. If the instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 6.10 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of removal, the Trustee being removed may petition, at the expense of the Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such

 

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series. The Trustee for one or more series of Securities may be removed by the Company, so long as no default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series.

(4) If at any time:

(a) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the obligations imposed upon it under Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to Securities of any series after written request therefor by the Company or any Holder of a Security of such series who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months,

(b) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.8 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or any such Holder, or

(c) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case,

 

  (i) the Company, by or pursuant to a Company Order, may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities or the Securities of such series, or

 

  (ii) subject to Section 5.15, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

(5) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by or pursuant to a Company Order, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of such series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.10. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapacity, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the

 

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applicable requirements of Section 6.10, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders of Securities and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.10, any Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

(6) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

(7) In no event shall any retiring Trustee be liable for the acts or omissions of any successor Trustee hereunder.

 

  Section 6.10 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor

(1) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties hereunder of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and, subject to Section 10.3, shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 6.7.

(2) Upon the appointment hereunder of any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and such successor Trustee shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (a) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, such successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (b) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring

 

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shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee and (c) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice given to, or received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder, and, upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates other than as hereinafter expressly set forth, and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or such successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee, upon payment of its charges with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates and subject to Section 10.3 shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, subject to its lien, if any, provided for in Section 6.7.

(3) Upon request of any Person appointed hereunder as a successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts.

(4) No Person shall accept its appointment hereunder as a successor Trustee unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Person shall be qualified and eligible under this Article 6.

 

  Section 6.11 Merger; Conversion; Consolidation; or Succession to Business

Any Corporation or national banking association into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation or national banking association resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Corporation or national banking association succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee by sale or otherwise, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Corporation or national banking association shall otherwise be qualified and eligible under this Article 6, in each case without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.

 

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  Section 6.12 Appointment of Authenticating Agent

The Trustee may appoint one or more Authenticating Agents acceptable to the Company with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of that or those series issued upon original issue, exchange, registration of transfer, partial redemption or partial repayment or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent.

Each Authenticating Agent must be acceptable to the Company and, except as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, shall at all times be a Corporation or national banking association that would be permitted by the Trust Indenture Act to act as trustee under an indenture qualified under the Trust Indenture Act, is authorized under applicable law and by its charter to act as an Authenticating Agent and has a combined capital and surplus (computed in accordance with Section 310(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act) of at least $50,000,000. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.12, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 6.12.

Any Corporation or national banking association into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Corporation or national banking association resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Corporation or national banking association succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, provided such Corporation or national banking association shall be otherwise eligible under this Section 6.12, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.12, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to which such

 

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Authenticating Agent shall serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 6.12.

The Company agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.12 to the extent agreed in writing.

The provisions of Section 3.3, Section 6.1, Section 6.4 and Section 6.5 shall be applicable to each Authenticating Agent.

If an Authenticating Agent is appointed with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to this Section 6.12, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in substantially the following form:

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

 

  ,
as Trustee
By:  

 

  As Authenticating Agent
By:  

 

  Authorized Officer
Dated:  

If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally issued at one time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested by Company Request (which writing need not be accompanied by or contained in an Officer’s Certificate), shall appoint in accordance with this Section 6.12 (and subject to such procedures as shall be acceptable to the Trustee) an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.

 

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ARTICLE 7

HOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

  Section 7.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders

In accordance with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

(1) semi-annually with respect to Securities of each series not later than 15 days after each Regular Record Date in respect of Securities of a series, a list, in each case in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of Holders of such Securities as of the applicable date, and

(2) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished,

provided, however, that so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar no such list shall be required to be furnished.

 

  Section 7.2 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders

The Trustee shall comply with the obligations imposed upon it pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.

Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or any Security Registrar shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act, regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

  Section 7.3 Reports by Trustee

(1) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the first May 15 following the first issuance of Securities pursuant to Section 3.1, if required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall transmit, pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, a brief report dated as of such May 15 with respect to any of the events specified in said Section 313(a) that may have occurred since the later of the immediately preceding May 15 and the date of this Indenture.

(2) The Trustee shall transmit any reports required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act at the times specified therein.

 

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(3) A copy of each report, if any, described in Section 7.3(1) and (2) shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which the Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities are listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

 

  Section 7.4 Reports by Company

The Company, pursuant to Section 314(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, shall:

(1) file with the Trustee, within 30 days after the Company has filed the same with the Commission, unless such reports are available on the Commission’s EDGAR filing system (or any successor thereto), copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

(3) transmit within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section 7.4 as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).

 

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ARTICLE 8

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALES

 

  Section 8.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms

The Company shall not directly or indirectly consolidate with or merge with or into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and properties and the assets and properties of its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to another Person in one or more related transactions unless:

(1) either: (A) the Company is the survivor; or (B) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made is a Person organized or existing under the laws of the United States, any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

(2) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition has been made shall expressly assume, by an indenture (or indentures, if at such time there is more than one Trustee) supplemental hereto, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, executed by the successor Person and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, all the Securities and the performance of every obligation in this Indenture and the Outstanding Securities on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and shall provide for conversion or exchange rights in accordance with the provisions of the Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property;

(3) either the Company or the successor Person shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article 8 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with; and

(4) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default or event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing.

 

  Section 8.2 Successor Person Substituted for Company

Upon any consolidation by the Company with or merger of the Company into any other Person or Persons where the Company is not the survivor or any sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and the properties and assets of its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to any Person or Persons in accordance with Section 8.1,

 

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the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such sale, assignment, transfer, lease, conveyance or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein; and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be released from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

ARTICLE 9

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

  Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders

Without the consent of any Holders of Securities, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company contained herein and in the Securities;

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture or indentures) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; provided, that in respect of any such additional covenant, such supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such a default or may limit the remedies available to the Trustee upon an Event of Default or may limit the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default;

(3) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Section 2.1 and Section 3.1;

(4) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.10;

(5) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that no action pursuant to this clause (5) shall adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series then Outstanding in any material respect;

 

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(6) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth;

(7) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any series of Securities (as shall be specified in such supplemental indenture);

(8) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary for the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Article 4, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of any Holder of an Outstanding Security of such series or any other Security in any material respect;

(9) to make provisions with respect to conversion or exchange rights of Holders of Securities of any series;

(10) to add guarantees in respect of the Securities of one or more series and to provide for the terms and conditions of release thereof;

(11) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee as security for the Securities of one or more series any property or assets and to provide for the terms and conditions of release thereof;

(12) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture, provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision;

(13) to provide for Definitive Securities in addition to or in place of Global Securities;

(14) to qualify the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;

(15) with respect to the Securities of a series, to conform the text of the Indenture or the Securities of such series to any provision of the description thereof in the Company’s offering memorandum or prospectus relating to the initial offering of such Securities, to the extent that such provision, in the good faith judgment of the Company, was intended to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of the Indenture or such Securities; or

(16) to make any other change that does not adversely affect the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities in any material respect.

The Trustee is hereby required to join with the Company and any guarantors in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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  Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority (or such greater amount as is provided for a particular series of Securities) in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture (including consents obtained in connection with a purchase of, or tender offer or exchange offer for, Securities of such series), by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company (when authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture or of the Securities of such series; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby, shall:

(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any premium or installment of interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate (or modify the calculation of such rate in a manner that reduces such rate) of interest thereon or any Additional Amounts with respect thereto, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof or otherwise, or change the obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 10.4, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2 or the amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.4, change the redemption provisions or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any Holder as contemplated by Article 13, or change the Place of Payment for any Security or the Currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date or, in the case of repayment at the option of the Holder, on or after the date for repayment);

(2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series the consent of the Holders of which are required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture, or reduce the requirements of Section 15.4 for quorum or voting;

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section 9.2 or Section 5.13 or Section 10.5, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; or

 

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(4) make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any Security into or for Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property in accordance with the terms of such Security.

A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture that shall have been included expressly and solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or that modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders of Securities under this Section 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by a copy of a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Holders of Securities as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company and any guarantors in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental indenture.

 

  Section 9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures

As a condition to executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article 9 or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

  Section 9.4 Revocation of Consents

Notwithstanding clause (5) of Section 1.4, any Holder of a Security or future Holder of the same Security may revoke a consent as to its Security or portion of a Security. Any revocation of a consent by the Holder of a Security or any such future Holder shall be effective only if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date on which the Trustee receives an Officer’s Certificate from the Company certifying that the requisite number of consents have been received. If, however, a record date is fixed pursuant to Section 1.4, then notwithstanding the second preceding sentence, those Persons who were Holders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to revoke any consent previously given, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date.

 

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  Section 9.5 Effect of Supplemental Indentures

A supplemental indenture or waiver becomes effective upon the (a) receipt by the Company or the Trustee of the requisite number of consents (if required), (b) satisfaction of any conditions to effectiveness as set forth in this Indenture or any such supplemental indenture or waiver and (c) with respect to a supplemental indenture, execution of such supplemental indenture by the Company and the Trustee. After a supplemental indenture or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Holder, unless it makes a change described in any of clauses (1) through (4) of Section 9.2, in which case, the supplemental indenture or waiver shall bind a Holder of a Security who is affected thereby only if it has consented to such supplemental indenture or waiver and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security. Upon the effectiveness of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and, except as provided in the preceding sentence, every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

  Section 9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article 9 may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.

 

  Section 9.7 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article 9 shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

  Section 9.8 Notice of Supplemental Indenture

Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.2, the Company shall transmit to the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series affected thereby a notice setting forth the substance of such supplemental indenture; provided, that any failure to provide, or any defect in any such notice, shall not impair the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

 

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ARTICLE 10

COVENANTS

 

  Section 10.1 Payment of Principal, any Premium, Interest and Additional Amounts

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of each series that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of, any premium and interest on and any Additional Amounts with respect to, the Securities of such series in accordance with the terms thereof and this Indenture.

 

  Section 10.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency

The Company shall maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an Office or Agency where Securities of such series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of such series that are convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series relating thereto and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such Office or Agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required Office or Agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other Offices or Agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an Office or Agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other Office or Agency.

Unless otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, the Company hereby designates as the Place of Payment for each series of Securities the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoints the Corporate Trust Office of                                                         , located at                                                 , as the Office or Agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such purpose. The Company may subsequently appoint a different Office or Agency in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for the Securities of any series.

 

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  Section 10.3 Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it shall, on or before each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest on or Additional Amounts with respect to any of the Securities of such series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies in which the Securities of such series are payable (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 for the Securities of such series) sufficient to pay the principal or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and shall promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it shall, on or prior to each due date of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Securities of such series, deposit with any Paying Agent a sum (in the currency or currencies, currency unit or units or composite currency or currencies described in the preceding paragraph) sufficient to pay the principal or any premium, interest or Additional Amounts so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its failure so to act.

The Company shall cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities (other than the Trustee) to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 10.3, that such Paying Agent shall:

(1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture;

(2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any payment of principal, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to the Securities of such series; and

(3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such sums.

 

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Except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal or any such premium or interest or any such Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company either cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment for such series, or may cause to be mailed once to Holders of Registered Securities of such series, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication or mailing nor later than two years after such principal and any premium or interest or Additional Amounts shall have become due and payable, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

  Section 10.4 Additional Amounts

If any Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, the Company agrees to pay to the Holder of any such Security Additional Amounts as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or such Securities. Whenever in this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided by the terms of such series established hereby or pursuant hereto to the extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable in respect thereof pursuant to such terms, and express mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provision hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

Except as otherwise provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of the applicable series, if the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect to such series of Securities (or if the Securities of such series shall not bear interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal is made), and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment of principal or interest if there has been any change with respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officer’s Certificate, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee and the principal Paying Agent or Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such payment of principal of and premium, if any, or

 

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interest on the Securities of such series shall be made to Holders of Securities of such series who are United States Aliens (as demonstrated by delivery of appropriate tax forms) without withholding for or on account of any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of such series. If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officer’s Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld on such payments to such Holders of Securities, and the Company agrees to pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by the terms of such Securities. The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any Officer’s Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section 10.4.

 

  Section 10.5 Waiver of Certain Covenants

The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition specified pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to the Securities of any series if the Company shall have obtained or filed with the Trustee, prior to the time of such failure or omission, evidence (as described in Section 1.4) of the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by Act of such Holders, either waiving such compliance in such instance or generally waiving compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective in accordance with Section 9.5, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

 

  Section 10.6 Company Statement as to Compliance

(1) If any Securities are Outstanding under this Indenture, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a written statement (which need not be contained in or accompanied by an Officer’s Certificate) signed by the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer, stating that:

(a) in the course of the performance of his or her duties as an officer of the Company he or she would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company in the performance of the covenants contained in this Indenture, and

(b) to his or her knowledge, the Company has complied with all the conditions and covenants imposed on it under this Indenture throughout such year, or, if there has been a noncompliance in the fulfillment of any such condition or covenant, specifying each such noncompliance known to him or her and the nature and status thereof.

 

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(2) The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor the Company’s compliance with the covenants contained in this Indenture other than to receive written notices described in Section 10.6(1).

ARTICLE 11

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

  Section 11.1 Applicability of Article

Redemption of Securities of any series at the option of the Company as permitted or required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise provided herein or pursuant hereto) this Article 11.

 

  Section 11.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee

The election of the Company to optionally redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by or pursuant to a Board Resolution. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of the Securities of any series, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company that is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

  Section 11.3 Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed

If less than all of the Securities of any series with the same issue date, interest rate or formula, Stated Maturity and other terms are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption on a pro rata basis or by lot (whichever is consistent with the Trustee’s customary practice); provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Registered Security of such series not redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Security of such series established herein or pursuant hereto.

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar (if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Securities that has been or is to be redeemed.

 

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Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any series, if any Security selected for partial redemption is converted into or exchanged for Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property in part before termination of the conversion or exchange right with respect to the portion of the Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities that have been converted or exchanged during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

  Section 11.4 Notice of Redemption

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to the Holders of Securities to be redeemed. Failure to give notice by mailing in the manner herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated for redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities or portion thereof.

Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Registered Securities in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

All notices of redemption shall state:

(1) the Redemption Date;

(2) the Redemption Price or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof;

(3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amount) of the particular Security or Securities to be redeemed;

(4) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed;

(5) that, on the Redemption Date, the Redemption Price shall become due and payable upon each such Security or portion thereof to be redeemed, and, if applicable, that interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date, subject to such conditions as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.1 with respect to such Security;

 

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(6) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and any accrued interest and Additional Amounts pertaining thereto;

(7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case;

(8) in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock or other securities, cash or other property, the conversion or exchange price or rate, the date or dates on which the right to convert or exchange the principal of the Securities of such series to be redeemed will commence or terminate and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange; and

(9) the CUSIP number (or any other numbers used by a Depositary to identify such Securities).

A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 1.6 need not identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, upon Company Request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

  Section 11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price

At or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit, with respect to the Securities of any series called for redemption pursuant to Section 11.4, with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money in the applicable Currency sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1 or in the Securities of such series) any accrued interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to such accrued interest, all such Securities or portions thereof which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

  Section 11.6 Securities Payable on Redemption Date

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid and all conditions specified pursuant to Section 3.1 having been satisfied, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with any accrued interest and Additional Amounts to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, except as otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Registered Securities of such series, installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the

 

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Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the Regular Record Dates therefor according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

Unless otherwise specified in or pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any series, if any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium, until paid, shall bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

  Section 11.7 Securities Redeemed in Part

Any Registered Security to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at any Office or Agency for such Security (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Registered Security or Securities of the same series, containing identical terms and provisions, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security so surrendered. If a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on behalf of the U.S. Depositary or other Depositary for such Global Security as shall be specified in the Company Order with respect thereto to the Trustee, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered.

 

  Section 11.8 Repurchases on the Open Market

The Company or any Affiliate of the Company may at any time or from time to time repurchase any of the Securities in the open market or otherwise. Such Securities may, at the option of the Company or the relevant Affiliate of the Company, be held, resold or surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.

ARTICLE 12

SINKING FUNDS

 

  Section 12.1 Applicability of Article

The provisions of this Article 12 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise permitted or required in or pursuant to this Indenture or any Security of such series issued pursuant to this Indenture.

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities

 

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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 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series and this Indenture.

 

  Section 12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities

The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of any series to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities (1) deliver Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any of such Securities previously called for redemption or any of such Securities in respect of which cash shall have been released to the Company) and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such series of Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly. If as a result of the delivery or credit of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section 12.2, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order to satisfy the remaining sinking fund payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon Company Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the request of the Company from time to time pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of Securities of that series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Company.

 

  Section 12.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund

Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s 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 12.2, and the basis for such credit and the optional amount, if any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not theretofore delivered. If such Officer’s Certificate shall specify an optional amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified. Not less than 60 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner

 

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specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.4. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 11.6 and Section 11.7.

ARTICLE 13

REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

  Section 13.1 Applicability of Article

Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with the terms of the Securities of such series. The repayment of any principal amount of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 3.9, shall not operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option, shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a directive that such Securities be cancelled. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Section 13.1, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the Company may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the close of business on the repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the Company on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Company to pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.

ARTICLE 14

SECURITIES IN FOREIGN CURRENCIES

 

  Section 14.1 Applicability of Article

Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any series in which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same Currency, or (ii) any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to the contrary pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities of any particular series, any amount in respect of any Security denominated in a Foreign Currency shall be treated for any such action or distribution as that amount of Dollars that could be obtained for such amount on such reasonable basis of exchange and as of the record date with respect to Registered Securities of such series (if any) for such action, determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action, determination of rights or distribution) as the Company may specify in a written notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the Trustee may determine.

 

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ARTICLE 15

MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

 

  Section 15.1 Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called

A meeting of Holders of Securities of any series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to this Article 15 to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act provided by this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series.

 

  Section 15.2 Call, Notice and Place of Meetings

(1) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of any series for any purpose specified in Section 15.1, to be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York as the Trustee may select and as shall be acceptable to the Company. Notice of every meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given, in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

(2) In case at any time the Company (by or pursuant to a Board Resolution) or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 15.1, by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for such meeting and may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in clause (1) of this Section 15.4.

 

  Section 15.3 Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings

To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such Holder or Holders. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

 

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  Section 15.4 Quorum; Action

The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of a different percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons entitled to vote such percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall constitute a quorum. In the absence of a quorum within 30 minutes after the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved. In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such meeting. In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such adjourned meeting. Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be given as provided in Section 15.2(1), except that such notice need be given only once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled to be reconvened. Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

Except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any consent or waiver which this Indenture or any supplemental indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series; and provided, further, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 9.2, any resolution with respect to any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act which this Indenture or any supplemental indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by the Holders of a different specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series.

Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section 15.4 shall be binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series, whether or not such Holders were present or represented at the meeting.

 

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  Section 15.5 Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of Meetings

(1) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Holders of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate. Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.4 and the appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 1.4. Such regulations may provide that written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 1.4 or other proof.

(2) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 15.2(2), in which case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

(3) At any meeting, each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a Security of such series or proxy.

(4) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant to Section 15.2 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.

 

  Section 15.6 Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings

The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the permanent secretary of the meeting their

 

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verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the permanent secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as provided in Section 15.2 and, if applicable, Section 15.4. Each copy shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto the ballots voted at the meeting. Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.

 

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

 

DURECT CORPORATION
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

 

  ,
as Trustee  
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

 

81

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO        

755 PAGE MILL ROAD
PALO ALTO
CALIFORNIA 94304-1018

 

TELEPHONE: 650.813.5600

FACSIMILE: 650.494.0792

 

WWW.MOFO.COM

  

MORRISON & FOERSTER LLP

 

BEIJING, BERLIN, BRUSSELS, DENVER,

HONG KONG, LONDON, LOS ANGELES,

NEW YORK, NORTHERN VIRGINIA,

PALO ALTO, SACRAMENTO, SAN DIEGO,

SAN FRANCISCO, SHANGHAI, SINGAPORE,

TOKYO, WASHINGTON, D.C.

November 3, 2015

DURECT Corporation

10260 Bubb Road

Cupertino, CA 95014

Re: Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to DURECT Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”) to be filed by the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Company has provided us with a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), which forms part of the Registration Statement. The Base Prospectus provides that it will be supplemented in the future by one or more prospectus supplements (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Registration Statement, including the Base Prospectus as supplemented from time to time by one or more Prospectus Supplements, will provide for the registration by the Company of:

 

  (i) shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”);

 

  (ii) shares of preferred stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”);

 

  (iii) debt securities, which may be senior or subordinated, and which may be issued in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”), under the form of indenture filed as Exhibit 4.6 to the Registration Statement, as such indenture may be supplemented from time to time (the “Indenture”);

 

  (v) warrants to purchase Common Stock, Preferred Stock or Debt Securities (the “Warrants”), which may be issued under warrant agreements, to be dated on or about the date of the first issuance of the applicable Warrants thereunder, by and between a warrant agent to be selected by the Company (the “Warrant Agent”) and the Company, in the forms that will be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, as such agreements may be supplemented from time to time (each, a “Warrant Agreement”); and

 

  (vi) units comprising shares of Common Stock, shares of Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, debt obligations of third parties, including U.S. treasury securities, warrants or any combination thereof (the “Units”), which may be issued under unit agreements, to be dated on or about the date of the first issuance of the applicable Units thereunder, by and between a unit agent to be selected by the Company (the “Unit Agent”) and the Company, in the forms that will be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement, as such agreements may be supplemented from time to time (each, a “Unit Agreement”).

The Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Shelf Securities.” The Shelf Securities are being registered for offering and sale from time to time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act. The aggregate public offering price of the Shelf Securities being registered will not exceed $125,000,000.

We also have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the sale through Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. as the sales agent (the “Sales Agent”) from time to time by the Company of shares of Common Stock (the “Sales Agreement Shares”) having an aggregate offering price of up to $40,000,000 pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement for the sale of the Sales Agreement Shares included in the Registration Statement (the “Sales Agreement Supplement”), and that certain Control Equity Offering SM Sales Agreement dated as of November 3, 2015, between the Sales Agent and the Company (the “Sales Agreement”). The Sales Agreement Shares, together with the Shelf Securities, are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”


In connection with this opinion, we have examined such corporate records, documents, instruments, certificates of public officials and of the Company and such questions of law as we have deemed necessary for the purpose of rendering the opinions set forth herein. We also have examined the Registration Statement, the Indenture and the Sales Agreement.

In such examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures and the authenticity of all items submitted to us as originals and the conformity with originals of all items submitted to us as copies. In making our examination of documents executed by parties other than the Company, we have assumed that each other party has the power and authority (or where such party is an individual, the capacity) to execute and deliver, and to perform and observe the provisions of, such documents, and the due authorization by each such party of all requisite action and the due execution and delivery of such documents by each such party, and that such documents constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of each such party enforceable against such party in accordance with their terms.

The opinions hereinafter expressed are subject to the following qualifications and exceptions:

 

  (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally, including, without limitation, laws relating to fraudulent transfers or conveyances, preferences and equitable subordination;

 

  (ii) limitations imposed by general principles of equity upon the availability of equitable remedies or the enforcement of provisions of any Debt Securities, Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants or Units, and the effect of judicial decisions which have held that certain provisions are unenforceable where their enforcement would violate the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, or would be commercially unreasonable, or where their breach is not material; and

 

  (iii) our opinion is based upon current statutes, rules, regulations, cases and official interpretive opinions, and it covers certain items that are not directly or definitively addressed by such authorities.

With respect to our opinion as to the Common Stock, we have assumed that, at the time of issuance and sale, a sufficient number of shares of Common Stock are authorized and available for issuance and that the consideration for the issuance and sale of the Common Stock (or Preferred Stock convertible into Common Stock, Debt Securities convertible into Common Stock or Warrants exercisable for Common Stock) is in an amount that is not less than the par value of the Common Stock.

With respect to our opinion as to the Preferred Stock, we have assumed that, at the time of issuance and sale, a sufficient number of shares of Preferred Stock are authorized, designated and available for issuance and that the consideration for the issuance and sale of the Preferred Stock (or Debt Securities convertible into Preferred Stock or Warrants exercisable for Preferred Stock) is in an amount that is not less than the par value of the Preferred Stock.

We have also assumed that any Warrants and Units offered under the Registration Statement, and the related Warrant Agreement and Unit Agreement, as applicable, will be duly authorized, executed and delivered in the forms that will be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or incorporated by reference therein.

We have also assumed that with respect to Securities being issued upon conversion of any convertible Preferred Stock, the applicable Preferred Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

We have also assumed that (i) all Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and the securities or blue sky laws of various states and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable prospectus supplement and (ii) the trustee under the Indenture (the “Trustee”) will be qualified pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 at the time the Securities are offered or issued (or such later time as may be permitted pursuant to the rules, regulations, interpretations or positions of the Securities and Exchange Commission) as contemplated by the Registration Statement.

Our opinion herein is expressed solely with respect to Federal Securities Laws, the Delaware General Corporation Law and, as to the Debt Securities constituting valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, solely with respect to the laws of the State of New York.


Our opinion is based on these laws as in effect on the date hereof. We express no opinion as to whether the laws of any jurisdiction are applicable to the subject matter hereof. We are not rendering any opinion as to compliance with any federal law or state law, rule or regulation relating to securities, or to the sale or issuance thereof.

Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

1. With respect to the Common Stock offered under the Registration Statement, including the Sales Agreement Shares, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post–effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Base Prospectus, the Sales Agreement Supplement (with respect to the Sales Agreement Shares) and any and all other Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the issuance of the Common Stock (other than the Sales Agreement Shares, which have already been dully authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company) has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company; (iii) the issuance and sale of the Common Stock do not violate any applicable law, are in conformity with the Company’s then operative Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) and Bylaws (the “Bylaws”), do not result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any applicable requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (iv) the certificates for the Common Stock have been duly executed by the Company, countersigned by the transfer agent therefor and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment therefor, then the Common Stock, when issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Sales Agreement Supplement (with respect to the Sales Agreement Shares) and any other related Prospectus Supplement(s) and in accordance with any applicable duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

2. With respect to the Preferred Stock offered under the Registration Statement, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post–effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Base Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the terms and issuance of the Preferred Stock have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company; (iii) the terms of the shares of Preferred Stock and their issuance and sale do not violate any applicable law, are in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, do not result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and comply with any applicable requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (iv) the certificates for the Preferred Stock have been duly executed by the Company, countersigned by the transfer agent therefor and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment therefor, then the Preferred Stock, when issued and sold as contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s) and in accordance with any applicable duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

3. With respect to any series of the Debt Securities issued under the Indenture and offered under the Registration Statement, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post–effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Base Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Trustee by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the Indenture in substantially the form that filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee; (iv) the issuance and terms of the Debt Securities have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (v) the terms of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, so as to be in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and so as to comply with any requirement, restriction, consent, approval, license or authorization imposed or granted by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the Debt Securities have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor, then the Debt Securities, when issued and sold in accordance with the Indenture and a duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, or upon exercise of any Warrants under the Warrant Agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.


4. With respect to the Warrants issued under the Warrant Agreement and offered under the Registration Statement, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post–effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Base Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and the Warrant Agent by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the Warrant Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Warrant Agent; (iv) the issuance and terms of the Warrants have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (v) the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Warrant Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, so as to be in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and so as to comply with any requirement, restriction, consent, approval, license or authorization imposed or granted by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the Warrants have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Warrant Agent pursuant to the Warrant Agreement and delivered against payment therefor, then the Warrants, when issued and sold in accordance with the Warrant Agreement and a duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

5. With respect to the Units issued under the Unit Agreement and offered under the Registration Statement, provided that (i) the Registration Statement and any required post–effective amendment thereto have all become effective under the Securities Act and the Base Prospectus and any and all Prospectus Supplement(s) required by applicable laws have been delivered and filed as required by such laws; (ii) the Unit Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and the Unit Agent by all necessary corporate action; (iii) the Unit Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and the Unit Agent; (iv) the issuance and terms of the Units have been duly authorized by the Company by all necessary corporate action; (v) the terms of the Units and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the Unit Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplement(s), so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company, so as to be in conformity with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the Units have been duly executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Unit Agent pursuant to the Unit Agreement and delivered against payment therefor, then the Units, when issued and sold in accordance with the Unit Agreement and a duly authorized, executed and delivered purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Base Prospectus and the Sales Agreement Supplement which form parts of the Registration Statement. In giving such permission, we do not admit hereby that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act, or the rules and regulations of promulgated thereunder. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes of the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable law.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Morrison & Foerster LLP

Exhibit 12.1

COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges and our ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred dividend requirements for each of the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
    Year Ended December 31,  
     2015     2014     2013     2012      2011     2010  

Earnings:

             

Net income (loss)

   $ (16,818 )   $ (22,110   $ (21,452   $ 16,200       $ (18,765   $ (22,898

Fixed charges

     2,234        1,858        607        620         828        805   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Earnings

   $ (14,584 )   $ (20,252   $ (20,845   $ 16,820       $ (17,937   $ (22,093
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Fixed Charges:

             

Interest expense

   $ 1,677      $ 1,151      $ 6      $ 7       $ 46      $ 6   

Portion of rent expense representative of interest

     557        707        601        613         782        799   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Fixed Charges

   $ 2,234      $ 1,858      $ 607      $ 620       $ 828      $ 805   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (1)

     —          —          —          27.1         —          —     

 

(1) For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of net income (loss) plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, amortization of issuance costs and discount or premium related to indebtedness, whether expensed or capitalized, and that portion of rental payments under operating leases we believe to be representative of interest. Earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges by $16.8 million for the nine months ended September 31, 2015 and $22.1 million, $21.5 million, $18.8 million, $22.9 million for the years ended December 31, 2014, 2013, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Earnings for the year ended December 31, 2012 included recognition of $35.4 million of collaborative research and development revenue as a result of the termination of the Company’s agreements with Nycomed, Pfizer and Hospira. Excluding the recognition of $35.4 million of deferred revenue, earnings would have been insufficient to cover fixed charges by $19.2 million for the year ended December 31, 2012.

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the reference of our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of DURECT Corporation for the registration of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, either individually or in units, with a total value of up to $125,000,000, and to the incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated March 3, 2015, with respect to the financial statements and schedule of DURECT Corporation, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of DURECT Corporation, included in its Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2014, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Redwood City, California

November 3, 2015