UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

27-1636887

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

41 John Street, Suite 2A, New York, NY 10038

(646) 861-3315

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

 

Mr. Xiangyao Liu

Chief Executive Officer

41 John Street, Suite 2A, New York, NY 10038

(646) 861-3315

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

 

Copies to:

Benjamin Tan, Esq.

Will Rao, Esq.

Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP

1185 Avenue of the Americas, 37 th Floor,

New York, NY 10036

Telephone (212) 930- 9700

Facsimile (212) 930-9725

 

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: þ

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer  þ Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

Smaller reporting company ☐
  Emerging growth company ☐

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of Securities Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

Title of each class of securities to be registered

 

Amount
to be

Registered (1)(2)

   

Proposed maximum

offering
price

per unit (1)(2)

   

Proposed maximum

aggregate offering

price (1)(2)

   

Amount of

registration fee (3)

 
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share                                    
Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share                                
Debt Securities                                
Warrants                                     
Rights                                
Units                                
Total   $   300,000,000       -     $ 300,000,000       $37,350 (4)

 

(1)

 

This registration statement covers an indeterminate number of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, rights, and units that may be sold by the registrant from time to time, for a maximum aggregate offering price of all securities not to exceed $300,000,000. Any securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The securities registered also include an indeterminate amount and number of shares of common stock as may be issued upon exercise of warrants or rights, conversion of preferred stock or debt securities, etc. or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any such securities. The securities registered also include an indeterminate amount and number of shares of preferred stock as may be issued upon exercise of warrants or rights, conversion of debt securities or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any such securities.

   
(2) The proposed maximum aggregate offering price per class of security will be determined from time to time by the registrant in connection with the issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to General Instruction II.D. of Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).
   
(3)

The registration fee has been calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act.

 

(4)

The registration fee has been p reviously paid.

 

The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed.  We may not sell these securities until the registration statement relating to these securities that has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective.  This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

(Subject to Completion, Dated March 20, 2018)

 

PROSPECTUS

 

YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED

 

 

 

$300,000,000

Common Stock, par value $0.0001

Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001

Debt Securities

Warrants

Rights

Units

 

 

 

We may offer and sell up to $300,000,000 in the aggregate of the securities identified above from time to time in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities. Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.

 

Selling stockholders may also offer shares of our common stock from time to time in connection with this offering. The securities we and/or selling stockholders offer will have an aggregate public offering price of up to $300 million. We will provide specific terms of any offering, including the price to the public of the securities, in supplements to this prospectus. These securities may be offered separately or together in any combination and as separate series. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement and free writing prospectus carefully before you invest in our securities

 

We and/or selling stockholders may sell these securities on a continuous or delayed basis directly, through agents, dealers or underwriters as designated from time to time, or through a combination of these methods. For additional information on the methods of sale, you should refer to the section entitled “Plan of Distribution”. We and/or selling stockholders, as applicable, reserve the sole right to accept, and together with any agents, dealers and underwriters, reserve the right to reject, in whole or in part, any proposed purchase of securities. If any agents, dealers or underwriters are involved in the sale of any securities, the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth any applicable commissions or discounts. Our net proceeds, and the net proceeds of any selling stockholders, if applicable, from the sale of securities also will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement will also contain more specific information about the offering, including the names of any selling stockholders, if applicable.

 

We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, or through a combination of these methods. If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement between or among them will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement. See the sections of this prospectus entitled “About this Prospectus” and “Plan of Distribution” for more information. No securities may be sold without delivery of this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of such securities.

 

 

 

INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES INVOLVES RISKS. SEE THE “ RISK FACTORS ” ON PAGE 17 OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND ANY SIMILAR SECTION CONTAINED IN THE APPLICABLE PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT CONCERNING FACTORS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE INVESTING IN OUR SECURITIES.

 

Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “YRIV”. On March 19, 2018, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market was $4.40 per share.

 

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

 

This prospectus is dated ________, 2018.  

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS 1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE 1
ABOUT YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED 3
RISK FACTORS 17
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS 38
USE OF PROCEEDS 38
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 38

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

40

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 50
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS 52
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS 53
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 54
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES 55
EXPERTS 55

 

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $300,000,000 as described in this prospectus. Each time that we offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”

 

We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We will not make an offer to sell these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement to this prospectus is accurate as of the date on its respective cover, and that any information incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, unless we indicate otherwise. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

When we refer to “we,” “our,” “us” and the “Company” in this prospectus, we mean Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited, unless otherwise specified. When we refer to “you,” we mean the holders of the applicable series of securities.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION; INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

 

Available Information

 

We file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Information filed with the SEC by us can be inspected and copied at the Public Reference Room maintained by the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Room of the SEC at prescribed rates. Further information on the operation of the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. can be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information about issuers, such as us, who file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is http://www.sec.gov .

 

Our website address is http://www.yerr.com.cn . The information on our website, however, is not, and should not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement are part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC and do not contain all of the information in the registration statement. The full registration statement may be obtained from the SEC or us, as provided below. Forms of the documents establishing the terms of the offered securities are or may be filed as exhibits to the registration statement. Statements in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement about these documents are summaries and each statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You should refer to the actual documents for a more complete description of the relevant matters. You may inspect a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C. or through the SEC’s website, as provided above.

 

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Incorporation by Reference

 

The SEC’s rules allow us to “incorporate by reference” information into this prospectus, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, and subsequent information that we file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede that information. Any statement contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus modifies or replaces that statement.

 

We incorporate by reference our documents listed below and any future filings made by us with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which we refer to as the “Exchange Act” in this prospectus, between the date of this prospectus and the termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus. We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or related exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.01 of Form 8-K.

 

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement incorporate by reference the documents set forth below that have previously been filed with the SEC:

 

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the SEC on March 9, 2018.
     
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on March 6, 2018.
     
Our Current Report on Form 8-K/A (Amendment No. 1) filed with the SEC on February 16, 2018.
     
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 15, 2018.
     
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 14, 2018.
     
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 13, 2018.
     
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2018.
     
Our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on February 9, 2018.
     
The description of our Common Stock contained in the our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed April 13, 2017 (File No. 001-38062), including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

All reports and other documents we subsequently file pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the termination of this offering, including all such documents we may file with the SEC after the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement, but excluding any information furnished to, rather than filed with, the SEC, will also be incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be part of this prospectus from the date of the filing of such reports and documents.

 

You may request a free copy of any of the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus (other than exhibits, unless they are specifically incorporated by reference in the documents) by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

 

Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited

41 John St, Suite 2A

New York, NY 10038

(646) 861-3315

 

Exhibits to the filings will not be sent, however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement.

 

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ABOUT YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED

Overview

 

Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited is a Nevada holding corporation. We operate through our wholly-owned subsidiary, Energetic Mind Limited (“Energetic Mind”), a British Virgin Islands corporation, which in turn operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ricofeliz Capital (HK) Limited (“Ricofeliz Capital”), a Hong Kong corporation. Ricofeliz Capital which operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wuhan Yangtze River Newport Logistics Co., Ltd (“Wuhan Newport”), a wholly foreign-owned enterprise incorporated in the People’s Republic of China that primarily engages in the business of real estate and infrastructural development and operating a port logistics center (“Logistics Center”) located in Wuhan, Hubei Province in the People’s Republic of China (“PRC”).

 

Situated in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Wuhan Newport is a large infrastructure development project implemented under China’s latest “One Belt One Road” initiative. We believe that it is strategically positioned in the anticipated “Pilot Free Trade Zone” of the Wuhan Port, an important trading locale for the PRC, the Middle East and Europe. To be fully developed upon completion, the Logistics Center will comprise six operating zones: port operation area, warehouse and distribution area, cold chain logistics area, rail cargo loading area, exhibition area and business related area. The Logistics Center is also expected to provide a number of shipping berths for cargo ships of various sizes. Wuhan Newport expects to provide domestic and foreign businesses direct access to the anticipated Pilot Free Trade Zone in Wuhan. The project will include commercial buildings, professional logistic supply chain centers, direct access to the Yangtze River, Wuhan-Xinjiang-Europe Railway and ground transportation, storage and processing centers, and IT supporting services, among others.

 

We anticipate that income generated from the use of the warehouses, cargo loading and unloading, railway and highway transportation and logistics services and other logistics supporting services will comprise the main source of our income. It is also expected that income from real estate sales and leasing will be a relatively minor portion of our expected income since we are planning to sell or lease only a small portion of our real estate properties such as office spaces. We will begin construction on the Logistics Center once we are able to raise funds for it.

 

In the meantime, we have been developing a commercial building project called the Wuhan Centre China Grand Steel Market (Phase 1) Commercial Building (“Phase 1 Project”) located in the south of Hans Road, Wuhan Yangluo Economic Development Zone which covers an approximate construction area of 222,496.6 square meters. We have been financing the Phase 1 Project with bank loans and shareholder advances. The Phase 1 Project comprises 7 buildings, four of which covering 35,350.4 square meters have been completed and three of which covering an approximate area of 57,450.4 square meters are still under construction as of December 31, 2017. We have sold approximately 22,780 square meters of commercial building space.

 

We plan to use the majority of our real estate properties for the development of our Logistics Center, from which our main source of expected income will be derived.

 

Wuhan Yangtze River Newport Logistics Center

 

The Logistics Center will be an extensive complex located in Wuhan Newport Yangluo Port. Wuhan, the capital of the Hubei Province in the People’s Republic of China is a major transportation hub city with access to numerous railways, roads and expressways passing through the city and connecting to major cities in China, as well as other international centers of commerce and business.

 

The Logistics Center will be on the upper stream of the Yangtze River, and close to the northern base of Wuhan Iron and Steel, China’s first mega-sized iron and steel production complex. The Logistics Center is expected to include a port terminal that will be located approximately 26.5km from the Wuhan Guan and 5.5km from the Yangluo Yangtze River Bridge. The operation area of the port is expected to consist of a riverbank of 1,039 meters with eight 5,000-to-10,000-ton berths, two of which are multi-purpose berths and the other six are general cargo berths. It is designed to be able to handle up to 5,000,000 tons of cargo annually, including up to 100,000 TEU for annual container throughput (including 20,000 TEU in freezer areas), 1,000,000 tons of iron and steel and 3,000,000 tons of general cargo.

 

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Within the Logistics Center, functional areas will be divided into six operating zones: a port operation area, a warehouse and distribution area, a cold chain supply logistics area, a rail cargo loading area, an exhibition area and a business related area. The Logistics Center will also be complemented with container storage areas, multi-functional areas, general storage areas, a multi-functional warehouse and infrastructural development, including new roads, gas stations, parking areas, gas and water pipes, electricity lines and all other facilities and equipment to operate the Logistics Center.

 

Aside from being situated in the Wuhan Yangluo Comprehensive Bonded Zone, the Yangluo development area is among the third group of China’s Pilot Free Trade Zone (“FTZ”) applicants to submit FTZ applications to the State Council. As of the date hereof, approvals have been granted to Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian. Corporations within the approved free-trade zones are typically entitled to a series of favorable regulations and policies that could help the businesses grow and succeed.

 

The Logistics Center is expected to occupy approximately 1,918,000 square meters, for which the construction and development are expected to be completed in three phases in three years and reach its target maximum annual profit by the end of 2022 assuming the entire funding required for construction of the Logistics Center of $1.03 billion is in place by 2021 and the Logistics Center is in operation per our business plan. We have updated our original time-frame and the following table illustrates the anticipated timeframe of our investment and construction progress.

 

Time     Phase of
Investment/Construction
    Percentage of Total
Anticipated
Investment/
Construction (1)
    Production
Capacity (2)
 
1 st Year (2018)       1 st Phase       40 %     30 %
2 nd Year (2019)       2 nd Phase       70 %     40 %
3 rd Year (2020)       3 rd Phase       100 %     60 %
4 th Year (2021)       Completed       100 %     75 %
5 th Year (2022)       Completed       100 %     100 %

 

(1) The percentage of construction in a certain phase reflects the anticipated contribution of the investment in such particular phase. For example, contribution of 40% of the total investment in Phase 1 will lead to construction of 40% of total value of the Logistics Center.

 

(2) The percentage of Production Capacity shows the fraction of the target maximum annual profit to be earned when the Wuhan Project is fully operational. We target to reach its maximum annual profit by the end of 2021 assuming the entire funding required for construction of the Logistics Center of $1.03 billion is in place by 2020 and the Logistics Center is in operation according to our business plan.

 

Wuhan Newport has signed a twenty-year lease agreement effective April 27, 2015, the maximum number of years permitted by the applicable PRC laws, with rights to renew, at its sole discretion, for another twenty-years, to lease approximately 1,200,000 square meters of land for building logistics warehouses in support of the Logistics Center. The warehouses are expected to be comprised port terminal zones, warehouse logistics zones, cold chain supply zones and railroad loading and unloading zones. The warehouses, once constructed, will connect the port terminal along the Yangtze River and the railway leading to Europe, satisfying the requirement of China’s latest “One Belt, One Road” initiative. It will also be able to support large logistics companies in Wuhan and other nearby provinces which will rent the warehouses, terminals and offices within the Logistics Center.

 

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Logistics Center Highlights:

 

  The shipping center will be implemented under China’s latest “One Belt, One Road” initiative to promote the “Yangtze River Economic Belt”;
     
  Wuhan Newport is part of the Yangluo port, which is part of the area that is currently seeking approval for status as a “Free-Trade Zone”;
     
  Wuhan Newport is part of the “Yangluo Comprehensive Bonded Zone”, which allows the enterprises in the zone to receive certain favorable tax treatments such as export tax rebates and less or free of value-added tax and consumption tax.

 

Wuhan Economic Development Port Limited

 

On December 26, 2017,we entered into a purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with the shareholders (the “Wuhan Port Shareholders”) of Wuhan Economic Development Port Limited (the “Wuhan Port”) to acquire all the equity interests of Wuhan Port (the “Wuhan Port Acquisition”). In exchange, the Wuhan Shareholders will acquire all the ordinary shares of Energetic Mind and in turn, Ricofeliz Capital, Wuhan Newport and the abovementioned plans for the Logistics Center.

 

The closing of the transaction, which shall be no later than March 31, 2018 and is conditioned upon satisfactory due diligence, the completion of auditing of the financial statements of Wuhan Port, and the approval of relevant regulatory agencies.

 

In addition to the exchange of Energetic Mind for Wuhan Port, we will also have to pay RMB 600 million (approximately, US$91 million) to the Wuhan Port Shareholders (“Additional Consideration”). The Additional Consideration is to be paid as follows: (i) a refundable deposit of RMB 30 million upon the issuance of an initial due diligence report and audit and (ii) the remaining RMB 570 million on closing in cash or in the form of a 7% convertible note. Our Board of Directors and majority shareholders have approved this transaction.

 

Wuhan Port owns all the equity interests in Hubei Taiding Container Port Limited (“Hubei Taiding”) and Wuhan Economic Development Port Logistics Limited (“Wuhan Economic Development”). It has the following major operations: (i) its owns 7,060 meters of the Yangtze River shoreline located in the Hannan District Port, Wuhan City. Currently three berths along the 330 meters of the coastline has been completed and in operation. Additional six berths have been approved by the local government and waiting to be built. Also, more than ten berths are pending approval by the local government; (ii) its owns a total of 1,371,960 square meters of industrial land near the Hannan District Port for the construction of logistics warehouses and supporting office buildings. A warehouse totaling 11,340 square meters has been built and is in operation; (iii) its owns an office building comprising 4,575.7 square meters if office space; and (iv) it has received a registration certificate issued by China Wuhan Customs. The total value of its fixed assets plus intangible assets as of December 31, 2017 was RMB 3 billion, or approximately USD$454M, based on an assessment report issued by a local appraisal company.

 

If the Wuhan Port Acquisition were to be consummated, we would be divested of our interests in Energetic Mind and correspondingly, our interests in Wuhan Newport and the Logistics Center and will assume the business of Wuhan Port. Conversely, if the Wuhan Port Acquisition were to fail to be consummated, then we shall continue our plans to develop the Logistics Center.

 

The “One Belt, One Road” Initiative.

 

According to the Vision and Actions on Jointly Building Belt and Road issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, with State Council authorization in March 2015, “One Belt, One Road” (the “Initiative”) is a infrastructural development concept initiated by the leaders of the Chinese government in 2013. It refers to the New Silk Road Economic Belt, which will link China with Europe through Central and Western Asia, and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, which will connect China with Southeast Asian countries, Africa and Europe through the Pacific and Indian Ocean. Neither the belt, nor the road, follows a designated route, but serves as a conceptual roadmap for China’s plan to expand its presence commercially to the regions outside of the country and strengthen its economic relationships with the nations in these regions.

 

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The “Belt” and the “Road” run through the continents of Asia, Europe and Africa, connecting the vibrant East Asian economic circle on one end and developed European economic circle on the other, and encompassing countries with huge potential for economic development. The Silk Road Economic Belt focuses on bringing together China, Central Asia, Russia and Europe (the Baltic), linking China with the Persian Gulf and the Mediterranean Sea through Central Asia and West Asia, and connecting China with Southeast Asia, South Asia and the countries along the Indian Ocean. The 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road is designed to go from China’s coast to Europe through the South China Sea and the Indian Ocean in one route, and from China’s coast through the South China Sea to the South Pacific in the other.

 

On land, the Initiative is expected to focus on jointly building a new Eurasian Land Bridge and developing China-Mongolia-Russia, China-Central Asia-West Asia and China-Indochina Peninsula economic corridors by taking advantage of international transport routes, relying on core cities along the Belt and Road and using key economic industrial parks as cooperation platforms. At sea, the Initiative is expected to focus on jointly building smooth, secure and efficient transportation routes connecting major sea ports along the Belt and the Road. The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar Economic Corridor are closely related to the Belt and Road Initiative, and therefore require closer cooperation and greater progress. (Source: http://en.ndrc.gov.cn/newsrelease/201503/t20150330_669367.html ; National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Ministry of Commerce of the People’s Republic of China, with State Council authorization ).

 

Corporate History

 

On December 23, 2009, we were incorporated under the laws of the State of Nevada under the name of “Ciglarette International, Inc.”.

 

On March 1, 2011, we completed a reverse acquisition transaction through a share exchange with Kirin China Holding, a British Virgin Islands company (“Kirin China”), whereby acquired all of the issued and outstanding shares of Kirin China in exchange for 18,547,297 shares of common stock, which represented approximately 98.4% of the total shares outstanding immediately following the closing of this share exchange (the “First Share Exchange”). Upon consummation of the First Share Exchange, we changed our name to “Kirin International Holding, Inc.” and traded under the symbol “KIRI” on OTC Markets. As a result of the First Share Exchange, Kirin China became a wholly-owned subsidiary. We ceased the smokeless cigarette business and became a holding company, through various controlled entities in the China, engaged in the development and operation of real estate in China. Through Kirin China, we engaged in private real estate development focusing on residential and commercial real estate development in “tier-three” cities in China. Tier-three cities are provincial capital cities with ordinary economic development and prefecture cities with relatively strong economic development.  

 

On December 19, 2015, we entered into certain share exchange agreements with Energetic Mind and all the shareholders of Energetic Mind whereby the Company acquired 100% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Energetic Mind (the “Second Share Exchange”). Pursuant to the terms of the agreements for the Second Share Exchange, in exchange for 100% of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Energetic Mind, we agreed to issue to (i) the shareholders of Energetic Mind an aggregate of one hundred fifty-one million (151,000,000) shares of Company’s common stock and (2) a certain related party an additional 8% convertible promissory note in the principal amount of one hundred fifty million dollars ($150,000,000), with a conversion price of $10.00 per share. 

 

On December 31, 2015, we disposed all of our interests in i) Brookhollow Lake, LLC, ii) Newport Property Holding, LLC, iii) Kirin China, iv) Kirin Hopkins Real Estate Group LLC, v) Archway Development Group LLC, vi) Specturm International Enterprise, LLC and vii) wholly-owned subsidiary HHC-6055 Centre Drive LLC. The sale of Kirin China also effectively terminated Company’s contractual relationship with Hebei Zhongding Real Estate Development Co. Ltd and Xingtai Zhongding Jiye Real Estate Development Co., Ltd, both of which are companies formed under the laws of the People’s Republic of China and were deemed Company’s variable interest entities prior to this sale (“Subsidiaries Sale”). 

 

As a result of the Second Share Exchange and the Subsidiaries Sale, the Company currently operates its business solely through its wholly-owned subsidiary Energetic Mind, which is the sole shareholder of Ricofeliz, which engages its business through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wuhan Newport.

 

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On January 13, 2016, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation (the “Amendment”) with the Secretary of the State of the State of Nevada, to change our name from “Kirin International Holding, Inc.” to “Yangtze River Development Limited”. Effective January 22, 2016, Company changed its stock symbol from “KIRI” to “YERR”.

 

The Company, by and among Armada Enterprises GP (“Armada”) and Wight International Construction, LLC (“Wight”), e ntered into (i) a Contribution, Conveyance and Assumption Agreement (“Contribution Agreement”) dated October 3, 2016, first and second addendums, dated October 3, 2016 and November 30, 2016, respectively, and (ii) an Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement dated November 16, 2016 (collectively with the Contribution Agreement, the “Agreement”), whereby the Company acquired 100 million preferred B membership units of Wight, which would ultimately convert into 100 million LP units in Armada Enterprises LP. In exchange, the Company issued a $500 million convertible promissory note (“Note”) and 50,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock to Wight. As a result of the Agreement and the conversion of the Note on November 17, 2016, Wight owned 100,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock representing 36.73% of the Company’s voting power and the Company owned 100 million preferred B membership units in Wight representing a 62.5% non-voting equity interest in Wight.

 

Under the terms of the Agreement, at the first closing, Wight was required to provide an aggregate total of $200 million, including $50 million in working capital and $150 million in construction funding (the “Funding”) to the Company, by January 18, 2017. Wight did not provide the Funding on January 18, 2017 and the Company provided to Wight a “Notice of Default and Request for Cure”. Wight proposed to provide $50 million in working capital funding on or before February 15, 2017 and secure $150 million in construction funding on or before March 15, 2017. Wight failed to provide the $50 million in working capital funding as proposed by February 15, 2017. Therefore, the Company, on February 24, 2017 decided to terminate the Agreement for non-performance by Wight. Pursuant to the Agreement, the termination thereof calls for the immediate return of the 100,000,000 shares of common stock issued by the Company to Wight.

 

On February 27, 2017, the Company issued a “Termination and Demand” letter to Wight which terminated the Agreement with Wight and Armada and demanded the return of the 100,000,000 shares of common stock. 

 

On March 1, 2017, the 100,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were canceled and returned by Wight, and were subsequently returned to the Company’s treasury.

 

The Company reserves the right to pursue any further legal action with respect to Armada’s and Wight’s default under the Agreement.

 

On April 19, 2017, our common stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ Capital Market under the symbol of “YERR”. On August 18, 2017, our common stock started trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the same symbol.

 

On February 8, 2018, we filed a Certificate of Amendment to our Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada, to change our name from “Yangtze River Development Limited” to “Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited” (the “Name Change”). In connection with the Name Change, our trading symbol was changed from “YERR” to “YRIV”.

 

Organization & Subsidiaries  

 

Upon completion of the Second Share Exchange and Subsidiaries Sale described above in “Corporate History”, we hold 100% of the ordinary shares of our wholly owned subsidiary, Energetic Mind. Energetic Mind in turn operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ricofeliz Capital and Ricofeliz Capital operates through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Wuhan Newport. Wuhan Newport primarily engages in the business of real estate and infrastructural development and operating the Logistics Center.

 

On January 30, 2018, we incorporated Avenal River Limited in the British Virgin Islands. Avenal River Limited owns all of the shares of Ricofeliz Investment (China) Limited, a Hong Kong company, which in turn owns 100% of the equity interest of Wuhan Yangtze River Newport Trading Limited, a PRC company.

 

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The following diagram illustrates our current corporate structure:

 

  

 

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However, if the Wuhan Port Acquisition were to be consummated and Energetic Mind divested to the Wuhan Port Shareholders, our corporate structure will be altered as follows:

 

 

 

Office Complex Project

 

Taking into consideration the Comprehensive Bonded Zone and Free Trade Zone status of the Logistic Center, Wuhan Newport has obtained the land use rights to own approximately 500,000 square meters of commercial lands on which Wuhan Newport will build a mixed residential and office complex of approximately 700,000 square meters.   As of the date of this Annual Report, mixed-use complex totaling approximately 100,000 square meters have been completed and there are outstanding 600,000 square meters to be constructed in three phases within the next five (5) years.

 

To support the office complex, a light railway from downtown Wuhan to the complex is undergoing construction, for which the complex will be accessible by two stations along the light railway line. In addition, an expressway along the north shore of the Yangtze River in Wuhan is currently under construction; the completion of the highway is also expected to provide direct ground access between Wuhan city center and the Logistics Center and cut down the commute time to only 20 minutes.

 

Upon completion of the construction of the office buildings, Wuhan Newport plans to sell half of the complex while leasing out the remaining half for long-term income. It is Company’s goal to recover the initial investment costs through sale of half of the complex and generate a stable return based on rent of the other half complex upon completion of the project.

 

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Transportation and Logistics Services

 

Taking the regional advantage of the highways, railways and waterways in Yangluo area, We plan to develop a shipping hub with access to all types of cargo transportation and offer complementary services to businesses within this logistics center. We intend to create an efficient, reliable and comprehensive logistics service system by utilizing the third-party service providers with offices within the Logistics Center to provide professional logistics services.

 

We are currently constructing the port terminal which will be the focal point of the Yangtze River Economic Belt. The Yangtze River riverbank within our properties measures 1,039 meters, where we plan to complete eight cargo berths handling ships ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 tons.

 

A cargo transportation railway invested by the government has been built next to the Logistic Center. The railway is known as the Wuhan-Xinjiang-Europe (“WXE”) Railway in the Silk Road Economic Zone as it is in the “One Belt, One Road” initiative introduced by the Chinese government. The WXE Freight Train sets out from Wuhan to Xinjiang and finally ends in Mainland Europe. Wuhan Newport’s terminal is therefore an important component of the “Silk Road Economic Belt” under the “One Belt, One Road” framework.

 

The customs facility at the Yangluo Comprehensive Bonded Area allows cargo vessels ranging from 5,000 to 10,000 tons to set out from Shanghai downstream via the Yangtze River in order to transport “Made in China” commodities to the Pacific Ocean and further to any other ports across the Indian Ocean. In return, transporting commodities from other countries will be shipped directly back to Wuhan and then distributed throughout rest of the Mainland China. Aside from being situated in the Wuhan Yangluo Comprehensive Bonded Zone, the Yangluo development area is amongst the third group of China’s Free-Trade Zone applicants to submit FTZ applications to the State Council through the Wuhan municipal government for approval. Approvals have so far been granted to Shanghai, Tianjin, Guangdong and Fujian. Enterprises within the approved free-trade zones are typically entitled to a series of favorable regulations and policies that could help the businesses grow and succeed.

 

Cold Chain Logistics Services

 

A cold chain is a temperature-controlled supply chain. An unbroken cold chain is an uninterrupted series of storage and distribution activities which maintain a given temperature range. It is used to help extend and ensure the shelf life of products such as fresh agricultural produce, seafood and frozen food.

 

Within the Logistics Center, we will be able to provide extensive storage and processing services to its customers. Meanwhile, a cold chain logistics service system will be established to better help our clients’ processing needs for their frozen foods, meats and other products that need special processing and handling. In addition, we will offer professional services with temperature control, sorting, processing, packaging and delivery to ensure the reliability and safety of the logistics process.

 

Information Platform

 

To adapt to the needs of modern logistics service and meet the standards of the industry worldwide, we will establish comprehensive automated management systems, as well as develop an operation system, enquiry system and decision-making systems for all types of business information such as warehouse, storage, trade, distribution and transportation, movable assets supervision and freight forwarding. We plan to launch an integrated and information-sharing platform geared towards the demand of its targeted markets and potential clients.

 

We will establish a uniform information platform including an internet-based logistics information portal and an e-commerce platform to provide our clients with services such as logistics services tracking, service rating, online operation, electronic transaction, etc. We expect this information portal to be equally reliable for both service providers and their respective clients.

 

We will also establish an e-commerce system based on the logistics information portal and we will provide clients with many updated services such as online transactions, online payments, online inquiries and business information communication. This will create a comprehensive service system and a business model with high integration of information flow, capital flow, trade flow and goods flow.

 

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Portside Service

 

We also plan to provide incentives for companies that specialize in IT, production of new material and high-end equipment and manufacturing companies to station nearby the Logistics Center so that these companies can grow with the Logistics Center, leveraging each other’s specialization to serve each other’s business needs.

 

Logistics Financing

 

Logistics financing is mainly based on using supplies as collateral to obtain financing for supply chains to improve its overall economic efficiency. Developing an innovative logistics financing is significant because traditionally mortgages or loans are concentrated in real estate and logistics financing provides a lower systematic risk for lenders.

 

Compared to developed countries, we believe that logistics financing is a rather new field in China. The driving force for logistics financial service in western countries is mainly attributable to financial institutions as opposed to third-party private logistics companies in China who would occasionally provide financing options.

 

Logistics financial services became a popular investment vehicle among these third-party lenders. However, the business of logistics financing has become more complex for these private lenders to handle as they will need professionals to guide them through the process and thus safeguard their investments.

 

Even though the history of logistics financing has been relatively short in China, the appetite for this is expected to grow as the Free Trade Zones in Shanghai, Tianjin and soon-to-be Wuhan will likely attract more business and international financial institutions. Logistics financing not only provides businesses with a new alternative to meet their capital needs, but also opens a new channel for commercial banks to reach small and mid-size businesses. While interest income generated from logistics financing transaction is often an important source of income for many multinational logistics companies, companies who are able to provide financing are often the industry leaders. Because logistics financing can be an effective channel for the Company to reach its targeted market, we plan to capture this first-mover advantage when logistics financing is still in its development stage in China.

 

In light of this market opportunity, we plan to establish and utilize e-commerce platforms to offer online booking, online dealing and online exhibiting services to provide professional transaction services for electronic products, commodity, foods and metals. We also plan to provide comprehensive support services to complement logistics financing. Maritime insurance and training services will be offered within the Logistic Center. We plan to help our clients to raise construction capital through Build-Transfer (“BT”), Build-Operate-Transfer (“BOT”), corporate debt and equity financing. Finally, we plan to collaborate and develop strategic alliances with other logistics or cargo shipping centers around the world.  

 

Sales and Marketing

 

We plan to sell our properties by forming strategic alliances with CMST Development (Hankou) Co. Ltd. (“CMST-Hankou”), the Shanxi Chamber of Commerce in Hubei (“SCCH”) and the Wuhan Coal Business Association (“WCBA”).

 

Partnership with CMST

 

CMST-Hankou is a regional subsidiary of the CMST Development Co. Ltd, which is a state-owned enterprise that principally engages in the logistics and import & export businesses. CMST-Hankou’s core business includes warehouse storage, sale and distribution of commodities, and freight forwarding. Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding executed with CMST-Hankou on August 20, 2015, CMST-Hankou has agreed to transfer all of its warehouse storage and processing division, distribution service division and other existing businesses to the premises of the Logistics Center. In addition, CMST-Hankou has agreed to move its warehouse for steel trading business with the Shanghai Future Exchange to the Logistics Center. In consideration, we have agreed to offer CMST-Hankou a 5% discount on all services provided within the Logistics Center, including those within the warehouses, port terminal, and railway operating zones. In addition, CMST-Hankou has agreed to assist the Company with the establishment of an online commodity exchange platform to provide a comprehensive support system through the supply chain and provide necessary personnel to help with the management of the warehouse operations within the Logistics Center. Though at a slight discount, the Company is expected to receive fees based on CMST-Hankou’s large volume of commodities that need to be stored and use of complementary services at the warehouse facilities and operating areas, as well as rental income and/or property sales generated from the office complex. However, the partnership is subject to the terms and conditions of a definitive agreement between CMST-Hankou and the Company. No assurances can be provided at this point that such a definitive agreement will be executed.

 

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Partnership with SCCH

 

SCCH is a non-profit business coalition with 252 businesses across various industries as members. Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding executed with SCCH on July 27, 2015, SCCH has agreed to move its headquarters to the office complex within the Logistics Center by purchasing or leasing certain units. In consideration of a 7% discount to the purchase price of $2,729 per square meter of our properties, approximately 50 businesses within the organization plan to open offices in the Logistics Center and purchase at least 100,000 square meters of space within the office complex. SCCH, on behalf of 50 businesses, also executed a letter of intent to purchase approximately 100,000 square meters of storefront. In addition, because we expect the 50 businesses to have a total annual turnover of commodities of more than 5,000,000 tons, we have agreed to offer members of SCCH a 5% discount on all services provided within the Logistics Center, including those within the warehouses, port terminal, and railway operating zones. However, the partnership is subject to the terms and conditions of a definitive agreement between SCCH and the Company. No assurances can be provided at this point that such a definitive agreement will be executed.

 

Partnership with WCBA

 

WCBA is a non-profit business coalition with more than 300 businesses within the coal mining industry as members. Pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding executed with WCBA on September 17, 2015, WCBA has agreed to move its headquarters to the office complex within the Logistics Center by purchasing or leasing certain units. We have agreed to offer WCBA member businesses a 5% discount to the purchase price of $2,729 per square meter of our properties. In addition, because we expect WCBA members to have a total annual turnover of coal-related commodities of more than 20,000,000 tons and will use the Company’s warehouse storage for at least 3,000,000 tons, we have agreed to offer members of WCBA a 5% discount on all services provided within the Logistics Center, including those within the warehouses, port terminal, and railway operating zones. However, the partnership is subject to the terms and conditions of a definitive agreement between WCBA and the Company. No assurances can be provided at this point that such a definitive agreement will be executed.  

 

Market Opportunity for Logistics Finance

 

Logistics financing provides financial services such as financing, clearance and insurance to support the logistics industry. It evolves as the logistics industry develops. Not only can logistics financing services improve the service capability and increase the profitability of third party logistics companies; it can also expand financing channels, decrease financing cost and increase the capital efficiency.

 

The major target clients for logistics finance services are small and medium sized companies, which are an important sector of China’s economy and have great weight in the market. One of the biggest hurdles in the life cycle of these small and medium sized companies is lack of cash flow, which can become the “bottle neck” of their development and prevent progress. The need for logistics financing results from the lack of available credit financing facilities and the difficulty of obtaining financing on the capital markets. Therefore, logistics financing services protect against the financing problems by allowing these small and medium companies to use their raw materials and commodities as collateral to borrow money. Logistics financing increases the liquidity of cash flow, lowers the clearance risks and improves the efficiency of the economic operation. Upon completion of the Logistics Center, we expect to house many small and mid-size logistics companies. The offering of logistics financing will therefore become an important component of the business, as these businesses are expected to have financing needs as they grow their businesses.

 

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Market Overview of Wuhan

 

Located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, Wuhan has been regarded as the gateway to nine provinces nearby. Beijing-Guangzhou Railway and the Yangtze River converge in Wuhan and also Beijing-Jiulong Railway and Beijing-Guangzhou Railway intersect in it, thus forming a railway network linking North China, Southwest China, Central South China and East China. Moreover, Beijing-Zhuhai Expressway and Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway converge in Wuhan and a high-speed railway along the Yangtze River will be completed here soon. Therefore, a “flexible multimodal transportation system” combining expressways, high-speed railways and water transportation on the Yangtze River will give greater prominence to Wuhan’s position of strategic importance as a junction of water and land transportation in China (Source: http://www.maxxelli-blog.com/introduction-to-wuhan/).

 

Wuhan is the largest inland logistics and cargo distribution center in China, with its service covering approximately a 400 million population in the five neighboring provinces including Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui, Henan and Sichuan. At present, there are over 10,000 commercial organizations, 105,000 commodity networks, four commercial listed enterprises as well as eight comprehensive shopping centers on the list of China Top 100 Retail Shopping Centers (Source: http://www.maxxelli-blog.com/introduction-to-wuhan/).

 

China is thoroughly implementing the strategy of coordinated regional development, expanding domestic demand, innovation-driven development and new urbanization, and building a new economic support belt relying on the Yangtze River. As a central city in the central region and the middle reach of the Yangtze River, and the country’s major transportation hub and science and technology base, Wuhan faces multiple overlapping strategic opportunities. Location, transportation, science, education, market and other advantages will be further enhanced and fully released and more quickly transformed into development and competitive advantage (Source: http://www.maxxelli-blog.com/introduction-to-wuhan/).

 

Wuhan is a major transportation hub of China situated at the midstream of the Yangtze River. Going west alongside the Yangtze, upstream are the cities in Chongqing, Sichuan, Yunnan and Qinghai. Going east downstream are provinces of Hunan, Anhui and Jiangsu, as well as the cities of Nanjing and Shanghai, until finally arriving at the sea. The railway runs north bound to Harbin, westbound to Urumqi, east bound to Shanghai and south bound to the Shenzhen Highway and expressways that stretch in all directions ensuring easy and convenient transportation to all provinces in China. Likewise, Wuhan is largest economic city in central China with an annual GDP beyond 1,000 billion RMB. In 2015, the China State Council introduced and implemented the Midstream Yangtze River City Group Development Plan headed by Wuhan. In fact, the city was once called “The Oriental Chicago” by the US Harper’s Magazine back in 1918.

 

With the rapid development of inland water shipping in China, logistics and port management industry has grown significantly. Wuhan is one of the major inland water ports in China. In 2014, Wuhan government released an Opinion On Accelerating The Establishment Of Shipping Center In The Middle Reach Of Yangtze River , and indicated that the government will help the Wuhan shipping center to be a well-equipped, surrounding industry developed internationally with a scaled and intelligent inland water shipping center with highly concentrated port and shipping resources . In the Development Plan On Wuhan Logistics Space (2012-2020) , Wuhan is strategically positioned as the critical joint of the global supply chain and the logistics transportation hub and information center of China.

 

However, in Wuhan, logistics for domestic trade operate separately from that for international trade and all resources are scattered and not concentrated enough to form a well-organized and well-managed international supply chain. It is very difficult for Wuhan to realize the synergy of business, logistics, money and information. In addition, a majority of the current logistics companies in Wuhan focus on traditional cargo transportation and storage services. Therefore, there exists an opportunity for an efficient, comprehensive and modern logistics service center to facilitate the channel of both regional and global logistics.

 

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Competitive Advantages

 

The following factors reflect our advantages over our competitors:

 

  Experienced Logistics Management Team. We have a professional team with significant experience in logistics management. Members of the Company’s team have had work experience with well-known logistics management companies in different cities. In addition, the management members are well educated with degrees from top universities such as Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University, University of British Columbia and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

 

  Encouraging Policy Environment. Under China’s latest “One Belt, One Road” initiative, we are strategically positioned in the anticipated “Pilot Free Trade Zone” of the Wuhan Port, a crucial trading window between China, the Middle East and Europe. In May 2015, the China State Council approved the nation’s economic strategic plan, the Vigorous Development Plan of Yangtze River Economic Be lt. The Yangtze River Economic Belt has sharpened the focus on the Wuhan New Port Yangluo Terminal, where the port project that we are currently developing is located.

 

  Unique Transportation Network. Wuhan is located in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River, east facing south-eastern coastal economic developed area and west linking north-western raw material base.  The distance to metropolitan cities, such as Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Chongqing are within 1,200 kilometers.  As a central city in mainland China, Wuhan is capable of reaching over 30 provinces like Yunnan Province, Henan Province, Sichuan Province, Shanxi Province, Jiangxi Province and Hunan Province and 600 cities and counties in China.

 

  Highway: The Logistics Center is in close proximity to the Beijing-Zhuhai expressway, the Shanghai-Chengdu Expressway, and the Jiangbei Expressway.

 

  Waterway: The project adjacent to the Yangluo deep-water port, has eight 5,000-ton berths, directly leading to Jianghai. Yangluo Port is the largest national shipping port in Central China and the largest container port in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. We will be strategically located for international procurement, distribution and delivery.

 

  Railway: The Beijing-Guangzhou, Beijing-Kowloon Railway, the Beijing-Guangzhou railway extension line and special railway lines offer direct access to the Logistics Center. The Logistics Center will, through the Jiangbei railway- Xianglushan station, connect all of the domestic railway freight stations, and through the construction of the “Chinese new Europe” railway, throughout the Continent.

 

  Airport: 30 kilometers from the Wuhan Tianhe airport.

 

 

Light-rail transit: By 2018, two light rail stations are expected to be completed next to the Logistics Center, cutting the commute to downtown Wuhan to only 20 minutes.

     
 

Jiangbei Expressway: After the completion of Jiangbei Expressway, commute by car from downtown Wuhan to the Logistics Centers is expected to be only about 20 minutes.

 

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The following map shows the location of the proposed Logistics Center and surrounding transportation network:

 

 

 

Employees

 

As of March 9, 2018, we have a total of 20 employees, including our executive officers. The following table sets forth the number of our employees by function as of the same date:

 

Functional Area   Number of Employees     % of Total  
Management     3       15 %
Engineer     3       15 %
Sales     7       35 %
Administrative     3       15 %
Property management     1       5 %
Accounting     3       15 %
Total     20       100 %

 

Our employees are not represented by any collective bargaining agreement and we have never experienced a work stoppage. We believe we have good relations with our employees. 

 

Competition

 

The real estate and logistics industries in the PRC are both highly competitive. Many of our competitors are well capitalized and have greater financial, marketing, and other resources than we do. Some of our competitors also have larger land banks, greater economies of scale, broader name recognition, a longer track record, and more established relationships in certain markets.

 

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Intellectual Property

 

Trademark

 

We are currently applying for trademark protection in China for our Company’s logo and we anticipate that we will be able to obtain the trademark within the next 12 months.

 

Set forth below is a detailed description of our trademark under application.

 

Country Trademark Application Number Classes Our Ref Status
Mainland China 18367978 39* TMZC18367978ZCSL01 In process

 

* Class 39

 

Transport; packaging and storage of goods; travel arrangement.

 

Domain Names

 

We have added the domain names i)  www.yerr.com.cn ; ii)  www.cjxgwl.com ; and iii)  www.cjxgwl.cn  to the Internet Content Provider License that we currently hold and we have received the updated ICP License covering the foregoing domain name. The ICP record number is 15016982.

 

Customers/Suppliers

 

Until the Logistics Center is built and operational, we do not currently have customers or suppliers.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

We are currently not involved in any litigation that we believe could have a materially adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public board, government agency, self-regulatory organization or body pending or, to the knowledge of the executive officers of our Company or any of our subsidiaries, threatened against or affecting our Company, our common stock, any of our subsidiaries or of our Company’s or our Company’s subsidiaries’ officers or directors in their capacities as such, in which an adverse decision could have a material adverse effect.

 

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RISK FACTORS

 

Risks Relating to Our Business

 

MAJORITY OF OUR BUSINESS, ASSETS AND OPERATIONS ARE LOCATED IN THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA.

 

The majority of our business, assets and operations are located in the People’s Republic of China. The economy of the PRC differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects. The economy of the PRC has been transitioning from a planned economy to a market-oriented economy. Although in recent years the PRC’s government has implemented measures emphasizing the utilization of market forces for economic reform, the reduction of state ownership of productive assets and the establishment of sound corporate governance in business enterprises, a substantial portion of productive assets in the PRC is still owned by the PRC’s government. In addition, the PRC’s government continues to play a significant role in regulating industry by imposing industrial policies. The PRC’s government exercises significant control over the PRC’s economic growth through the allocation of resources, controlling payment of foreign currency-denominated obligations, setting monetary policy and providing preferential treatment to particular industries or companies. Some of these measures benefit the overall economy of the PRC, but may have a negative effect on us.

 

ACTIONS OF GOVERNMENT OR CHANGE OF POLICIES MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

We are at risk from significant and rapid change in the legal systems, regulatory controls, and practices in areas in which we operate. These affect a wide range of areas including the real estate development approval system, employment practices, transportation, cargo storage, logistics, financing and sale of the buildings; our property rights; data protection; environment, health and safety issues; macro-economic policies, central government directions and instructions, China’s Five Year Plan, “One Belt One Road” initiative; and accounting, taxation and stock exchange regulation. Accordingly, changes to, or violation of, these systems, controls or practices could increase costs and have material and adverse impacts on the reputation, performance and financial condition of our development and operation.

 

IF WE NEED ADDITIONAL CAPITAL TO FUND OUR FUTURE OPERATIONS, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OBTAIN SUFFICIENT CAPITAL AND MAY BE FORCED TO LIMIT THE SCOPE OF OUR OPERATIONS.

 

If adequate additional financing is not available on reasonable terms, we may not be able to undertake ongoing real estate construction or continue to develop and expand the services of our Logistics Center, which may as a result impact our cash flow and we would have to modify our business plans accordingly. We will not be able to fully implement our business plan unless the $1 billion funding (as described in the prospectus summary) is in place by 2021 and we do not have any definitive agreement nor letter of intent for such financing except for this offering.  There is no assurance that additional financing will be available to us.

 

In connection with our growth strategies, we may experience increased capital needs and accordingly, we may not have sufficient capital to fund our future operations without additional capital investments. Our capital needs will depend on numerous factors, including (i) our profitability; (ii) the development of competitive projects undertaken by our competition; and (iii) the level of our investment in construction and development. We cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain capital in the future to meet our needs.

 

If we cannot obtain additional funding, we may be required to: (i) limit our operations and expansion; (ii) limit our marketing efforts; and (iii) decrease or eliminate capital expenditures. Such reductions could have a materially adverse effect on our business and our ability to compete.

 

Even if we do find a source of additional capital, we may not be able to negotiate terms and conditions for receiving such additional capital that are favorable to us. Any future capital investments could dilute or otherwise materially and adversely affect the holdings or rights of our existing shareholders. In addition, new equity or convertible debt securities issued by us to obtain financing could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to the common stock offered hereof. We cannot give you any assurances that any additional financing will be available to us, or if available, will be on terms favorable to us.

 

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WE HAVE SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT RECURRING OPERATING LOSSES AND EXPERIENCED NEGATIVE CASH FLOW FOR OPERATIONS SINCE INCEPTION.

 

We have sustained recurring losses and experienced negative cash flow from operations since inception. Since inception, we have focused on developing and implementing our business plan. As of December 31, 2017, we have generated cumulative losses of approximately $41,238,467 since inception, and we expect to continue to incur losses until 2020.  We believe that our existing cash resources will not be sufficient to sustain operations during the next twelve months. We need to generate revenue and raise funding in order to sustain our operations and continue to implement our business plan. If we are unable to obtain additional funds when they are needed or if such funds cannot be obtained on terms acceptable to us, we would likely be unable to execute upon the business plan or pay expenses as they are incurred, which would have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The amount of future losses and when, if ever, we will achieve profitability are uncertain.

 

WE BELIEVE THAT WE WILL DERIVE THE MAJORITY OF OUR REVENUE FROM SALES IN THE PRC AND ANY DOWNTURN IN THE CHINESE ECONOMY COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.

 

The majority of our revenues are expected to be generated from sales of our properties and services in the PRC and we anticipate that revenue from such sales will continue to represent the substantial portion of our total revenue in the near future. Our sales and earnings can also be affected by changes in the general economy. Our success is influenced by a number of economic factors which affect consumer income, such as employment levels, business conditions, interest rates, oil and gas prices and taxation rates. Adverse changes in these economic factors, among others, may restrict consumer spending, thereby negatively affecting our sales and profitability.

 

WE ARE SUBJECT TO EXTENSIVE GOVERNMENT REGULATION THAT COULD CAUSE US TO INCUR SIGNIFICANT LIABILITIES OR RESTRICT OUR BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.

 

Regulatory requirements could cause us to incur significant liabilities and operating expenses and could restrict our business activities. We are subject to statutes and rules regulating, among other things, certain developmental matters, building and site design, and matters concerning the protection of health and the environment. Our operating expenses may be increased by governmental regulations, such as building permit allocation ordinances and impact and other fees and taxes that may be imposed to defray the cost of providing certain governmental services and improvements. For example, our proposed Wuhan Port Acquisition will require approvals from local State Administration for Industry and Commerce. Any delay or refusal from government agencies to grant us necessary licenses, permits, and approvals could have an adverse effect on our operations or our ability to implement on business plans.

 

OUR SALES WILL BE AFFECTED IF MORTGAGE FINANCING BECOMES MORE COSTLY OR OTHERWISE BECOMES LESS ATTRACTIVE.

 

Certain purchasers of our properties are expected to rely on mortgages to finance their purchases. An increase in interest rates may significantly increase the cost of mortgage financing, thus affecting the affordability of our properties. The PRC’s government and commercial banks may also increase the down payment requirement, impose other conditions or otherwise change the regulatory framework in a manner that would make mortgage financing unavailable or unattractive to potential property purchasers. If the availability or attractiveness of mortgage financing is reduced or limited, many of our prospective customers may not be able to purchase our properties and, as a result, our business, liquidity and results of operations could be adversely affected.

 

THE PRACTICE OF PRE-SELLING PROJECTS MAY EXPOSE US TO SUBSTANTIAL LIABILITIES.

 

It is common practice by property developers in China to pre-sell properties (while still under construction), which involves certain risks. For example, we may fail to complete a property development that may have been fully or partially pre-sold, which would leave us liable to purchasers of pre-sold units for losses suffered by them without adequate resources to pay the liability if funds have been used on the project. In addition, if a pre-sold property development is not completed on time, the purchasers of pre-sold units may be entitled to compensation for late delivery. If the delay extends beyond a certain period, the purchasers may be entitled to terminate the pre-sale agreement and pursue a claim for damages that exceeds the amount paid and our ability to recoup the resulting liability from future sales.

 

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WE ARE DEPENDENT ON THIRD-PARTY SUBCONTRACTORS, MANUFACTURERS, AND DISTRIBUTORS FOR ALL ARCHITECTURE, ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION SERVICES, AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS. A DISCONTINUED SUPPLY OF SUCH SERVICES AND MATERIALS WILL ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR PROJECTS.

 

We are dependent on third-party subcontractors, manufacturers, and distributors for all architecture, engineering and construction services, and construction materials. A discontinued supply of such services and materials will adversely affect our construction projects and the success of the Company.

 

WE MAY BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED BY FLUCTUATIONS IN THE PRICE OF RAW MATERIALS AND SELLING PRICES OF OUR PROPERTIES.

  

The land and raw materials that are used in our projects have experienced significant price fluctuations in the past. There is no assurance that they will not be subject to future price fluctuations or pricing control. The land and raw materials that are used in our projects may experience price volatility caused by events such as market fluctuations or changes in governmental programs. The market price of land and raw materials may also experience significant upward adjustment, if, for instance, there is a material under-supply or over-demand in the market. These price changes may ultimately result in increases in the selling prices of our properties, and may, in turn, adversely affect our sales volume, sales, operating income, and net income.

 

WE FACE INTENSE COMPETITION FROM OTHER REAL ESTATE DEVELOPERS AND/OR LOGISTICS COMPANIES.

 

The real estate and logistics industries in the PRC are both highly competitive. Many of our competitors are well capitalized and have greater financial, marketing, and other resources than we do. Some of our competitors also have larger land banks, greater economies of scale, broader name recognition, a longer track record, and more established relationships in certain markets. Competition among property developers may result in increased costs for the acquisition of land for development, increased costs for raw materials, shortages of skilled contractors, oversupply of properties, decrease in property prices in certain parts of the PRC, a slowdown in the rate at which new buildings are approved and/or reviewed by the relevant government authorities and an increase in administrative costs for hiring or retaining qualified personnel, any of which may adversely affect our business and financial condition. Furthermore, property developers that are better capitalized than we are may be more competitive in acquiring land through the auction process. If we cannot respond to changes in market conditions as promptly and effectively as our competitors or effectively compete for land acquisition through the auction systems and acquire other factors of production, our business and financial condition will be adversely affected.

 

OVER-SUPPLY OF REAL ESTATE PROPERTIES COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE AFFECT ON OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

Most of our assets consist of real estate properties within the premise of our Logistics Center. While our business will primarily revolve around the services provided by the Logistics Center, we expect to sell and/or lease properties to other businesses to generate revenue. Although we expect the value of our real estate properties to appreciate upon Yangluo Port’s obtaining the approval of the “Free Trade Zone” status, risk of property over-supply is increasing in parts of China on a macro-level, where property investment, trading and speculation have become overly active. We are exposed to the risk that in the event of actual or perceived over-supply, property prices may fall drastically, and our revenue and profitability will be adversely affected. If we cannot sell or lease our properties at a favorable price, we may not have the necessary capital resources to fully execute our business plan and therefore our results of operations will be adversely affected.

 

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WE MAY NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT EXPERIENCE AS A COMPANY CONDUCTING STORAGE AND PROCESSING SERVICES, INFORMATION SERVICES AND LOGISTICS FINANCING, OR IN OTHER AREAS REQUIRED FOR THE SUCCESSFUL IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR BUSINESS PLAN.

 

We may not have sufficient experience as a company in conducting storage and processing services, information services, logistics financing or other areas required for the successful implementation of our business plan.   This may result in the Company experiencing difficulty in adequately operating and growing its business.  If our operating or management abilities consistently perform below expectations, then our business is unlikely to thrive.

 

WE ARE HEAVILY DEPENDENT UPON THE SERVICES OF EXPERIENCED PERSONNEL WHO POSSESS SKILLS THAT ARE VALUABLE IN OUR INDUSTRY, AND WE MAY HAVE TO ACTIVELY COMPETE FOR THEIR SERVICES.

 

We are heavily dependent upon our ability to attract, retain and motivate skilled personnel to serve our customers. Many of our personnel possess skills that would be valuable to all companies engaged in our industry. Consequently, we expect that we will have to actively compete for these employees. Some of our competitors may be able to pay our employees more than we are able to pay to retain them. Our ability to profitably operate is substantially dependent upon our ability to locate, hire, train and retain our personnel. There can be no assurance that we will be able to retain our current personnel, or that we will be able to attract and assimilate other personnel in the future. If we are unable to effectively obtain and maintain skilled personnel, the development and quality of our services could be materially impaired.

 

DEFAULTING ON BANK LOANS COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS 

 

We plan to develop a full-service logistics center using the properties we have obtained land-use rights to. To finance the development, part of Company’s properties held for development and land lots under development have been pledged as collateral for financial institution loans. As of December 31, 2017, we have an outstanding loan payable to China Construction Bank totaling $44,211,399. The loan has a maturity date of May 29, 2020. The loan is a  floating rate loan whose rate (2017: 6% per annum and 2016: 6% per annum) is set at 5% above the over 5 years base borrowing rate stipulated by the People’s Bank of China.   The secured bank loan with China Construction Bank contains certain protective contractual provisions that limit our activities in order to protect the lender. The risk of default may increase in the event of an economic downturn or due to our failure to successfully execute our business plan. Defaulting on our bank loans could result in loss of our collateralized assets and cause a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

 

WE HAVE LIMITED INSURANCE COVERAGE AGAINST DAMAGES OR LOSS WE MIGHT SUFFER.

 

We do not carry business interruption insurance and therefore any business disruption or natural disaster could result in substantial damages or losses to us. In addition, there are certain types of losses (such as losses from forces of nature) that are generally not insured because either they are uninsurable or insurance cannot be obtained on commercially reasonable terms. Should an uninsured loss or a loss in excess of insured limits occur, our business could be materially adversely affected. If we were to suffer any losses or damages to our properties, our business, financial condition and results of operations would be materially and adversely affected.

 

OUR OPERATING COMPANIES MUST COMPLY WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAWS THAT COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR PROFITABILITY.

 

We are required to comply with the environmental protection laws and regulations promulgated by the national and local governments of the PRC. Some of these regulations govern the level of fees payable to government entities providing environmental protection services and the prescribed standards relating to construction. Although construction technologies allow us to efficiently control the level of pollution resulting from our construction process, due to the nature of our business, wastes are unavoidably generated in the process. If we fail to comply with any of the environmental laws and regulations of the PRC, depending on the type and severity of the violation, we may be subject to, among other things, warnings from relevant authorities, imposition of fines, specific performance and/or criminal liability, forfeiture of profits made, or an order to close down our business operations and suspension of relevant permits.

 

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THE OPERATING HISTORIES OF OUR OPERATING COMPANIES MAY NOT SERVE AS ADEQUATE BASES TO JUDGE OUR FUTURE PROSPECTS AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

The operating history of Wuhan Newport may not provide a meaningful basis for evaluating our business following consummation of the Second Share Exchange. We cannot guarantee that we can achieve profitability or that we will have net profit in the future. We will encounter risks and difficulties that companies at a similar stage of development frequently experience, including the potential failure to:

  

  obtain sufficient working capital to support our development and construction;

 

  manage our expanding operations and continue to meet customers’ demands;
     
  maintain adequate control of our expenses allowing us to realize anticipated income growth;
     
  implement, adapt and modify our property development, sales, and business strategies as needed;
     
  successfully integrate any future acquisitions; and
     
 

anticipate and adapt to changing conditions in the real estate industry resulting from changes in government regulations, mergers and acquisitions involving our competitors, technological developments and other significant competitive and market dynamics.

 

If we are not successful in addressing any or all of the foregoing risks, our business may be materially and adversely affected.

 

WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTE OUR BUSINESS STRATEGY, WHICH COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR BUSINESS AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

Since China is a large and diverse market, consumer trends and demands can vary significantly by region and Wuhan Newport’s experience in the markets in which it currently operates may not be applicable in other parts of China. As a result, we may not be able to leverage Wuhan Newport’s experience to fully execute our business strategy and plan. When we enter new markets, we may face intense competition from companies with greater experience or a more established presence in the targeted geographical areas or from other companies with similar business strategies. Therefore, we may not be able to adequately grow our sales due to intense competitive pressures and/or the substantial costs involved.

 

OUR FAILURE TO EFFECTIVELY MANAGE GROWTH MAY CAUSE A DISRUPTION OF OUR OPERATIONS RESULTING IN THE FAILURE TO GENERATE REVENUE AT THE LEVELS WE EXPECT.

 

In order to maximize potential growth in Wuhan Newport’s current and potential markets, we believe that we must be able to sell our properties and obtain clients to use the services provided by our Logistics Center to ensure the sustainable development capability of the Company and to maintain our operations. This strategy may place a significant strain on our management and our operational, accounting, and information systems. We expect that we will need to continue to improve our financial controls, operating procedures, and management information systems. We will also need to effectively train, motivate, and manage our employees. Our failure to effectively manage our operations could prevent us from generating the revenues we expect and therefore have a material adverse effect on the results of our operations.

 

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WE MAY NEED ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES TO MEET OUR OPERATIONAL NEEDS.

 

Our future success also depends upon our ability to attract and retain highly qualified personnel. We may need to hire additional managers and employees with industry experience from time to time, and our success will be highly dependent on our ability to attract and retain skilled management personnel and other employees. There can be no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain highly qualified personnel. Competition for skilled personnel in the real estate and logistics industries is significant. This competition may make it more difficult and expensive to attract, hire and retain qualified managers and employees.

 

WE WILL INCUR SIGNIFICANT COSTS TO ENSURE COMPLIANCE WITH UNITED STATES CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTING REQUIREMENTS.

 

We will incur significant costs associated with our public company reporting requirements, costs associated with newly applicable corporate governance requirements, including requirements under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and other rules implemented by the SEC. We expect all of these applicable rules and regulations to significantly increase our legal and financial compliance costs and to make some activities more time consuming and costly. We also expect that these applicable rules and regulations may make it more difficult and more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance and we may be required to accept reduced policy limits and coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain the same or similar coverage. As a result, it may be more difficult for us to attract or retain qualified individuals to serve on our board of directors or as executive officers. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur or the timing of such costs.

 

WE HAVE IDENTIFIED MATERIAL WEAKNESSES IN OUR INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING WHICH HAVE RESULTED IN MATERIAL MISSTATEMENTS IN OUR PREVIOUSLY ISSUED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2015 AND 2016.

 

We have concluded that there are material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, as we did not maintain effective controls over the selection and application of GAAP related to classification of capital transactions. Specifically, the members of our management team with the requisite level of accounting knowledge, experience and training commensurate with our financial reporting requirements did not analyze certain accounting issues at the level of detail required to ensure the proper application of GAAP in certain circumstances. These material weaknesses resulted in the restatement of our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015. Our management concluded that the Company’s previously issued financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2015 should no longer be relied upon. In light of the errors, management re-evaluated its assessment of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015 and concluded each was ineffective as of December 31, 2015.

 

A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected and corrected on a timely basis.

 

Management identified the following material weaknesses in its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2015:

 

  Lack of adequate policies and procedures in internal audit function, which resulted in: (1) lack of communication between the internal audit department and the Audit Committee and the Board of Directors; (2) insufficient internal audit work to ensure that the Company’s policies and procedures have been carried out as planned;
     
  Lack of sufficient full-time accounting staff in our accounting department that have experience and knowledge in identifying and resolving complex accounting issues under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”); and
     
  Lack of sufficient accounting personnel which would provide segregation of duties within our internal control procedures to support the accurate reporting of our financial results.

 

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In addition to the above, management also identified the following material weaknesses in its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016:

 

  Lack of sufficient full-time accounting staff in our accounting department that have experience and knowledge in identifying and resolving complex accounting issues under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”); The weakness resulted in the restatement of consolidated balance sheet and consolidated income statement to treat an extinguishment transaction between related entities as a capital transaction in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and such weakness had not been fully remediated as of December 31, 2016;

 

  Lack of sufficient accounting personnel which would provide segregation of duties within our internal control procedures to support the accurate reporting of our financial results. The weakness resulted in the amendment and additions of the disclosure of real estate properties and land lots under development in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and such weakness had not been fully remediated as of December 31, 2016.

 

Any actions we have taken or may take to address the material weaknesses we had for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016 are subject to continued management review supported by testing, as well as oversight by the Audit Committee of our Board of Directors. Although we believe that the steps we have taken sufficiently remediate the material weaknesses we had for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2015 and 2016, we cannot assure you that these material weaknesses will not occur in the future and that we will be able to remediate such weaknesses in a timely manner, which could impair our ability to accurately and timely report our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. If our remedial measures are again insufficient to address the material weaknesses, or if additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting are discovered or occur in the future, our consolidated financial statements may contain material misstatements and we could be required to further restate our financial results. In addition, if we are unable to successfully remediate the material weaknesses in our internal controls or if we are unable to produce accurate and timely financial statements, our stock price may be adversely affected and we may be unable to maintain compliance with applicable stock exchange listing requirements.

    

OUR CERTIFICATES, PERMITS, AND LICENSES RELATED TO OUR OPERATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL AND RENEWAL, AND FAILURE TO OBTAIN OR RENEW SUCH CERTIFICATES, PERMITS, AND LICENSES WILL CAUSE ALL OR PART OF OUR OPERATIONS TO BE TERMINATED.

 

Our operations require licenses, permits and, in some cases, renewals of these licenses and permits from various governmental authorities in the PRC. Our ability to obtain, maintain, or renew such licenses and permits on acceptable terms is subject to change, as are, among other things, the regulations and policies of applicable governmental authorities.

 

If our land use permits are revoked or suspended or we are unable to renew the permits for any reason, we cannot assure you that our business operations will not be stopped and, accordingly, our financial performance would be adversely affected.

 

IF THE LEGALITY OR VALIDITY OF OUR LEASE OF THE COLLECTIVE-OWNED LAND USE RIGHTS IS CHALLENGED, THERE MAY BE DISRUPTION TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LAND AND SUCH DISRUPTION COULD HAVE A MATERIALLY ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

We leased collective-owned land use rights from the Chunfeng Villagers’ Committees. The right to operate and manage such land is vested in the relevant local villagers’ committee or rural collective leadership who are allowed to divide the land into parcels and contracts the rights to operate such parcels of land to individual farmer households or, subject to the approval of local governments and the requisite vote of the farmer households, to any entity or person outside that village or rural collective.

 

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Any change in law and the administrative system could render our lease unenforceable. According to the PRC Law on Land Administration, all lands in the PRC are either state-owned or collectively owned. Generally, lands in the urban areas of a city or town are state-owned, whereas lands in the rural areas of a city or town and all rural lands are, unless otherwise specified by law, collectively owned. When required, the state has the right to reclaim the collectively owned lands in accordance with law if such reclaim is beneficial to the public.

 

Additionally, the lease may subject to the preemptive rights of other farmers in the same village or rural collective. If the preemptive rights are not exercised within two months from the date on which we start using the parcels of land, it is very likely that the PRC courts will not enforce such preemptive rights. As of the date of this prospectus, two months or more have passed since we started using the land we leased from Chunfeng villagers’ committee and we have not received any claim from person purporting to assert the pre-emption rights.

 

If the legality or validity of our leases become subject to disputes or challenges, we may need to suspend at least part of our constructions on the respective land areas. We may incur costs and losses if we are required to remove our improvements, such as buildings and facilities that we have constructed or purchased. We could also lose our rights to use the land and our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

 

OUR FACILITIES MAY BE AFFECTED BY FIRE OR NATURAL CALAMITIES. OUR OPERATIONS ARE ALSO SUBJECT TO THE RISK OF POWER OUTAGES, EQUIPMENT FAILURES OR LABOR DISTURBANCES AND OTHER BUSINESS INTERRUPTIONS. WE HAVE LIMITED INSURANCE COVERAGE AND DO NOT CARRY ANY BUSINESS INTERRUPTION INSURANCE.

 

A fire, floods or other natural calamity may result in significant damage to our facilities. Our operations are subject to risks of various business interruptions, including power outages, equipment failures or disturbances from labor unrest. If we are unable to obtain timely replacements of damaged equipment, or if we are unable to find an acceptable general contractor to repair our facilities damaged by a catastrophic event, then major disruptions to our operations would result, which would have significant adverse effect on our operations and financial results. Our property insurance may not be sufficient to cover damages to our facilities, and we do not carry any business interruption insurance covering lost profits as a result of the disruption to our operations.

 

Risks Relating to Doing Business in China

 

IF OUR LAND USE RIGHTS ARE REVOKED, WE WOULD HAVE NO OPERATIONAL CAPABILITIES.

 

Under the PRC law, land is owned by the state or rural collective economic organizations. The state issues to tenants the rights to use property. Use rights can be revoked and the tenants may be forced to vacate at any time when redevelopment of the land is in the public interest. The public interest rationale is interpreted quite broadly and the process of land appropriation may be less than transparent. If this happens, we may be forced to (i) delay the construction of commercial facilities or (ii) curtail or cease construction on that land. We relied on these land use rights as the cornerstone of our operations, and the loss of such rights would have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operation. 

 

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IN THE EVENT THE ACQUISITION OF WUHAN NEWPORT BY RICOFELIZ REQUIRES MOFCOM’S APPROVAL AND WE ARE NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN SUCH APPROVAL, THE ACQUISITION MAY BE UNWOUND.

 

On August 8, 2006, the PRC Ministry of Commerce (“ MOFCOM ”), the State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, the State Administration for Taxation, the State Administration for Industry and Commerce, the China Securities Regulatory Commission and the State Administration of Foreign Exchange jointly promulgated the Provisions on the Acquisition of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (the “ M&A Rules ”), as amended by the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC on June 22, 2009. The M&A Rules require that a merger and acquisition of a domestic company with a “related party relationship” by a domestic company, enterprise or natural person in the name of an overseas company legitimately incorporated or controlled by the domestic company, enterprise or natural person shall be subject to examination and approval by MOFCOM. However, there is no definition or explanation of what constitutes a “related party relationship” in the M&A Rules, and, as a result, we are uncertain as to the interpretation of the M&A Rules with regard to the existing relationship between Mr. Xiangyao Liu, Ricofeliz and Wuhan Newport at the moment immediately before the acquisition of Wuhan Newport by Ricofeliz. If such relationship is considered as a “related party relationship”, the acquisition of Wuhan Newport by Ricofeliz, which has been approved by the local Wuhan Bureau of MOFCOM, may be subject to the approval of the national MOFCOM. Although M&A Rules have been effective since September 2006, we are not aware of any precedent for approval by MOFCOM of any related party acquisition conducted by PRC domestic individuals.    Since there is no clear guidance under the M&A Rules, it is difficult to determine whether MOFCOM or other PRC regulatory agencies would consider such approval necessary and, if so, whether we would be able to obtain MOFCOM approval, or if we fail to obtain such approval, what would be the consequence of such failure. Failure to obtain MOFCOM’s approval may result in regulatory actions or other sanctions (including administrative order to unwind the acquisition) from MOFCOM or other PRC regulatory agencies. These regulatory agencies may impose fines and penalties on our operations in the PRC, limit our operating privileges in the PRC, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from our financing, investment, or operating activities into the PRC, or take other actions that could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations, reputation and prospects.

  

WE MAY NOT COMPLETE THE ACQUISITION OF WUHAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PORT LIMITED AS THE CLOSING OF THE ACQUISITION IS SUBJECT TO CLOSING CONDITIONS

 

On December 26, 2017, the Company entered into an agreement with shareholders holding 100% of the equity interest of Wuhan Economic Development Port Limited (the “Acquiree”). Our future growth is likely to depend to some degree on our ability to successfully acquire the Acquiree. Although we currently expect the acquisition to close before March 31, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions, including satisfaction of due diligence by both parties, the completion of auditing of the financial statements of the Acquiree, and the approval of relevant regulatory agencies, there can be no assurance that the acquisition will be completed in accordance with the anticipating timing or at all. If the acquisition is not completed on a timely basis, or at all, the Company’s business and future growth may be adversely affected.

 

LABOR LAWS IN THE PRC MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

 

On June 29, 2007, the PRC’s government promulgated the Labor Contract Law of the PRC, which became effective on January 1, 2008. The Labor Contract Law imposes greater liabilities on employers and significantly affects the cost of an employer’s decision to reduce its workforce. Further, the law requires certain terminations be based upon seniority and not merit. In the event that we decide to significantly change or decrease our workforce, the Labor Contract Law could adversely affect our ability to enact such changes in a manner that is most advantageous to our business or in a timely and cost-effective manner, thus materially and adversely affecting our financial condition and results of operations.

 

WE MAY BE EXPOSED TO LIABILITIES UNDER THE FOREIGN CORRUPT PRACTICES ACT AND CHINESE ANTI-CORRUPTION LAW.

 

We are subject to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”), and other laws that prohibit improper payments or offers of payments to foreign governments and their officials and political parties by U.S. persons and issuers as defined by the statute for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. We are also subject to Chinese anti-corruption laws, which strictly prohibit the payment of bribes to government officials. We have operations, agreements with third parties, and make sales in China, which may experience corruption . Our activities in China create the risk of unauthorized payments or offers of payments by one of the employees or consultants of our Company, because these parties are not always subject to our control. We are in the process of implementing an anticorruption program, which will prohibit the offering or giving of anything of value to foreign officials, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The anticorruption program also requires that clauses mandating compliance with our policy be included in all contracts with foreign sales agents, sales consultants and distributors and that they certify their compliance with our policy annually. It further requires that all hospitality involving promotion of sales to foreign governments and government-owned or controlled entities be in accordance with specified guidelines. In the meantime, we believe to date we have complied in all material respects with the provisions of the FCPA and Chinese anti-corruption laws.  However, our existing safeguards and any future improvements may prove to be less than effective, and the employees, consultants and/or distributors of our Company may engage in conduct for which we might be held responsible. Violations of the FCPA or Chinese anti-corruption laws may result in severe criminal or civil sanctions, and we may be subject to other liabilities, which could negatively affect our business, operating results and financial condition. In addition, the government may seek to hold our Company liable for successor liability FCPA violations committed by companies in which we invest or that we acquire.

 

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UNCERTAINTIES WITH RESPECT TO THE PRC’S LEGAL SYSTEM COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT US.

 

We conduct a substantial amount of our business through our subsidiary in China. Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. Our PRC subsidiary is generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in China and, in particular, laws and regulations applicable to wholly foreign-owned enterprises. The PRC legal system is based on statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.

 

Since 1979, PRC legislation and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because some of these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties. In addition, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules (some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all) that may have a retroactive effect. As a result, we may not be aware of our violation of these policies and rules until sometime after the violation. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.

 

GOVERNMENTAL CONTROL OF CURRENCY CONVERSION MAY AFFECT THE VALUE OF YOUR INVESTMENT.

 

The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the Renminbi, or “RMB” into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of China. We receive some revenue and incur some expenses in U.S. dollars but incur other expenses primarily in RMB. Although our main business is based in mainland China or based in Hong Kong with Chinese operating subsidiaries, some of our business may require us to use U.S. dollars. We choose quotations based on price competitiveness.

 

Under our current corporate structure, our income is primarily derived from dividend payments from our PRC subsidiary. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiary to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy their foreign currency denominated obligations. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and expenditures from trade-related transactions can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. The PRC government may also, at its discretion, restrict access in the future to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our security-holders.

 

WE ARE A HOLDING COMPANY AND WE RELY ON FUNDING FOR DIVIDEND PAYMENTS FROM OUR SUBSIDIARIES, WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO RESTRICTIONS UNDER PRC LAWS.

 

We are a holding company incorporated in Nevada and we operate our core businesses through our subsidiary in the PRC. Therefore, the availability of funds for us to pay dividends to our shareholders and to service our indebtedness depends upon dividends received from such PRC subsidiary. If our subsidiary incurs debt or losses, its ability to pay dividends or other distributions to us may be impaired. As a result, our ability to pay dividends and to repay our indebtedness will be restricted. PRC laws require that dividends be paid only out of the after-tax profit of our PRC subsidiary calculated according to PRC accounting principles, which differ in many aspects from generally accepted accounting principles in other jurisdictions. PRC laws also require enterprises established in the PRC to set aside part of their after-tax profits as statutory reserves. These statutory reserves are not available for distribution as cash dividends. In addition, restrictive covenants in bank credit facilities or other agreements that we or our subsidiary may enter into in the future may also restrict the ability of our subsidiary to pay dividends to us. These restrictions on the availability of our funding may impact our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders and to service our indebtedness.

 

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OUR BUSINESS MAY BE MATERIALLY AND ADVERSELY AFFECTED IF OUR PRC SUBSIDIARY DECLARES BANKRUPTCY OR BECOMES SUBJECT TO A DISSOLUTION OR LIQUIDATION PROCEEDING.

 

The Enterprise Bankruptcy Law of the PRC, or the Bankruptcy Law, came into effect on June 1, 2007. The Bankruptcy Law provides that an enterprise will be liquidated if the enterprise fails to settle its debts as and when they fall due and if the enterprise’s assets are, or are demonstrably, insufficient to clear such debts.

 

Our PRC subsidiary hold certain assets that are important to our business operations. If our PRC subsidiary undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, unrelated third-party creditors may claim rights to some or all of these assets, thereby hindering our ability to operate our business, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

According to the SAFE’s Notice of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange on Further Improving and Adjusting Foreign Exchange Administration Policies for Direct Investment, effective on December 17, 2012, and the Provisions for Administration of Foreign Exchange Relating to Inbound Direct Investment by Foreign Investors, effective May 13, 2013, if our PRC subsidiary undergoes a voluntary or involuntary liquidation proceeding, prior approval from the SAFE for remittance of foreign exchange to our shareholders abroad is no longer required, but we still need to conduct a registration process with the SAFE local branch. It is not clear whether “registration” is a mere formality or involves the kind of substantive review process undertaken by SAFE and its relevant branches in the past.

 

FLUCTUATIONS IN EXCHANGE RATES COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR BUSINESS AND THE VALUE OF OUR SECURITIES.

 

Changes in the value of the RMB against the U.S. dollar, Euro and other foreign currencies are affected by, among other things, changes in China’s political and economic conditions. Any significant revaluation of the RMB may have a material adverse effect on our revenue and financial condition, and the value of, and any dividends payable on our shares in U.S. dollar terms. For example, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. dollars we receive from any capital raises into RMB for our operations, appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. dollar would have an adverse effect on the RMB amount we would receive from the conversion. Conversely, if we decide to convert our RMB into U.S. dollars for the purpose of paying dividends on our common stock or for other business purposes, appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the RMB would have a negative effect on the U.S. dollar amount available to us.

 

Since July 2005, the RMB is no longer pegged to the U.S. dollar. Although the People’s Bank of China regularly intervenes in the foreign exchange market to prevent significant short-term fluctuations in the exchange rate, the RMB may appreciate or depreciate significantly in value against the U.S. dollar in the medium to long term. Moreover, it is possible that in the future, PRC authorities may lift restrictions on fluctuations in the RMB exchange rate and lessen intervention in the foreign exchange market.

 

Very limited hedging transactions are available in China to reduce our exposure to exchange rate fluctuations. To date, we have not entered into any hedging transactions. While we may enter into hedging transactions in the future, the availability and effectiveness of these transactions may be limited, and we may not be able to successfully hedge our exposure at all. In addition, our foreign currency exchange losses may be magnified by PRC exchange control regulations that restrict our ability to convert RMB into foreign currencies.

 

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IF WE BECOME DIRECTLY SUBJECT TO THE RECENT SCRUTINY, CRITICISM AND NEGATIVE PUBLICITY INVOLVING U.S.-LISTED CHINESE COMPANIES, WE MAY HAVE TO EXPEND SIGNIFICANT RESOURCES TO INVESTIGATE AND RESOLVE THE MATTER WHICH COULD HARM OUR BUSINESS OPERATIONSAND OUR REPUTATION AND COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF YOUR INVESTMENT IN OUR SHARES, ESPECIALLY IF SUCH MATTER CANNOT BE ADDRESSED AND RESOLVED FAVORABLY.

 

Recently, U.S. public companies that have substantially all of their operations in the PRC, have been the subject of intense scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity by investors, financial commentators and regulatory agencies, such as the SEC. Much of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity has centered around financial and accounting irregularities, a lack of effective internal controls over financial accounting, inadequate corporate governance policies or a lack of adherence thereto and, in some cases, allegations of fraud. As a result of the scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity, the publicly traded stock of many U.S. listed Chinese companies has sharply decreased in value and, in some cases, has become virtually worthless. Many of these companies are now subject to shareholder lawsuits and SEC enforcement actions and are conducting internal and external investigations into the allegations. It is not clear what effect this sector-wide scrutiny, criticism and negative publicity will have on our Company and our business . If we become the subject of any unfavorable allegations, whether such allegations are proven to be true or untrue, we will have to expend significant resources to investigate such allegations and/or defend the Company. This situation may be a major distraction to our management. If such allegations are not proven to be groundless, our Company and business operations will be severely hampered and your investment in our shares could be rendered worthless.

 

CERTAIN POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO THE PRC COULD ADVERSELY AFFECT OUR COMPANY.

 

While the PRC’s government has pursued economic reforms since its adoption of the open-door policy in 1978, a large portion of the PRC’s economy is still operating under five-year plans and annual state plans. Through these plans and other economic measures, such as control on foreign exchange, taxation and restrictions on foreign participation in the domestic market of various industries, the PRC’s government exerts considerable direct and indirect influence on the economy. Many of the economic reforms carried out by the PRC’s government are unprecedented or experimental, and are expected to be refined and improved. Other political, economic and social factors can also lead to further readjustment of such reforms. This refining and readjustment process may not necessarily have a positive effect on our operations or future business development. Our operating results may be adversely affected by changes in the PRC’s economic and social conditions as well as by changes in the policies of the PRC government, such as changes in laws and regulations (or the official interpretation thereof), measures which may be introduced to control inflation, changes in the interest rate or method of taxation, and the imposition of restrictions on currency conversion in addition to those described below.

 

SINCE MOST OF OUR ASSETS ARE LOCATED IN PRC, ANY DIVIDENDS OF PROCEEDS FROM LIQUIDATION WILL BE SUBJECT TO THE APPROVAL OF THE RELEVANT CHINESE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES.

 

Our operating assets are located inside the PRC. Under the laws governing Foreign Invested Enterprise (“FIE”) in the PRC, dividend distribution and liquidation are allowed but subject to special procedures under the relevant laws and rules. Any dividends of proceeds from liquidation will be paid through Wuhan Newport, our PRC subsidiary, which is subject to the decision of the Board of Directors and subject to foreign exchange rules governing such repatriation. Any liquidation of a FIE is subject to the relevant commerce authority’s approval, registration in relevant Administration for Industry and Commerce and supervision as well as the foreign exchange control. Though the dividends of proceeds from liquidation can be remitted out of China to the investor after they have been approved by the commerce authority and SAFE, we cannot assure that we can always obtain such approvals. This may generate additional risk for our investors in case of dividend payment and liquidation.

 

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IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO EFFECT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF LEGAL JUDGMENTS UPON OUR COMPANY AND OUR OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS BECAUSE THEY RESIDE OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES.

 

As our operations are based in the PRC and a majority of our directors and officers reside in the PRC, service of process on the Company and such foreign directors and officers may be difficult to effect within the United States. Also, our main assets are located in the PRC and any judgment obtained in the United States against us may not be enforceable outside the United States.

 

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT EXERTS SUBSTANTIAL INFLUENCE OVER THE MANNER IN WHICH WE MUST CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.

 

We are dependent on our relationship with the local government in the provinces in which we operate our business. The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in the PRC may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. We believe that Wuhan Newport’s operations in the PRC are in material compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, the central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.

 

Future inflation in China may inhibit our ability to conduct business in the PRC. In recent years, the Chinese economy has experienced periods of rapid expansion and high rates of inflation. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising inflation. If prices for our properties rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies, it may have an adverse effect on profitability. These factors have led to the adoption by Chinese government, from time to time, of various corrective measures designed to restrict the availability of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. High inflation may in the future cause the Chinese government to impose controls on credit and/or prices, or to take other action, which could inhibit economic activity in China, and thereby harm the market for our products and services.

 

OUR SALES AND OPERATING REVENUE COULD DECLINE DUE TO MACRO-ECONOMIC AND OTHER FACTORS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL, SUCH AS CHANGES IN CLIENT CONFIDENCE AND DECLINES IN EMPLOYMENT LEVELS.

 

The real estate and logistics markets in the PRC are susceptible to fluctuations in economic conditions. Our business substantially depends on the prevailing economic conditions in the PRC. Changes in national and regional economic conditions, as well as local economic conditions where we conduct our operations, may result in more caution on the part of market participants and consequently fewer purchases. These economic uncertainties involve, among other things, conditions of supply and demand in local markets and changes in client confidence and income, employment levels, and government regulations. These risks and uncertainties could periodically have an adverse effect on consumer demand for and the pricing of our properties, which could cause our operating revenue to decline. A reduction in our revenue could in turn negatively affect the market price of our securities.

 

LIMITATIONS ON CHINESE ECONOMIC MARKET REFORMS MAY DISCOURAGE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN CHINESE BUSINESSES.

 

The value of investments in Chinese businesses could be adversely affected by political, economic and social uncertainties in China. The economic reforms introduced in China in recent years are regarded by China’s national government as a way to introduce economic market forces into China. Given the overriding desire of the national government leadership to maintain stability in China amid rapid social and economic changes in the country, the economic market reforms of recent years could be slowed, or even reversed.

 

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PRC REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFSHORE SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPANIES BY PRC RESIDENTS MAY SUBJECT OUR PRC RESIDENT SHAREHOLDERS TO PENALTIES AND LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO INJECT CAPITAL INTO OUR PRC SUBSIDIARY, LIMIT OUR PRC SUBSIDIARY’S ABILITY TO DISTRIBUTE PROFITS TO US, OR OTHERWISE ADVERSELY AFFECT US.

 

The SAFE promulgated the Notice on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or Notice 37, in July 2014 that requires PRC residents or entities to register with SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing. In addition, such PRC residents or entities must update their SAFE registrations when the offshore special purpose vehicle undergoes material events relating to material change of capitalization or structure of the PRC resident itself (such as capital increase, capital reduction, share transfer or exchange, merger or spin off). As of November 21, 2016, Mr. Xiangyao Liu, Mr. Linyu Chen and Mr. Long Zhao who are Chinese residents have completed the registration with SAFE under this Notice.

 

THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT EXERTS SUBSTANTIAL INFLUENCE OVER THE MANNER IN WHICH WE MUST CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS ACTIVITIES.

 

We are dependent on our relationship with the local government in the provinces in which we operate our business. The Chinese government has exercised and continues to exercise substantial control over virtually every sector of the Chinese economy through regulation and state ownership. Our ability to operate in the PRC may be harmed by changes in its laws and regulations, including those relating to taxation, environmental regulations, land use rights, property and other matters. We believe that Wuhan Newport’s operations in the PRC are in material compliance with all applicable legal and regulatory requirements. However, the central or local governments of these jurisdictions may impose new, stricter regulations or interpretations of existing regulations that would require additional expenditures and efforts on our part to ensure our compliance with such regulations or interpretations. Accordingly, government actions in the future, including any decision not to continue to support recent economic reforms and to return to a more centrally planned economy or regional or local variations in the implementation of economic policies, could have a significant effect on economic conditions in China or particular regions thereof, and could require us to divest ourselves of any interest we then hold in Chinese properties.

 

Future inflation in China may inhibit our ability to conduct business in the PRC. In recent years, the Chinese economy has experienced periods of rapid expansion and high rates of inflation. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising inflation. If prices for our properties rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies, it may have an adverse effect on profitability. These factors have led to the adoption by Chinese government, from time to time, of various corrective measures designed to restrict the availability of credit or regulate growth and contain inflation. High inflation may in the future cause the Chinese government to impose controls on credit and/or prices, or to take other action, which could inhibit economic activity in China, and thereby harm the market for our products and services.

 

OUR SALES AND OPERATING REVENUE COULD DECLINE DUE TO MACRO-ECONOMIC AND OTHER FACTORS OUTSIDE OF OUR CONTROL, SUCH AS CHANGES IN CLIENT CONFIDENCE AND DECLINES IN EMPLOYMENT LEVELS.

 

The real estate and logistics markets in the PRC are susceptible to fluctuations in economic conditions. Our business substantially depends on the prevailing economic conditions in the PRC. Changes in national and regional economic conditions, as well as local economic conditions where we conduct our operations, may result in more caution on the part of market participants and consequently fewer purchases. These economic uncertainties involve, among other things, conditions of supply and demand in local markets and changes in client confidence and income, employment levels, and government regulations. These risks and uncertainties could periodically have an adverse effect on consumer demand for and the pricing of our properties, which could cause our operating revenue to decline. A reduction in our revenue could in turn negatively affect the market price of our securities.

 

LIMITATIONS ON CHINESE ECONOMIC MARKET REFORMS MAY DISCOURAGE FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN CHINESE BUSINESSES.

 

The value of investments in Chinese businesses could be adversely affected by political, economic and social uncertainties in China. The economic reforms introduced in China in recent years are regarded by China’s national government as a way to introduce economic market forces into China. Given the overriding desire of the national government leadership to maintain stability in China amid rapid social and economic changes in the country, the economic market reforms of recent years could be slowed, or even reversed.

 

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PRC REGULATIONS RELATING TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF OFFSHORE SPECIAL PURPOSE COMPANIES BY PRC RESIDENTS MAY SUBJECT OUR PRC RESIDENT SHAREHOLDERS TO PENALTIES AND LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO INJECT CAPITAL INTO OUR PRC SUBSIDIARY, LIMIT OUR PRC SUBSIDIARY’S ABILITY TO DISTRIBUTE PROFITS TO US, OR OTHERWISE ADVERSELY AFFECT US.

 

The SAFE promulgated the Notice on Relevant Issues Relating to Domestic Resident’s Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment through Special Purpose Vehicles, or Notice 37, in July 2014 that requires PRC residents or entities to register with SAFE or its local branch in connection with their establishment or control of an offshore entity established for the purpose of overseas investment or financing. In addition, such PRC residents or entities must update their SAFE registrations when the offshore special purpose vehicle undergoes material events relating to material change of capitalization or structure of the PRC resident itself (such as capital increase, capital reduction, share transfer or exchange, merger or spin off). As of November 21, 2016, Mr. Xiangyao Liu, Mr. Linyu Chen and Mr. Long Zhao who are Chinese residents have completed the registration with SAFE under this Notice.

 

FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THE INDIVIDUAL FOREIGN EXCHANGE RULES RELATING TO THE OVERSEAS DIRECT INVESTMENT OR THE ENGAGEMENT IN THE ISSUANCE OR TRADING OF SECURITIES OVERSEAS BY OUR PRC RESIDENT STOCKHOLDERS MAY SUBJECT SUCH STOCKHOLDERS TO FINES OR OTHER LIABILITIES.

 

Other than Notice 37, our ability to conduct foreign exchange activities in the PRC may be subject to the interpretation and enforcement of the Implementation Rules of the Administrative Measures for Individual Foreign Exchange promulgated by SAFE in January 2007 (as amended and supplemented, the “ Individual Foreign Exchange Rules ”). Under the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules, any PRC individual seeking to make a direct investment overseas or engage in the issuance or trading of negotiable securities or derivatives overseas must make the appropriate registrations in accordance with SAFE provisions. PRC individuals who fail to make such registrations may be subject to warnings, fines or other liabilities.

 

We may not be fully informed of the identities of all our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. For example, because the investment in or trading of our shares will happen in an overseas public or secondary market where shares are often held with brokers in brokerage accounts, it is unlikely that we will know the identity of all of our beneficial owners who are PRC residents. Furthermore, we have no control over any of our future beneficial owners and we cannot assure you that such PRC residents will be able to complete the necessary approval and registration procedures required by the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules.

 

It is uncertain how the Individual Foreign Exchange Rules will be interpreted or enforced and whether such interpretation or enforcement will affect our ability to conduct foreign exchange transactions. Because of this uncertainty, we cannot be sure whether the failure by any of our PRC resident stockholders to make the required registration will subject our PRC subsidiaries to fines or legal sanctions on their operations, delay or restriction on repatriation of proceeds of any capital raise into the PRC, restriction on remittance of dividends or other punitive actions that would have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

PRC REGULATIONS RELATING TO ACQUISITIONS OF PRC COMPANIES BY FOREIGN ENTITIES MAY LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO ACQUIRE PRC COMPANIES AND ADVERSELY AFFECT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF OUR ACQUISITION STRATEGY AS WELL AS OUR BUSINESS AND PROSPECTS.

 

The PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange, or SAFE, issued a public notice in January 2005 concerning foreign exchange regulations on mergers and acquisitions in the PRC. The public notice states that if an offshore company controlled by PRC’s residents intends to acquire a PRC company, such acquisition will be subject to strict examination by the relevant foreign exchange authorities. The public notice also states that the approval of the relevant foreign exchange authorities is required for any sale or transfer by the PRC’s residents of a PRC company’s assets or equity interests to foreign entities, such as us, for equity interests or assets of the foreign entities.

 

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In April 2005, SAFE issued another public notice further explaining the January notice. In accordance with the April notice, if an acquisition of a PRC company by an offshore company controlled by PRC residents has been confirmed by a Foreign Investment Enterprise Certificate prior to the promulgation of the January notice, the PRC residents must each submit a registration form to the local SAFE branch with respect to their respective ownership interests in the offshore company, and must also file an amendment to such registration if the offshore company experiences material events, such as changes in the share capital, share transfer, mergers and acquisitions, spin-off transactions or use of assets in China to guarantee offshore obligations.

  

On May 31, 2007, SAFE issued another official notice known as “Circular 106,” which requires the owners of any Chinese company to obtain SAFE’s approval before establishing any offshore holding company structure to facilitate foreign financing or subsequent acquisitions in China.

 

If we decide to acquire a company organized under the laws of the PRC, we cannot assure investors that we or the owners of such company, as the case may be, will be able to obtain the necessary approvals, filings and registrations for the acquisition. This may restrict our ability to implement our acquisition strategy and adversely affect our business and prospects.

 

CAPITAL OUTFLOW POLICIES IN THE PRC MAY HAMPER OUR ABILITY TO REMIT INCOME TO THE UNITED STATES AND RESTRICTIONS ON CURRENCY EXCHANGE MAY LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO UTILIZE OUR REVENUES EFFECTIVELY.

 

The PRC’s government imposes controls on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of the PRC. We receive all of our revenue in RMB. Under our current corporate structure, our U.S. holding company may rely on dividend payments from our PRC subsidiary to fund any cash and financing requirements we may have. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, payments of current account items, including profit distributions, interest payments and trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, can be made in foreign currencies without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) by complying with certain procedural requirements. Therefore, our PRC subsidiary is able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to us without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from or registration with appropriate government authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into a foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies. This could affect the ability of our PRC subsidiary to obtain foreign exchange through debt or equity financings, including by means of loans or capital contributions from us. In the future, the PRC government may also, at its discretion, restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currencies to satisfy our foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our stockholders.

 

The majority of our revenue would be and operating expenses are denominated in RMB. The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of the RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of the PRC. Pursuant to the Foreign Currency Administration Rules, promulgated on January 29, 1996 and amended on January 14, 1997, and various regulations issued by SAFE and other relevant PRC government authorities, RMB is freely convertible only to the extent of current account items, such as trade-related receipts and payments, interest and dividends. Capital account items, such as direct equity investments, loans and repatriation of investments, require the prior approval from SAFE or its local branch for conversion of RMB into a foreign currency such as U.S. dollars, and remittance of the foreign currency outside the PRC. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict the ability of our PRC subsidiary to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends or other payments to us, or otherwise satisfy its foreign currency-denominated obligations. Currently, e our PRC subsidiary and its affiliates may purchase foreign exchange for settlement of “current account transactions,” including payment of dividends to us and payment of licensing fees and service fees to foreign licensors and service providers, without the approval of SAFE. However, approval from the SAFE or its local branch is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of China to pay capital expenses, such as the repayment of loans denominated in foreign currencies.

 

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BECAUSE OUR FUNDS ARE HELD IN BANKS THAT DO NOT PROVIDE INSURANCE, THE FAILURE OF ANY BANK IN WHICH WE DEPOSIT OUR FUNDS MAY AFFECT OUR ABILITY TO CONTINUE TO OPERATE.

 

Banks and other financial institutions in the PRC do not provide insurance for funds held on deposit. As a result, in the event of a bank failure, we may not have access to funds on deposit. Depending upon the amount of money we maintain in a bank that fails, our inability to have access to our cash may impair our operations, and, if we are not able to access funds to pay our suppliers, employees and other creditors, we may be unable to continue to operate.

IF WE ARE UNABLE TO OBTAIN BUSINESS INSURANCE IN THE PRC, WE MAY NOT BE PROTECTED FROM RISKS THAT ARE CUSTOMARILY COVERED BY INSURANCE IN THE UNITED STATES.

 

Business insurance is not readily available in the PRC. To the extent that we suffer a loss of a type that would normally be covered by insurance in the United States, such as general liability insurance, we would incur significant expenses in both defending any action and in paying any claims that result from a settlement or judgment. We have not obtained fire, casualty and theft insurance, and there is no insurance coverage for our furniture or buildings in China. Any losses incurred by us will have to be borne by us without any assistance, and we may not have sufficient capital to cover material damage to, or the loss of, our facilities due to fire, severe weather, flood or other causes, and such damage or loss may have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, business and prospects.

 

UNDER THE NEW ENTERPRISE INCOME TAX LAW, WE MAY BE CLASSIFIED AS A “RESIDENT ENTERPRISE” OF CHINA. SUCH CLASSIFICATION MAY RESULT IN UNFAVORABLE TAX CONSEQUENCES TO US AND OUR NON-PRC SHAREHOLDERS. 

 

China passed a New Enterprise Income Tax Law, or the New EIT Law, which became effective on January 1, 2008. Under the New EIT Law, an enterprise established outside of China with de facto management bodies within China is considered a resident enterprise, meaning that it can be treated in a manner similar to a Chinese enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes. The implementing rules of the New EIT Law define de facto management as “substantial and overall management and control over the production and operations, personnel, accounting, and properties” of the enterprise. In addition, a circular issued by the State Administration of Taxation on April 22, 2009 clarified that dividends and other income paid by such resident enterprises will be considered to be the PRC’s source income and subject to the PRC’s withholding tax. This recent circular also subjects such resident enterprises to various reporting requirements with the PRC’s tax authorities.

 

Although substantially all of our management is currently located in the PRC, it remains unclear whether the PRC’s tax authorities would require or permit our overseas registered entities to be treated as PRC resident enterprises. We do not currently consider our company to be a PRC resident enterprise. However, if the PRC’s tax authorities determine that we are a resident enterprise for the PRC’s enterprise income tax purposes, a number of unfavorable PRC tax consequences may follow. First, we may be subject to the enterprise income tax at a rate of 25% on our worldwide taxable income as well as the PRC’s enterprise income tax reporting obligations. This would also mean that income such as interest on offering proceeds and non-China source income would be subject to the PRC’s enterprise income tax at a rate of 25%. Second, although under the New EIT Law and its implementing rules, dividends paid to us from our PRC subsidiary would qualify as tax-exempt income, we cannot guarantee that such dividends will not be subject to a 10% withholding tax, as the PRC authorities responsible for enforcing the withholding tax have not yet issued guidance with respect to the processing of outbound remittances to entities that are treated as resident enterprises for the PRC’s enterprise income tax purposes. Finally, dividends paid to stockholders with respect to their shares of our common stock or any gains realized from transfer of such shares may generally be subject to the PRC’s withholding taxes on such dividends or gains at a rate of 10% if the shareholders are deemed to be non-resident enterprises or at a rate of 20% if the shareholders are deemed to be non-resident individuals.

 

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PRICE INFLATION IN CHINA COULD AFFECT OUR RESULTS OF OPERATIONS IF WE ARE UNABLE TO PASS ALONG CONSTRUCTION PRICE INCREASES TO OUR CUSTOMERS.

 

Inflation in China has continued to rise over the last few years. Because our builders will purchase raw materials from suppliers in China, price inflation has caused an increase in the cost of construction.  Price inflation may affect the results of our operations if we are unable to pass along the price increases to our customers.  Similarly, the purchase and installation of equipment or furniture may increase as a result of these recent inflationary trends, which are expected to continue for the near future. Accordingly, inflation in China may weaken our competitiveness domestically and in international markets.

 

WE MAY RELY PRINCIPALLY ON DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS OF EQUITY PAID BY OUR PRC SUBSIDIARY TO FUND ANY CASH AND FINANCING REQUIREMENTS WE MAY HAVE, AND ANY LIMITATION ON THE ABILITY OF OUR PRC SUBSIDIARY TO PAY DIVIDENDS TO US COULD HAVE A MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON OUR ABILITY TO CONDUCT OUR BUSINESS.

 

We are a holding company, and we may rely principally on dividends and other distributions of equity paid by our PRC subsidiary for our cash and financing requirements, which include the funds necessary to pay dividends and other cash distributions to our stockholders and to service any debt we may incur. In the future, if our PRC subsidiary incurs debt on its own behalf, the instruments governing the debt may restrict its ability to pay dividends or make other distributions to us.

 

Under PRC laws and regulations, our PRC subsidiary, as a foreign-invested enterprise in the PRC, may pay dividends only out of accumulated profits as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. In addition, a foreign-invested enterprise is required to set aside at least 10% of its accumulated after-tax profits each year, if any, to fund certain statutory reserve funds, until the aggregate amount of such fund reaches 50% of its registered capital. At its discretion, it may allocate a portion of its after-tax profits based on PRC accounting standards to staff welfare and bonus funds. These reserve funds and staff welfare and bonus funds are not distributable as cash dividends.

 

Any limitation on the ability of our PRC subsidiary to pay dividends or make other distributions to us could materially and adversely limit our ability to grow, make investments or acquisitions that could be beneficial to our business, pay dividends, or otherwise fund and conduct our business.

 

THE PRC GOVERNMENT MAY ISSUE FURTHER RESTRICTIVE MEASURES IN THE FUTURE.

 

We cannot assure you that the PRC’s government will not issue further restrictive measures in the future. The PRC government’s restrictive regulations and measures could increase our operating costs in adapting to these regulations and measures, limit our access to capital resources or even restrict our business operations, which could further adversely affect our business and prospects.

 

OUR PRC SUBSIDIARY HAS TAKEN THE POSITION THAT IT IS COMPLIANT WITH THE TAXATION, ENVIRONMENTAL, EMPLOYMENT AND SOCIAL SECURITY RULES OF CHINA, AND IF THAT POSITION TURNS OUT TO BE WRONG, THEY MAY FACE PENALTIES IMPOSED BY THE PRC GOVERNMENT.

 

While we believe our PRC subsidiary has been in compliance with PRC taxation, environmental, employment and social security rules during their operations in China, we have not obtained letters from the PRC government authorities confirming such compliance. If any PRC government authority takes the position that there is non-compliance with the taxation, environmental protection, employment and/or social security rules by our PRC subsidiary, they may be exposed to penalties from PRC government authorities, in which case the operation of our PRC subsidiary in question may be adversely affected.

 

IF RELATIONS BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND CHINA WORSEN, OUR STOCK PRICE MAY DECREASE AND WE MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCESSING THE U.S. CAPITAL MARKETS.

 

At various times during recent years, the United States and China have had disagreements over political and economic issues. Controversies may arise in the future between these two countries. Any political or trade conflicts between the United States and China could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and our ability to access U.S. capital markets.

 

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INTERPRETATION OF PRC LAWS AND REGULATIONS INVOLVES UNCERTAINTY.

 

Our core business is conducted within China and is governed by PRC’s laws and regulations. The PRC’s legal system is based on written statutes, and prior court decisions can only be used as a reference. Since 1979, the PRC’s government has promulgated laws and regulations in relation to economic matters such as foreign investment, corporate organization and governance, commerce, taxation and trade, with a view to developing a comprehensive system of commercial law, including laws relating to property ownership and development. However, due to the fact that these laws and regulations have not been fully developed, and because of the limited volume of published cases and the non-binding nature of prior court decisions, interpretation of PRC’s laws and regulations involves a degree of uncertainty. Some of these laws may be changed without immediate publication or may be amended with retroactive effect. Depending on the government agency or how an application or case is presented to such agency, we may receive less favorable interpretations of laws and regulations than our competitors, particularly if a competitor has long been established in the locality of, and has developed a relationship with such agency. In addition, any litigation in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and a diversion of resources and management attention. All of these uncertainties may cause difficulties in the enforcement of our land use rights, entitlements under our permits and other statutory and contractual rights and interests.   

 

Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common stock

  

THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY BE VOLATILE OR MAY DECLINE REGARDLESS OF OUR OPERATING PERFORMANCE, AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO RESELL YOUR SHARES AT OR ABOVE THE OFFERING PRICE.

 

The market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

  

  actual or anticipated fluctuations in our revenue and other operating results;
     
  the financial projections we may provide to the public, any changes in these projections or our failure to meet these projections;
     
  actions of securities analysts who initiate or maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts who follow our company, or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;
     
  announcements by us or our competitors of significant products or features, technical innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, or capital commitments;
     
  price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of trends in the economy as a whole;
     
  lawsuits threatened or filed against us; and
     
  other events or factors, including those resulting from war or incidents of terrorism, or responses to these events.

 

In addition, the stock markets have experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected and continue to affect the market prices of equity securities of many companies. Stock prices of many companies have fluctuated in a manner unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. In the past, stockholders have filed securities class action litigation following periods of market volatility. If we were to become involved in securities litigation, it could subject us to substantial costs, divert resources and the attention of management from our business, and adversely affect our business.

 

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WE DO NOT INTEND TO PAY DIVIDENDS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE.

 

We currently intend to retain any future earnings to finance the operation and expansion of our business, and we do not expect to declare or pay any dividends in the foreseeable future. As a result, you may only receive a return on your investment in our common stock if the market price of our common stock increases.

  

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE MAY ADVERSELY AFFECT THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK, AS THE FUTURE SALE OF A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF OUTSTANDING COMMON STOCK IN THE PUBLIC MARKETPLACE COULD REDUCE THE PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK.

 

The market price of our shares could decline as a result of sales of substantial amounts of our shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur. In addition, these factors could make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future offerings of our common stock.

 

JASPER LAKE HOLDINGS LIMITED, OUR MAJORITY STOCKHOLDER, MAY HAVE SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCE OVER THE OUTCOME OF MATTERS SUBMITTED TO OUR STOCKHOLDERS FOR APPROVAL, WHICH MAY PREVENT US FROM ENGAGING IN CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS.

 

As of March 8, 2018 Jasper Lake Holdings Limited beneficially owns 52.94% of our outstanding common stock. Mr. Xiangyao Liu, our CEO and President, has sole voting and dispositive power of Jasper Lake Holdings Limited. As a result, this majority stockholder may exercise significant influence over all matters requiring stockholder approval, including the appointment of our directors and the approval of significant corporate transactions. This ownership and control may also have the effect of delaying or preventing a future change in control, impeding a merger, consolidation, takeover or other business combination that may be in the best interest of the Company.

 

IF WE FAIL TO MAINTAIN AN EFFECTIVE SYSTEM OF INTERNAL CONTROLS, WE MAY NOT BE ABLE TO ACCURATELY REPORT OUR FINANCIAL RESULTS OR PREVENT FRAUD.

 

The SEC, as required by Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, adopted rules requiring every public company to include a management report on such company’s internal controls over financial reporting in its annual report, which contains management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting.

 

Our reporting obligations as a public company place a significant strain on our management and operational and financial resources and systems. Effective internal controls, particularly those related to revenue recognition, are necessary for us to produce reliable financial reports and are important to prevent fraud. As a result, our failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls over financial reporting may result in the loss of investor confidence in the reliability of our financial statements, which in turn may harm our business and negatively impact the trading price of our stock. Furthermore, we anticipate that we will continue to incur considerable costs and use significant management time and other resources in an effort to comply with Section 404 and other requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.

 

THERE IS A LIMITED MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK, WHICH MAY MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK TO SELL THEIR STOCK.

 

On August 18, 2017, the Company our common stock started trading on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “YRIV”. There is a limited trading market for our common stock . Accordingly, there can be no assurance as to the liquidity of any markets that may develop for our common stock, the ability of holders of our common stock to sell our common stock, or the prices at which holders may be able to sell our common stock. Further, many brokerage firms will not process transactions involving low price stocks, especially those that come within the definition of a “penny stock.” If we cease to be quoted, holders of our common stock may find it more difficult to dispose of, or to obtain accurate quotations as to the market value of our common stock, and the market value of our common stock would likely decline.

 

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WE MAY BE SUBJECT TO THE PENNY STOCK RULES WHICH WILL MAKE SHARES OF OUR COMMON STOCK MORE DIFFICULT TO SELL.

 

We may be subject now and in the future to the SEC’s “penny stock” rules if our shares of common stock sell below $5.00 per share. Penny stocks generally are equity securities with a price of less than $5.00. The penny stock rules require broker-dealers to deliver a standardized risk disclosure document prepared by the SEC which provides information about penny stocks and the nature and level of risks in the penny stock market. The broker-dealer must also provide the customer with current bid and offer quotations for the penny stock, the compensation of the broker-dealer and its salesperson, and monthly account statements showing the market value of each penny stock held in the customer’s account. The bid and offer quotations, and the broker-dealer and salesperson compensation information must be given to the customer orally or in writing prior to completing the transaction and must be given to the customer in writing before or with the customer’s confirmation.

 

In addition, the penny stock rules require that prior to a transaction, the broker dealer must make a special written determination that the penny stock is a suitable investment for the purchaser and receive the purchaser’s written agreement to the transaction. The penny stock rules are burdensome and may reduce purchases of any offerings and reduce the trading activity for shares of our common stock. As long as our shares of common stock are subject to the penny stock rules, the holders of such shares of common stock may find it more difficult to sell their securities.

 

IF A MORE ACTIVE TRADING MARKET FOR OUR COMMON STOCK DEVELOPS, THE MARKET PRICE OF OUR COMMON STOCK IS LIKELY TO BE HIGHLY VOLATILE AND SUBJECT TO WIDE FLUCTUATIONS, AND HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY BE UNABLE TO SELL THEIR SHARES AT OR ABOVE THE PRICE AT WHICH THEY WERE ACQUIRED.

 

The market price of our common stock is likely to be highly volatile and could be subject to wide fluctuations in response to a number of factors that are beyond our control, including:

 

  quarterly variations in our revenues and operating expenses;

 

  developments in the financial markets and worldwide economies;

 

  announcements of innovations or new products or services by us or our competitors;

 

  announcements by the PRC government relating to regulations that govern our industry;

 

  significant sales of our common stock or other securities in the open market;

 

  variations in interest rates;

 

  changes in the market valuations of other comparable companies; and

 

  changes in accounting principles.

 

In addition, the market for Chinese companies that went public in the U.S. through reverse mergers, such as ours, is currently extremely volatile primarily due to recent allegations and, in some instances, findings of fraud among some of these companies.  If a stockholder were to file a class action suit against us following a period of volatility in the price of our securities, we would incur substantial legal fees and our management’s attention and resources would be diverted from operating our business to responding to such litigation, which may harm our business and reputation.

 

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THE RIGHTS OF THE HOLDERS OF OUR COMMON STOCK MAY BE IMPAIRED BY THE POTENTIAL ISSUANCE OF PREFERRED STOCK.

 

Our Board of Directors has the right to create a new series of preferred stock. As a result, the Board of Directors may, without stockholder approval, issue preferred stock with voting, dividend, conversion, liquidation or other rights that may adversely affect the voting power and equity interest of the holders of our common stock. Although we have no present intention to issue any additional shares of preferred stock or to create any new series of preferred stock, we may issue such shares in the future.

 

SPECIAL NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, principally in the sections entitled “Risk Factors.” All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding future events, our future financial performance, business strategy and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. We have attempted to identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” or “will” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Although we do not make forward looking statements unless we believe we have a reasonable basis for doing so, we cannot guarantee their accuracy. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including the risks outlined under “Risk Factors” or elsewhere in this prospectus, which may cause our or our industry’s actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be accurate indications of the times at, or by which, that performance or those results will be achieved. Forward-looking statements are based on information available at the time they are made and/or management’s good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual performance or results to differ materially from what is expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements.

 

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. In the case of a sale of common stock by any selling stockholders, we will not receive any of the proceeds from such sale.

 

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

The following description of our capital stock is not complete and may not contain all the information you should consider before investing in our capital stock. This description is summarized from, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, which have been publicly filed with the SEC. See “Where You Can Find More Information; Incorporation by Reference.”

 

Introduction

 

In the discussion that follows, we have summarized selected provisions of our Articles of Incorporation relating to our capital stock. This summary is not complete. This discussion is subject to the relevant provisions of Nevada law and is qualified in its entirety by reference to our Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws. You should read our articles of incorporation and our bylaws as currently in effect for provisions that may be important to you.

 

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Authorized Capital Stock

 

Our authorized share capital consists of 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share. As of March 8, 2018, 172,344,446 shares of our common stock and no shares of our preferred stock were outstanding.

 

Common Stock

 

Each share of our common stock entitles its holder to one vote in the election of each director and on all other matters voted on generally by our stockholders, other than any matter that (1) solely relates to the terms of any outstanding series of preferred stock or the number of shares of that series and (2) does not affect the number of authorized shares of preferred stock or the powers, privileges and rights pertaining to the common stock. No share of our common stock affords any cumulative voting rights. This means that the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares voting for the election of directors can elect all directors to be elected if they choose to do so.

 

Holders of our common stock will be entitled to dividends in such amounts and at such times as our Board of Directors in its discretion may declare out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends. We currently intend to retain our entire available discretionary cash flow to finance the growth, development and expansion of our business and do not anticipate paying any cash dividends on the common stock in the foreseeable future. Any future dividends will be paid at the discretion of our Board of Directors after taking into account various factors, including:

 

  general business conditions;
     
  industry practice;

 

  our financial condition and performance;

 

  our future prospects;
     
  our cash needs and capital investment plans;
     
  our obligations to holders of any preferred stock we may issue;
     
  income tax consequences; and
     
  the restrictions Nevada and other applicable laws and our credit arrangements then impose.

 

If we liquidate or dissolve our business, the holders of our common stock will share ratably in all our assets that are available for distribution to our stockholders after our creditors are paid in full and the holders of all series of our outstanding preferred stock, if any, receive their liquidation preferences in full.

 

Our common stock has no preemptive rights and is not convertible or redeemable or entitled to the benefits of any sinking or repurchase fund.

 

Preferred Stock

 

At the direction of our Board of Directors, without any action by the holders of our common stock, we may issue one or more series of preferred stock from time to time. Our Board of Directors can determine the number of shares of each series of preferred stock, the designation, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions applicable to any of those rights, including dividend rights, voting rights, conversion or exchange rights, terms of redemption and liquidation preferences, of each series.

 

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Undesignated preferred stock may enable our Board of Directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of our company by means of a tender offer, proxy contest, merger or otherwise, and thereby to protect the continuity of our management. The issuance of shares of preferred stock may adversely affect the rights of our common stockholders. For example, any preferred stock issued may rank prior to the common stock as to dividend rights, liquidation preference or both, may have full or limited voting rights and may be convertible into shares of common stock. As a result, the issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase shares of preferred stock, may discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal or bids for our common stock or may otherwise adversely affect the market price of our common stock or any existing preferred stock.

 

Warrants

 

There are no outstanding warrants.

 

The NASDAQ Global Select Market

 

 Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “YRIV”.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar 

 

The transfer agent for our common stock is VStock Transfer, LLC located at 18 Lafayette Pl, Woodmere, NY 11598. The telephone number is: (212) 828-8436.

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

 

The debt securities may be either secured or unsecured and will either be our senior debt securities or our subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or more separate indentures between us and a trustee to be specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement. Senior debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. Together, the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture are called indentures in this description. This prospectus, together with the applicable prospectus supplement, will describe the terms of a particular series of debt securities.

 

The following is a summary of selected provisions and definitions of the indentures and debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The summary of selected provisions of the indentures and the debt securities appearing below is not complete and is subject to, and qualified entirely by reference to, all of the provisions of the applicable indenture and certificates evidencing the applicable debt securities. For additional information, you should look at the applicable indenture and the certificate evidencing the applicable debt security that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement that includes this prospectus. In this description of the debt securities, the words “we,” “us,” or “our” refer only to “Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited” and not to any of our subsidiaries, unless we expressly state otherwise or the context otherwise requires.

 

The following description sets forth selected general terms and provisions of the applicable indenture and debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. Other specific terms of the applicable indenture and debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any particular terms of the indenture or debt securities described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement.

 

General

 

Debt securities may be issued in separate series without limitation as to aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount for the debt securities of any series. We are not limited as to the amount of debt securities we may issue under the indentures. Unless otherwise provided in a prospectus supplement, a series of debt securities may be reopened to issue additional debt securities of such series.

 

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The prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities will set forth:

 

whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated;
     
the offering price;
     
the title;
     
any limit on the aggregate principal amount;
     
the person who shall be entitled to receive interest, if other than the record holder on the record date;
     
the date or dates the principal will be payable;
     
the interest rate or rates, which may be fixed or variable, if any, the date from which interest will accrue, the interest payment dates and the regular record dates, or the method for calculating the dates and rates;
     
the place where payments may be made;
     
any mandatory or optional redemption provisions or sinking fund provisions and any applicable redemption or purchase prices associated with these provisions;
     
if issued other than in denominations of U.S. $1,000 or any multiple of U.S. $1,000, the denominations in which the debt securities shall be issuable;
     
if applicable, the method for determining how the principal, premium, if any, or interest will be calculated by reference to an index or formula;
     
if other than U.S. currency, the currency or currency units in which principal, premium, if any, or interest will be payable and whether we or a holder may elect payment to be made in a different currency;
     
the portion of the principal amount that will be payable upon acceleration of maturity, if other than the entire principal amount;
     
if the principal amount payable at stated maturity will not be determinable as of any date prior to stated maturity, the amount or method for determining the amount which will be deemed to be the principal amount;
     
if applicable, whether the debt securities shall be subject to the defeasance provisions described below under “Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance” or such other defeasance provisions specified in the applicable prospectus supplement for the debt securities;
     
any conversion or exchange provisions;
     
whether the debt securities will be issuable in the form of a global security;
     
any subordination provisions applicable to the subordinated debt securities if different from those described below under “Subordinated Debt Securities;”
     
any paying agents, authenticating agents, security registrars or other agents for the debt securities, if other than the trustee;
     
any provisions relating to any security provided for the debt securities, including any provisions regarding the circumstances under which collateral may be released or substituted;
     
any deletions of, or changes or additions to, the events of default, acceleration provisions or covenants;
     
any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs;
     
any special tax provisions that apply to the debt securities;
     
with respect to the debt securities that do not bear interest, the dates for certain required reports to the applicable trustee;
     
any and all additional, eliminated or changed terms that will apply to the debt securities; and
     
any other specific terms of such debt securities.

 

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Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be registered debt securities. Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at time of issuance is below market rates. The material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities sold at a discount will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Exchange and Transfer

 

Debt securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us.

 

We will not impose a service charge for any transfer or exchange, but we may require holders to pay any tax or other governmental charges associated with any transfer or exchange.

 

In the event of any partial redemption of debt securities of any series, we will not be required to:

 

issue, register the transfer of, or exchange, any debt security of that series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing; or 
     
register the transfer of or exchange any debt security of that series selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion being redeemed in part.

 

We will appoint the trustee as the initial security registrar. Any transfer agent, in addition to the security registrar initially designated by us, will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional transfer agents or change transfer agents or change the office of the transfer agent.

 

However, we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.

 

Global Securities

 

The debt securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part, by one or more global securities. Each global security will:

 

be registered in the name of a depositary, or its nominee, that we will identify in a prospectus supplement; 
     
be deposited with the depositary or nominee or custodian; and 
     
bear any required legends.

 

No global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered in the name of any person other than the depositary or any nominee unless:

 

the depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or has ceased to be qualified to act as depositary and we do not appoint another institution to act as depositary within 90 days; 
     
an event of default is continuing with respect to the debt securities of the applicable series; or 
     
any other circumstance described in a prospectus supplement has occurred permitting or requiring the issuance of any such security.

 

As long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner and holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indentures. Except in the above limited circumstances, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be:

 

entitled to have the debt securities registered in their names; 
     
entitled to physical delivery of certificated debt securities; or 
     
considered to be holders of those debt securities under the indenture.

 

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Payments on a global security will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the holder of the global security. Some jurisdictions have laws that require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global security.

 

Institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee are referred to as “participants.” Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants and to persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants. The depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of its participants.

  

Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on and effected through records maintained by the depositary, with respect to participants’ interests, or any participant, with respect to interests of persons held by participants on their behalf.

 

Payments, transfers and exchanges relating to beneficial interests in a global security will be subject to policies and procedures of the depositary. The depositary policies and procedures may change from time to time. Neither any trustee nor we will have any responsibility or liability for the depositary’s or any participant’s records with respect to beneficial interests in a global security.

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the provisions described in this paragraph will apply to the debt securities. Payment of interest on a debt security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name the debt security is registered at the close of business on the record date. Payment on debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the office of a paying agent or paying agents designated by us. However, at our option, we may pay interest by mailing a check to the record holder. The trustee will be designated as our initial paying agent.

 

We may also name any other paying agents in a prospectus supplement. We may designate additional paying agents, change paying agents or change the office of any paying agent. However, we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

 

All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for payment on any debt security that remain unclaimed for a period ending the earlier of:

 

10 business days prior to the date the money would be turned over to the applicable state; or 
     
at the end of two years after such payment was due,

 

will be repaid to us thereafter, and the holder may then look only to us for such payment.

 

No Protection in the Event of a Change of Control

 

Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities will not contain any provisions that may afford holders of the debt securities protection in the event we have a change in control or in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, whether or not such transaction results in a change in control.

 

Covenants

 

unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities, the debt securities will not contain any financial or restrictive covenants.

 

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Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets

 

Unless we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement with respect to a particular series of debt securities, we may not consolidate with or merge into any other person (other than one of our subsidiaries), in a transaction in which we are not the surviving corporation, or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any person (other than one of our subsidiaries), unless:

 

the successor entity, if any, is a U.S. corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other business entity;

 

the successor entity assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under the indentures;

 

immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

certain other conditions specified in the indenture

 

Events of Default

 

Unless we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the following will be events of default for any series of debt securities under the indentures:

 

we fail to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of that series when due;

 

we fail to pay any interest on any debt security of that series for 30 days after it becomes due;

 

we fail to deposit any sinking fund payment when due;

 

we fail to perform any other covenant in the indenture and such failure continues for 90 days after we are given the notice required in the indenture; and

 

certain events involving our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization.

 

Additional or different events of default applicable to a series of debt securities may be described in a prospectus supplement. An event of default of one series of debt securities is not necessarily an event of default for any other series of debt securities.

 

The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any default, except defaults in the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, any sinking fund installment on, or with respect to any conversion right of, the debt securities of such series. However, the trustee must consider it to be in the interest of the holders of the debt securities of such series to withhold this notice.

 

Unless we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement, if an event of default, other than an event of default described in the last bullet point above, shall occur and be continuing with respect to any series of debt securities, either the trustee or the holders of at least 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may declare the principal amount and premium, if any, of the debt securities of that series, or if any debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities, such other amount as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, in each case together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to be due and payable immediately.

 

Unless we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement, if an event of default described in the last bullet point above shall occur, the principal amount and premium, if any, of all the debt securities of that series, or if any debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities, such other amount as may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, in each case together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, will automatically become immediately due and payable. Any payment by us on the subordinated debt securities following any such acceleration will be subject to the subordination provisions described below under “Subordinated Debt Securities.”

 

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Notwithstanding the foregoing, each indenture may provide that we may, at our option, elect that the sole remedy for an event of default relating to our failure to comply with our obligations described under the section entitled “Reports” below or our failure to comply with the requirements of Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act will for the first 180 days after the occurrence of such an event of default consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the relevant series of debt securities at an annual rate equal to (i) 0.25% of the principal amount of such series of debt securities for the first 90 days after the occurrence of such event of default and (ii) 0.50% of the principal amount of such series of debt securities from the 91st day to, and including, the 180th day after the occurrence of such event of default, which we call “additional interest.” If we so elect, the additional interest will accrue on all outstanding debt securities from and including the date on which such event of default first occurs until such violation is cured or waived and shall be payable on each relevant interest payment date to holders of record on the regular record date immediately preceding the interest payment date. On the 181st day after such event of default (if such violation is not cured or waived prior to such 181st day), the debt securities will be subject to acceleration as provided above. In the event we do not elect to pay additional interest upon any such event of default in accordance with this paragraph, the debt securities will be subject to acceleration as provided above.

 

In order to elect to pay the additional interest as the sole remedy during the first 180 days after the occurrence of any event of default relating to the failure to comply with the reporting obligations in accordance with the preceding paragraph, we must notify all holders of debt securities and the trustee and paying agent of such election prior to the close of business on the first business day following the date on which such event of default occurs. Upon our failure to timely give such notice or pay the additional interest, the debt securities will be immediately subject to acceleration as provided above.

 

After acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series may, under certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, or other specified amounts or interest, have been cured or waived.

 

Other than the duty to act with the required care during an event of default, the trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request of the holders unless the holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable indemnity. Generally, the holders of a majority in aggregate 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 trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee.

 

A holder of debt securities of any series will not have any right to institute any proceeding under the indentures, or for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy under the indentures, unless:

 

the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of that series; 
     
the holders of at least 25 percent in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request and have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee to institute the proceeding; and 
     
the trustee has failed to institute the proceeding and has not received direction inconsistent with the original request from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series within 60 days after the original request.

 

Holders may, however, sue to enforce the payment of principal, premium or interest on any debt security on or after the due date or to enforce the right, if any, to convert any debt security (if the debt security is convertible) without following the procedures listed above.

 

We will furnish the trustee an annual statement from our officers as to whether or not we are in default in the performance of the conditions and covenants under the indenture and, if so, specifying all known defaults.

 

Modification and Waiver

 

Unless we indicate otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the applicable trustee and we may make modifications and amendments to an indenture with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of each series affected by the modification or amendment.

 

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We may also make modifications and amendments to the indentures for the benefit of holders without their consent, for certain purposes including, but not limited to:

 

evidencing the succession of another person to us, or successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of our covenants in the indentures in compliance with Article 8 of the indentures; 
     
adding covenants or events of default; 
     
making certain changes to facilitate the issuance of the securities; 
     
adding to, changing or eliminating any of the provisions of the indentures or more series of securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the holder of any such security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such security outstanding; 
     
securing the debt securities; 
     
providing for a successor trustee or additional trustees; 
     
conforming the indenture to the description of the debt securities set forth in this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement; 
     
curing any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency; provided that such action shall not adversely affect the interest of the holders in any material respect;
     
permitting or facilitating the defeasance and discharge of the securities; 
     
making such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indentures or under any supplemental indentures as our board of directors may deem necessary or desirable, and which does not in each case adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities of a series; and 
     
complying with requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualifications of the indentures under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

 

However, neither the trustee nor we may make any modification or amendment without the consent of the holder of each outstanding security of that series affected by the modification or amendment if such modification or amendment would:

 

change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal or interest on, any debt security;
     
reduce the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any debt security or any amount payable upon redemption or repurchase, whether at our option or the option of any holder, or reduce the amount of any sinking fund payments; 
     
reduce the principal of an original issue discount security or any other debt security payable on acceleration of maturity; 
     
change the place of payment or the currency in which any debt security is payable; 
     
impair the right to enforce any payment after the stated maturity or redemption date; 
     
if subordinated debt securities, modify the subordination provisions in a materially adverse manner to the holders; 
     
adversely affect the right to convert any debt security if the debt security is a convertible debt security; or 
     
change the provisions in the indenture that relate to modifying or amending the indenture.

 

Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance

 

We may be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities, subject to limited exceptions, of any series that have matured or will mature or be redeemed within one year if we deposit enough money with the trustee to pay all the principal, interest and any premium due to the stated maturity date or redemption date of the debt securities.

 

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Each indenture contains a provision that permits us to elect either or both of the following:

 

We may elect to be discharged from all of our obligations, subject to limited exceptions, with respect to any series of debt securities then outstanding. If we make this election, the holders of the debt securities of the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture, except for the rights of holders to receive payments on debt securities or the registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities. 
     
We may elect to be released from our obligations under some or all of any financial or restrictive covenants applicable to the series of debt securities to which the election relates and from the consequences of an event of default resulting from a breach of those covenants.

 

To make either of the above elections, we must irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee enough money to pay in full the principal, interest and premium on the debt securities. This amount may be made in cash and/or U.S. government obligations or, in the case of debt securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, cash in the currency in which such series of securities is denominated and/or foreign government obligations. As a condition to either of the above elections, for debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars we must deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the action.

 

With respect to debt securities of any series that are denominated in a currency other than United States dollars, “foreign government obligations” means:

 

direct obligations of the government that issued or caused to be issued the currency in which such securities are denominated and for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged, or, with respect to debt securities of any series which are denominated in Euros, direct obligations of certain members of the European Union for the payment of which obligations the full faith and credit of such members is pledged, which in each case are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof; or
     
obligations of a person controlled or supervised by or acting as an agency or instrumentality of a government described in the bullet above the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by such government, which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof.

 

Reports

  

The indentures provide that any reports or documents that we file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act will be filed with the trustee within 15 days after the same are filed with the SEC, and that documents filed by us with the SEC via the EDGAR system will be deemed filed with the trustee as of the time such documents are filed with the SEC.

 

Notices

  

Notices to holders will be given by mail to the addresses of the holders in the security register.

 

Governing Law

 

The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed under, the laws of the State of New York.

 

No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees or Stockholders

 

No incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer, director or subsidiary of ours will have any liability for any obligations of ours, or because of the creation of any indebtedness under the debt securities, the indentures or supplemental indentures. The indentures provide that all such liability is expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of such indentures and the issuance of the debt securities.

 

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Regarding the Trustee

 

The indentures limit the right of the trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims or secure its claims.

 

The trustee will be permitted to engage in certain other transactions with us. However, if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest, and there is a default under the debt securities of any series for which it is trustee, the trustee must eliminate the conflict or resign.

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

 

The following provisions will be applicable with respect to each series of subordinated debt securities, unless otherwise stated in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of subordinated debt securities.

 

The indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities of any series is subordinated, to the extent provided in the subordinated indenture and the applicable prospectus supplement, to the prior payment in full, in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of senior debt, of all senior debt, including any senior debt securities.

 

Upon any distribution of our assets upon any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary, marshalling of assets, assignment for the benefit of creditors, or in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other similar proceedings, payments on the subordinated debt securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to holders of senior debt of all senior debt.

 

In the event of any acceleration of the subordinated debt securities of any series because of an event of default with respect to the subordinated debt securities of that series, holders of any senior debt would be entitled to payment in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to holders of senior debt of all senior debt before the holders of subordinated debt securities are entitled to receive any payment or distribution.

 

In addition, the subordinated debt securities will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries, including trade payables and lease obligations. This occurs because our right to receive any assets of our subsidiaries upon their liquidation or reorganization, and your right to participate in those assets, will be effectively subordinated to the claims of that subsidiary’s creditors, including trade creditors, except to the extent that we are recognized as a creditor of such subsidiary. If we are recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary, our claims would still be subordinate to any security interest in the assets of the subsidiary and any indebtedness of the subsidiary senior to us.

 

We are required to promptly notify holders of senior debt or their representatives under the subordinated indenture if payment of the subordinated debt securities is accelerated because of an event of default.

 

Under the subordinated indenture, we may also not make payment on the subordinated debt securities if:

 

a default in our obligations to pay principal, premium, if any, interest or other amounts on our senior debt occurs and the default continues beyond any applicable grace period, which we refer to as a payment default; or 
     
any other default occurs and is continuing with respect to designated senior debt that permits holders of designated senior debt to accelerate its maturity, which we refer to as a non-payment default, and the trustee receives a payment blockage notice from us or some other person permitted to give the notice under the subordinated indenture.

 

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We will resume payments on the subordinated debt securities:

 

in case of a payment default, when the default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, and 
     
in case of a nonpayment default, the earlier of when the default is cured or waived or ceases to exist or 179 days after the receipt of the payment blockage notice.

 

No new payment blockage period may commence on the basis of a nonpayment default unless 365 days have elapsed from the effectiveness of the immediately prior payment blockage notice. No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any payment blockage notice to the trustee shall be the basis for a subsequent payment blockage notice.

 

As a result of these subordination provisions, in the event of our bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization, holders of senior debt may receive more, ratably, and holders of the subordinated debt securities may receive less, ratably, than our other creditors. The subordination provisions will not prevent the occurrence of any event of default under the subordinated indenture.

 

The subordination provisions will not apply to payments from money or government obligations held in trust by the trustee for the payment of principal, interest and premium, if any, on subordinated debt securities pursuant to the provisions described under the section entitled “Satisfaction and Discharge; Defeasance,” if the subordination provisions were not violated at the time the money or government obligations were deposited into trust.

 

If the trustee or any holder receives any payment that should not have been made to them in contravention of subordination provisions before all senior debt is paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to holders of senior debt, then such payment will be held in trust for the holders of senior debt.

 

Senior debt securities will constitute senior debt under the subordinated indenture.

 

Additional or different subordination provisions may be described in a prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities.

 

Definitions

 

“Designated senior debt” means our obligations under any particular senior debt in which the instrument creating or evidencing the same or the assumption or guarantee thereof, or related agreements or documents to which we are a party, expressly provides that such indebtedness shall be designated senior debt for purposes of the subordinated indenture. The instrument, agreement or other document evidencing any designated senior debt may place limitations and conditions on the right of such senior debt to exercise the rights of designated senior debt.

 

“Indebtedness” means the following, whether absolute or contingent, secured or unsecured, due or to become due, outstanding on the date of the indenture for such series of securities or thereafter created, incurred or assumed:

 

our indebtedness evidenced by a credit or loan agreement, note, bond, debenture or other written obligation; 
     
all of our obligations for money borrowed; 
     
all of our obligations evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind, 
     
our obligations: 

 

as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles, or 
     
as lessee under leases for facilities, capital equipment or related assets, whether or not capitalized, entered into or leased for financing purposes; 

 

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all of our obligations under interest rate and currency swaps, caps, floors, collars, hedge agreements, forward contracts or similar agreements or arrangements; 
     
all of our obligations with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances and similar facilities, including reimbursement obligations with respect to the foregoing; 
     
all of our obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, but excluding trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business; 
     
all obligations of the type referred to in the above clauses of another person, the payment of which, in either case, we have assumed or guaranteed, for which we are responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, jointly or severally, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, or which are secured by a lien on our property; and 
     
renewals, extensions, modifications, replacements, restatements and refundings of, or any indebtedness or obligation issued in exchange for, any such indebtedness or obligation described in the above clauses of this definition.

 

“Senior debt” means the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, including all interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or similar proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-petition interest is allowable as a claim in any such proceeding, and rent payable on or in connection with, and all fees and other amounts payable in connection with, our indebtedness. However, senior debt shall not include:

 

any debt or obligation if its terms or the terms of the instrument under which or pursuant to which it is issued expressly provide that it shall not be senior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities or expressly provide that such indebtedness is on the same basis or “junior” to the subordinated debt securities; or 
debt to any of our subsidiaries, a majority of the voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by us.

 

“Subsidiary” means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by us or by one or more of our other subsidiaries or by a combination of us and our other subsidiaries. For purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock or other similar interests which ordinarily has or have voting power for the election of directors, or persons performing similar functions, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock or other interests has or have such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

General

 

We may issue warrants to purchase shares of our common stock and preferred stock in one or more series together with other securities or separately, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Below is a description of certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer. Particular terms of the warrants will be described in the warrant agreements to be entered into by us, a warrant agent to be named by us, and the holders from time to time of the warrants and the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. Copies of the form agreement for each warrant and the warrant certificate, if any, reflecting the provisions to be included in such agreements that will be entered into with respect to a particular offering of each type of warrant, will be filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You should read the applicable warrant agreement for additional information before you purchase any of our warrants.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we offer will describe the specific terms relating to the offering. These terms may include some or all of the following:

 

  the specific designation and aggregate number of, and the price at which we will issue, the warrants;
     
  the currency or currency units in which the offering price, if any, and the exercise price are payable;
     
  the designation, amount and terms of the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

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  if applicable, the exercise price for shares of our common stock and the number of shares of common stock to be received upon exercise of the warrants;
     
 

if applicable, the exercise price for shares of our preferred stock, the number of shares of preferred stock to be received upon exercise, and a description of that series of our preferred stock;

 

  if applicable, the exercise price for shares of our preferred stock, the number of shares of preferred stock to be received upon exercise, and a description of that series of our preferred stock;
     
  the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will begin and the date on which that right will expire or, if you may not continuously exercise the warrants throughout that period, the specific date or dates on which you may exercise the warrants;
     
  whether the warrants will be issued in fully registered form or bearer form, in definitive or global form or in any combination of these forms, although, in any case, the form of a warrant included in a unit will correspond to the form of the unit and of any security included in that unit;
     
  any applicable material U.S. federal income tax consequences;
     
  the identity of the warrant agent for the warrants and of any other depositaries, execution or paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents;
     
  the proposed listing, if any, of the warrants or any securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants on any securities exchange;
     
  if applicable, the date from and after which the warrants and the common stock and preferred stock will be separately transferable;
     
  if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
     
  the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants;
     
  information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
     
  the triggering event and the terms upon which the exercise price and the number of underlying securities that the warrants are exercisable into may be adjusted;

 

  the anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
     
  any redemption or call provisions;
     
  whether the warrants may be sold separately or with other securities as parts of units; and
     
  any additional terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

 

Until the warrants are exercised, holders of the warrants will not have any rights of holders of the underlying securities.

 

Outstanding Warrants

 

As of March 19, 2018, we have no outstanding warrants.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS

 

We may issue rights to our stockholders to purchase shares of our common stock or preferred stock described in this prospectus. We may offer rights separately or together with one or more additional rights, preferred stock, common stock, warrants or any combination of those securities in the form of units, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Each series of rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent. The rights agent for any rights we offer will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the rights of the series of certificates and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of rights certificates or beneficial owners of rights. The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the rights to which any prospectus supplement may relate and the extent, if any, to which the general provisions may apply to the rights so offered will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of the rights, rights agreement or rights certificates described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described below, then the terms described below will be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. We encourage you to read the applicable rights agreement and rights certificate for additional information before you decide whether to purchase any of our rights.

 

The prospectus supplement relating to any rights that we offer will include specific terms relating to the offering, including, among other matters:

 

  the date of determining the stockholders entitled to the rights distribution;
     
  the aggregate number of shares of common stock, preferred stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the rights;
     
  the exercise price;
     
  the aggregate number of rights issued;
     
  whether the rights are transferrable and the date, if any, on and after which the rights may be separately transferred;
     
  the date on which the right to exercise the rights will commence, and the date on which the right to exercise the rights will expire;
     
  the method by which holders of rights will be entitled to exercise;
     
  the conditions to the completion of the offering;
     
  the withdrawal, termination and cancellation rights;

 

  whether there are any backstop or standby purchaser or purchasers and the terms of their commitment;
     
  whether stockholders are entitled to oversubscription right;
     
  any U.S. federal income tax considerations; and
     
  any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the distribution, exchange and exercise of the rights.

 

If less than all of the rights issued in any rights offering are exercised, we may offer any unsubscribed securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby arrangements, as described in the applicable prospectus supplement. In connection with any rights offering, we may enter into a standby underwriting or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which such underwriters or other persons would purchase any offered securities remaining unsubscribed for after such rights offering.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent. We will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.

 

The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete unit agreements that contain the terms of the units. Specific unit agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus.

 

If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:

 

  the title of the series of units;
     
  identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units;
     
  the price or prices at which the units will be issued;
     
  the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable;
     
  a discussion of certain United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and
     
  any other terms of the units and their constituent securities.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades or a combination of these methods or through underwriters or dealers, through agents and/or directly to one or more purchasers. The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions:

 

  at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;
     
  at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;
     
  at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or
     
  at negotiated prices.

 

 

Each time that we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement or supplements that will describe the method of distribution and set forth the terms and conditions of the offering of such securities, including the offering price of the securities and the proceeds to us, if applicable.

 

Offers to purchase the securities being offered by this prospectus may be solicited directly. Agents may also be designated to solicit offers to purchase the securities from time to time. Any agent involved in the offer or sale of our securities will be identified in a prospectus supplement.

 

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, the securities will be sold to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

 

If an underwriter is utilized in the sale of the securities being offered by this prospectus, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter at the time of sale and the name of any underwriter will be provided in the prospectus supplement that the underwriter will use to make resales of the securities to the public. In connection with the sale of the securities, we or the purchasers of securities for whom the underwriter may act as agent, may compensate the underwriter in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions. The underwriter 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 which they may act as agent. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer.

 

Any compensation paid to underwriters, dealers or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts, concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers will be provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. We may enter into agreements to indemnify underwriters, dealers and agents against civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments they may be required to make in respect thereof and to reimburse those persons for certain expenses.

 

Any common stock will be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market, but any other securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange. To facilitate the offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than were sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by making purchases in the open market or by exercising their over-allotment option, if any. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.

 

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We may engage in at the market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act.

 

In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.

 

We do not make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above might have on the price of the securities. In addition, we do not make any representation that underwriters will engage in such transactions or that such transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

 

The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

To comply with applicable state securities laws, the securities offered by this prospectus will be sold, if necessary, in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers. In addition, securities may not be sold in some states unless they have been registered or qualified for sale in the applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification requirement is available and is complied with.

 

The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.

 

VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES 

 

Unless otherwise stated in any prospectus supplement, the validity of the securities offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for the Company by Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP. Any underwriters or placement agents will be represented by their own counsel.


EXPERTS 

 

The consolidated financial statements and schedule of Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 have been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the reports of Centurion ZD CPA Ltd. (fka DCAW (CPA) Ltd. as successor to Dominic K.F. Chan & Co.), independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS 

 

Item 14.    Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution 

 

               The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses (other than the actual registration fee), other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by the registrant in connection with the sale of the securities being registered.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee   $ 37,350  
Nasdaq Global Market listing fee     (1)
Accounting fees and expenses     (1)
Legal fees and expenses     (1)
Printing and engraving     (1)
Fees and expenses of the transfer agent or trustee     (1)
Miscellaneous     (1)
    ​​​​  
Total   $ (1)

 

(1) These fees are calculated based on the securities offered and the number of issuances, and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.

 

Item 15.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers 

 

Subsection 7 of Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (the “Nevada Law”) provides that, subject to certain very limited statutory exceptions, a director or officer is not individually liable to the corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his or her capacity as a director or officer, unless it is proven that the act or failure to act constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties as a director or officer and such breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of law. The statutory standard of liability established by Section 78.138 controls even if there is a provision in the corporation’s articles of incorporation unless a provision in the Company’s Articles of Incorporation provides for greater individual liability.

 

Subsection 1 of Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (any such person, a “Covered Person”), against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the Covered Person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the Covered Person is not liable pursuant to Section 78.138 of the Nevada Law or the Covered Person acted in good faith and in a manner the Covered Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, with respect to any criminal action or proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe the Covered Person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

Subsection 2 of Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law empowers a corporation to indemnify any Covered Person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in the capacity of a Covered Person against expenses, including amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees actually and reasonably incurred by the Covered Person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit, if the Covered Person is not liable pursuant to Section 78.138 of the Nevada Law or the Covered Person acted in good faith and in a manner the Covered Person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation. However, no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the Covered Person shall have been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after exhaustion of all appeals) to be liable to the corporation or for amounts paid in settlement to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought or other court of competent jurisdiction determines upon application that in view of all the circumstances the Covered Person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses as the court deems proper.

 

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Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law further provides that to the extent a Covered Person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Subsection 1 or 2, as described above, or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the corporation shall indemnify the Covered Person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the Covered Person in connection with the defense.

 

Subsection 1 of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Law provides that any discretionary indemnification pursuant to Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law, unless ordered by a court or advanced pursuant to Subsection 2 of Section 78.751, may be made by a corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the Covered Person is proper in the circumstances. Such determination must be made (a) by the stockholders, (b) by the board of directors of the corporation by majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to the action, suit or proceeding, (c) if a majority vote of a quorum of such non-party directors so orders, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (d) by independent legal counsel in a written opinion if a quorum of such non-party directors cannot be obtained.

 

Subsection 2 of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Law provides that a corporation’s articles of incorporation or bylaws or an agreement made by the corporation may require the corporation to pay as incurred and in advance of the final disposition of a criminal or civil action, suit or proceeding, the expenses of officers and directors in defending such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. Subsection 2 of Section 78.751 further provides that its provisions do not affect any rights to advancement of expenses to which corporate personnel other than officers and directors may be entitled under contract or otherwise by law.

 

Subsection 3 of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Law provides that indemnification pursuant to Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Law and advancement of expenses authorized in or ordered by a court pursuant to Section 78.751 does not exclude any other rights to which the Covered Person may be entitled under the articles of incorporation or any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, for either an action in his or her official capacity or in another capacity while holding his or her office. However, indemnification, unless ordered by a court pursuant to Section 78.7502 or for the advancement of expenses under Subsection 2 of Section 78.751 of the Nevada Law, may not be made to or on behalf of any director or officer of the corporation if a final adjudication establishes that his or her acts or omissions involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law and were material to the cause of action. Additionally, the scope of such indemnification and advancement of expenses shall continue for a Covered Person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators.

 

Section 78.752 of the Nevada Law empowers a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of a Covered Person for any liability asserted against such person and liabilities and expenses incurred by such person in his or her capacity as a Covered Person or arising out of such person’s status as a Covered Person whether or not the corporation has the authority to indemnify such person against such liability and expenses.

 

The Bylaws of the Company provide for indemnification of Covered Persons substantially identical in scope to that permitted under the Nevada Law. Such Bylaws provide that the expenses of directors and officers of the Company incurred in defending any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, must be paid by the Company as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that the director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company.

 

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Item 16.    Exhibits 

 

A list of exhibits filed herewith is contained in the exhibit index that immediately precedes such exhibits and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

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 of 1933; 
     
  (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and 

 

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

 

Provided, however , that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement. 

 

  (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, 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 of 1933 to any purchaser: 

 

  (i)  If the registrant is relying on Rule 430B, 


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

 

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  (B) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial  bona fide  offering hereof.  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 the effective date; or

 

  (ii)        If the registrant is subject to Rule 430C, each prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) as part of a registration statement relating to an offering, other than registration statements relying on Rule 430B or other than prospectuses filed in reliance on Rule 430A, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the date it is first used after effectiveness.  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 first use, 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 date of first use. 

 

  (5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer and sell such securities to such purchaser: 



  (i) Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; 
     
  (ii) Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; 
     
  (iii) The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and 
     
  (iv) Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser. 

 

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  (b)   The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial  bona fide  offering thereof.
     
  (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding), is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

  (d) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that: 

 

  (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective. 
     
  (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. 

 

  (e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.

  

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Xiangyao Liu, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to file and sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments and any registration statement for the same offering that is to be effective under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act, to this registration statement, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, 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 he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

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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 New York, New York State, on March 20, 2018.

 

  YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED
     
  By: /s/ Xiangyao Liu
    Xiangyao Liu
   

President and Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

     
  Date: March 20, 2018  
     
  By: /s/ Tsz-Kit Chan
    Tsz-Kit Chan
   

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

     
  Date:  March 20, 2018

  

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

 

Name   Title   Date
         
/s/ Xiangyao Liu   President, Chief Executive Officer and Director   March 20, 2018
Xiangyao Liu   (Principal Executive Officer)    
   

   
    Chief Financial Officer    
/s/ Tsz-Kit Chan   (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)   March 20, 2018
Tsz-Kit Chan        
         
/s/ James Stuart Coleman   Director   March 20, 2018
James Stuart Coleman        
         
/s/ Zhanhuai Cheng   Director   March 20, 2018
Zhanhuai Cheng        
         
/s/ Yanliang Wu   Director   March 20, 2018
Yanliang Wu        
         
/s/ Yu Zong   Director   March 20, 2018
Yu Zong        
         
/s/ Harvey Leibowitz   Independent Director   March 20, 2018
Harvey Leibowitz        
         
/s/ Zhixue Liu   Independent Director   March 20, 2018
Zhixue Liu        
         
/s/Tongmin Wang   Independent Director   March 20, 2018
Tongmin Wang        
         
/s/ Adam Goldberg   Independent Director   March 20, 2018
Adam Goldberg        
         
/s/ Daniel W. Heffernan   Independent Director   March 20, 2018
Daniel W. Heffernan        
         
/s/ Zhihong Su   Independent Director   March 20, 2018
Zhihong Su        

  

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Item 16. Exhibits.

 

Except as otherwise indicated below, the following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference herein:

  

        Incorporated by Reference    
Exhibit No.   Exhibit Description   Form   SEC File No.   Exhibit     Filing Date   Filed
Herewith
1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement*                        
3.1   (a) Articles of Incorporation   S-1   333-166343     3.1     April 28, 2010    
    (b) Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation   S-1   333-166343     3.2     April 28, 2010    
    (c) Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation   8-K   333-166343     3.1     March 16, 2011    
    (d) Certificate of Correction to Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation
  8-K   333-166343     3.2     March 16, 2011    
    (e) Certificate of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation   8-K   333-166343     3.1     January 20, 2016    
3.2   Bylaws   S-1   333-166343     3.2     April 28, 2010    
4.1   Form of specimen common stock certificate                       X
4.2   Form of Senior Debt Security.*                        
4.3   Form of Subordinated Debt Security.*                        
4.4   Form of Certificate of Designation.*                        
4.5   Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.*                        
4.6   Form of Warrant Agreement.*                        
4.7   Form of Warrant Certificate.*                        
4.8   Form of Rights Agreement.*                        
4.9   Form of Unit Agreement.*                        
4.10   Form of Senior Indenture                       X
4.11   Form of Subordinate Indenture                       X
5.1   Opinion of Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP                       X
23.1   Consent of Centurion ZD CPA Ltd. (fka DCAW (CPA) Ltd. as successor to Dominic K.F. Chan & Co.)                       X
23.2   Consent of Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP I(included in Exhibit 5.1)                       X
24.1   Powers of Attorney (included in signature page)                       X
25.1   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Senior Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.**                        
25.2   Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Subordinated Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.**                        

 

* To be filed by amendment, as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K or by other applicable filing with the SEC to be incorporated by reference herein. 

 

** To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

 

 

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Exhibit 4.1

 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

Exhibit 4.10

 

YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED

 

TO

 

AS TRUSTEE

 

INDENTURE

 

DATED AS OF                       , 20

 

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page  
     
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 1
     
Section 1.1 Definitions 1
Section 1.2 Compliance Certificates and Opinions 7
Section 1.3 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee 7
Section 1.4 Acts of Holders; Record Dates 8
Section 1.5 Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company 9
Section 1.6 Notice to Holders; Waiver 9
Section 1.7 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act 9
Section 1.8 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents 9
Section 1.9 Successors and Assigns 9
Section 1.10 Severability Clause 9
Section 1.11 Benefits of Indenture 10
Section 1.12 Governing Law 10
Section 1.13 Legal Holidays 10
Section 1.14 Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations 10
Section 1.15 Indenture May be Executed in Counterparts 10
     
ARTICLE 2 SECURITY FORMS 10
     
Section 2.1 Forms Generally 10
Section 2.2 Form of Legend for Global Securities 11
Section 2.3 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 11
     
ARTICLE 3 THE SECURITIES 11
     
Section 3.1 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series 11
Section 3.2 Denominations 14
Section 3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating 14
Section 3.4 Temporary Securities 15
Section 3.5 Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange; Global Securities 15
Section 3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 17
Section 3.7 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved 17
Section 3.8 Persons Deemed Owners 18
Section 3.9 Cancellation 18
Section 3.10 Computation of Interest 18
     
ARTICLE 4 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 18
     
Section 4.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 18
Section 4.2 Application of Trust Money 18
     
ARTICLE 5 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 19
     
Section 5.1 Events of Default 19
Section 5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 19
Section 5.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 21

 

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(continued)

 

    Page
     
Section 5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 21
Section 5.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 21
Section 5.6 Application of Money Collected 22
Section 5.7 Limitation on Suits 22
Section 5.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert 22
Section 5.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies 23
Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative 23
Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver 23
Section 5.12 Control by Holders 23
Section 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults 23
Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs 24
Section 5.15 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws 24
     
ARTICLE 6 THE TRUSTEE 24
     
Section 6.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities 24
Section 6.2 Notice of Defaults 24
Section 6.3 Certain Rights of Trustee 25
Section 6.4 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities 25
Section 6.5 May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee under Other Indentures 26
Section 6.6 Money Held in Trust 26
Section 6.7 Compensation and Reimbursement 26
Section 6.8 Conflicting Interests 26
Section 6.9 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility 27
Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor 27
Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor 28
Section 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 29
Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company 29
Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent 29
     
ARTICLE 7 HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY 30
     
Section 7.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders 30
Section 7.2 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders 30
Section 7.3 Reports by Trustee 31
Section 7.4 Reports by Company 31
     
ARTICLE 8 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE 31
     
Section 8.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms 31
Section 8.2 Successor Substituted 32
     
ARTICLE 9 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 32
     
Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 32
Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders 33
Section 9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures 34

 

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(continued)

 

    Page
     
Section 9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures 34
Section 9.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act 34
Section 9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures 34
     
ARTICLE 10 COVENANTS 35
     
Section 10.1 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest 35
Section 10.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency 35
Section 10.3 Money for Securities Payments To Be Held in Trust; Paying Agents 35
Section 10.4 Statement by Officers as to Default 36
Section 10.5 Existence 36
Section 10.6 Waiver of Certain Covenants 36
     
ARTICLE 11 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 36
     
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article 36
Section 11.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee 36
Section 11.3 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed 37
Section 11.4 Notice of Redemption 37
Section 11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price 38
Section 11.6 Securities Payable on Redemption Date 38
Section 11.7 Securities Redeemed in Part 39
     
ARTICLE 12 SINKING FUNDS 39
     
Section 12.1 Applicability of Article 39
Section 12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 39
Section 12.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 39
     
ARTICLE 13 DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 40
     
Section 13.1 Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 40
Section 13.2 Defeasance and Discharge 40
Section 13.3 Covenant Defeasance 40
Section 13.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 41
Section 13.5 Deposited Money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions 42
Section 13.6 Reinstatement 42
     
ARTICLE 14 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES 42
     
Section 14.1 Conversion 42

 

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YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED

 

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:

 

Section 310(a)(1)   6.9
                   (a)(2)   6.9
                   (a)(3)   Not Applicable
                   (a)(4)   Not Applicable
                   (b)   6.8, 6.10
Section 311(a)   6.13
                   (b)   6.13
Section 312(a)   7.1, 7.2
                   (b)   7.2
                    (c)   7.2
Section 313(a)   7.3
                   (b)   7.3
                   (c)   7.3
                   (d)   7.3
Section 314(a)   7.4
                   (a)(4)   10.1, 10.4
                   (b)   Not Applicable
                   (c)(1)   1.2
                   (c)(2)   1.2
                   (c)(3)   Not Applicable
                   (d)   Not Applicable
                   (e)   1.2
Section 315(a)   6.1
                   (b)   6.2
                   (c)   6.1
                   (d)   6.1
                   (e)   5.14
Section 316(a)   1.1
                   (a)(1)(A)   5.2, 5.12
                   (a)(1)(B)   5.13
                   (a)(2)   Not Applicable
                   (b)   5.8
                   (c)   1.4
Section 317(a)(1)   5.3
                   (a)(2)   5.4
                   (b)   10.3
Section 318(a)   1.7

 

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

 

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INDENTURE, dated as of                         , 20    , between YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada (herein called the “Company”), having its office at 41 John Street, Suite 2A, New York, NY 10038, and                     , as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

 

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

 

The Indenture is subject to, and will be governed by, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be a part of and govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the benefit of the Company and the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof appertaining, as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.1            Definitions .

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(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 which 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 in the United States of America, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles in the United States of America as are generally accepted at the date of such computation;

 

(4)           all references to “$” refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America;

 

(5)           unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture; and

 

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

 

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

 

“Additional Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b).

 

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“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.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

 

“Board Resolution” means, with respect to the Company, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order or governmental decree to be closed.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

“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 and which is not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, however, subject to the provisions of Article 14 and any indenture supplemental hereto, shares issuable upon conversion of Securities shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of the Company at the date of this Indenture or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and which have 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 and which are not subject to redemption by the Company.

 

“Company” means the corporation named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument 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” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any of its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any Vice President or any executive officer, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer, its Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

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

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at                                                       , Attention:  Corporate Trust Department, or such other office, designated by the Trustee by written notice to the Company, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.

 

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

 

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

 

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

 

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“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

“euro” or “euros” means the currency adopted by those nations participating in the third stage of the economic and monetary union provisions of the Treaty on European Union, signed at Maastricht on February 7, 1992.

 

“European Economic Area” means the member nations of the European Economic Area pursuant to the Oporto Agreement on the European Economic Area dated May 2, 1992, as amended.

 

“European Union” means the member nations of the European Union established by the Treaty of European Union, signed at Maastricht on February 7, 1992, which amended the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Community.

 

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

 

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

 

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

 

“Foreign Government Obligation” means with respect to Securities of any series which are not denominated in the currency of the United States of America (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the government which issued or caused to be issued the currency in which such security is denominated and for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or, with respect to Securities of any series which are denominated in euros, a direct obligation of any member nation of the European Union for the payment of which obligation the full faith and credit of the respective nation is pledged so long as such nation has a credit rating at least equal to that of the highest rated member nation of the European Economic Area, or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of a government specified in clause (i) above the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the such government, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any Foreign Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any Foreign Government Obligation which is so specified and held, 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 Foreign Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary pursuant to a safekeeping agreement with the Depositary, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in global form without interest coupons in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively.  The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1; provided , however , that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.1, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such

 

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Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee, but to which such person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided , further that in the event that this Indenture is supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain series of Securities, the term “Indenture” for a particular series of Securities shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

 

“interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security, which by its terms bears interest only at Maturity, means interest payable at Maturity.

 

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

 

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, repurchase at the option of the Holder, upon redemption or otherwise.

 

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.1(4).

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any of its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any Vice President, its Chief Financial Officer, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.  The officer signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 10.4 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for, or an employee of, the Company.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.

 

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

 

(1)           Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

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

 

(3)           Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 13.2; and

 

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(4)           Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.2, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 3.1, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more non-U.S. dollar currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.1, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt 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 mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

“Prospectus” means the prospectus (including any prospectus supplement) used with respect to the offer and sale of the Securities of any series.

 

“Record Date” means any Regular Record Date or Special Record Date.

 

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

“Reporting Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b).

 

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“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer of the Trustee in the Corporate Trust Office assigned and duly authorized by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

 

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

  

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

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

 

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

 

“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” means a Person of which at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such Person (in the case of a corporation) is, or of which at least a majority of the equity interests (in the case of a Person which is not a corporation) are, at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries.  For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock or similar interests which ordinarily has or have voting power for the election of directors or persons performing similar functions, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock or other interests has or have such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in effect on the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided , however , that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

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

 

“U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, 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 U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

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

 

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Section 1.2            Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act.  Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

(1)           a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition 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 covenant or condition 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 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 a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based are erroneous.  Any such certificate or 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, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

Any such certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion are based 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, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

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Section 1.4            Acts of Holders; Record Dates .

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company copies of any such instrument or instruments delivered to the Trustee.  Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof.  Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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

 

The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, vote, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.

 

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the Company may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the Trustee in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date.  If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the Company shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

 

Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

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Section 1.5            Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company .

 

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

 

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

  

(2)           the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or if personally delivered or if sent via overnight courier to the Company, in each case addressed to it 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, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

 

Section 1.6            Notice to Holders; Waiver .

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed by first-class postage prepaid, or delivered by hand or overnight courier to each Holder affected by such event, at its address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.  Neither the failure to mail or deliver by hand or overnight courier any notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed or delivered by hand or overnight courier, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.  Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.  Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

Section 1.7            Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture with respect to one or more series of Securities, the relevant provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control.  If any provision of this Indenture modifies any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified with respect to one or more series of Securities, the relevant provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified.   If any provision of this Indenture excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so excluded with respect to one or more series of Securities, the relevant provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be excluded to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 1.8            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 1.9            Successors and Assigns .

 

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

 

Section 1.10         Severability Clause .

 

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

 

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Section 1.11         Benefits of Indenture .

 

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

 

Section 1.12         Governing Law .

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 1.13         Legal Holidays .

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert a Security at a particular conversion price or conversion rate, as the case may be, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or, if applicable to a particular series of Securities, conversion need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, at the Stated Maturity or on such last day for conversion, as the case may be.

 

Section 1.14         Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations .

 

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer, or director or subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, 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 all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

 

Section 1.15         Indenture May be Executed in Counterparts .

 

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

ARTICLE 2

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 2.1            Forms Generally

 

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and as set forth in such Board Resolution (including such terms as set forth in any form of Securities for each series approved by such Board Resolution) or, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment (including any exhibit attached thereto), or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends, notations or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with any law, rules or regulations, or with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or to conform to general usage, all as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.  Any such Board Resolution or record of such action shall have attached thereto a true and correct copy of the form of Security referred to therein approved by or pursuant to such Board Resolution.

 

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The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed typewritten or otherwise reproduced in any other manner, all as determined by the officer executing such Securities, as evidenced by such officer’s execution of such Securities.

 

Section 2.2            Form of Legend for Global Securities .

 

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

Section 2.3            Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

 

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

                                                                ,
  as Trustee
   
  By:  
                     Authorized Officer

 

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.  There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and as set forth in such Board Resolution (including such terms as set forth in any form of Securities for each series approved by such Board Resolution) or, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment (including any exhibit attached thereto), or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

(1)           the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

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(2)           any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3)           the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

 

(4)           the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable;

 

(5)           the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which any Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date (or the method for determining the dates and rates);

 

(6)           the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable;

 

(7)           the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(8)           the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or any redemption or purchase at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(9)           if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(10)         if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(11)         if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.1;

 

(12)         if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

(13)         the percentage of the principal amount at which the Securities will be issued, and, if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2;

 

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(14)         if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

(15)         if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 or both such Sections, or any other defeasance provisions applicable to any Securities of the series, and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(16)         if applicable, the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of the series;

 

(17)         if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.2 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

 

(18)         any deletion of or addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 5.2;

 

(19)         any deletion of or addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article 10 which applies to Securities of the series;

 

(20)         any Authenticating Agents, Paying Agents, Security Registrars or such other agents necessary in connection with the issuance of the Securities of such series, including, without limitation, exchange rate agents and calculation agents;

 

(21)         if applicable, the terms of any security that will be provided for a series of Securities, including any provisions regarding the circumstances under which collateral may be released or substituted;

(22)         any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs;

 

(23)         any provisions with respect to any special interest premium or other premium;

 

(24)         any special tax provisions that apply to any series of Securities;

 

(25)         with respect to any series of Securities that do not bear interest, the date for any required reports to the Trustee;

 

(26)         any and all additional, eliminated or changed terms that will apply to such series of Securities; and

 

(27)         any other terms of the series of Securities (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.1(5)).

 

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All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate (including any exhibit attached thereto) referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

Section 3.2            Denominations .

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1.  In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 3.3            Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer, its President or one of its executive officers, and attested by its Treasurer, its Secretary or one of its Assistant Treasurers or Assistant Secretaries.  The signature of any of these officers 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 of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.  If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, a certified copy of such Board Resolution, an Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto setting forth the terms of the series and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may contain customary qualifications and exceptions), with such Opinion of Counsel stating:

 

(1)           if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this indenture;

 

(2)           if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(3)           that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer or conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of this Section 3.3, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 3.3 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.

 

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Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and 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.

 

In issuing the Securities, the Company may use “CUSIP” numbers, and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any defect in any CUSIP number that appears on any Security, check, advice of payment or redemption notice, and any such document may contain a statement to the effect that CUSIP numbers have been assigned by an independent service for convenience of reference and that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be liable for any inaccuracy in any such numbers.

 

Section 3.4            Temporary Securities .

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities 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 and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay.  After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder.  Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.  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 and tenor.

 

Section 3.5            Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange; Global Securities .

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities.  The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

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

 

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

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, 9.6 or 11.7 not involving any transfer.

 

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 11.3 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

The provisions of clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

(1)           Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

(2)           Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

(3)           Subject to clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

 

(4)           Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 3.4, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.7 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

 

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Section 3.6            Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

Section 3.7            Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest 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 Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money 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 prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

 

 

(2)           The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, 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.

 

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Section 3.8            Persons Deemed Owners .

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Section 3.9            Cancellation .

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it.  The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee.  No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.  All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

Section 3.10         Computation of Interest .

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

  

ARTICLE 4

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 4.1            Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(1)           either

 

(A)           all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Trustee or the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B)           all such Securities 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)          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 the purpose money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2)           the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(3)           the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and the last paragraph of Section 10.3 shall survive.

 

Section 4.2            Application of Trust Money .

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE 5

 

DEFAULTS AND 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 in the Board Resolution (or an Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment pursuant to such Board Resolution) or supplemental indenture establishing such series, it is provided that such series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

 

(1)           default in the payment of the principal or the Redemption Price of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(2)           default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(3)           default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

 

(4)           default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(5)           the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(6)           the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

  

(7)           any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series in the Board Resolution (or in an Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment pursuant to such Board Resolution) or supplemental indenture establishing that series.

 

Section 5.2            Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

 

(a)           Unless the Board Resolution (or Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment pursuant to such Board Resolution) or supplemental indenture establishing such series provides otherwise, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) or 5.1(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof), and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount), and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) or 5.1(6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof), and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.

 

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(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the election of the Company, the sole remedy with respect to an Event of Default for the failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act relating to the Company’s failure to file any documents or reports that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or of its covenants set forth in Section 7.4 (any such Event of Default, a “Reporting Default”), shall for the first 180 calendar days after the occurrence of such Reporting Default consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest (the “Additional Interest”) on the Securities at an annual rate equal to (i) 0.25% of the principal amount of the Securities for the first 90 calendar days after the occurrence of such Reporting Default and (ii) 0.50% of the principal amount of the Securities from the 91st day to, and including, the 180th day after the occurrence of such Reporting Default.  If the Company so elects, the Additional Interest shall accrue on all Outstanding Securities from and including the date on which such Reporting Default first occurs until such violation is cured or waived and shall be payable as provided in Section 3.7.  On the 181st day after such Reporting Default (if such violation is not cured or waived prior to such 181st calendar day), then the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding securities may declare the principal of, and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all such Securities to be due and payable immediately.

 

If the Company elects to pay the Additional Interest as the sole remedy for the Reporting Default, the Company shall notify in writing, by a certificate, the Holders, the Paying Agent and the Trustee of such election at any time on or before the close of business on the first Business Day following the date on which such Event of Default first occurs.  Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that Additional Interest is not payable.  The Company shall pay the Additional Interest semi-annually in arrears, with the first semi-annual payment due on the first Interest Payment Date following the date of such Reporting Default, in the same manner as described on the face of the Security.

 

(c)           At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to 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 hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

(1)           the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(A)          all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

 

(B)           the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(C)           to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, 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 that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

 

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No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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 the principal or the Redemption Price of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

 

(2)           default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 5.4            Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

 

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company, its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding.  In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7.

  

No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided , however , that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

Section 5.5            Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

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Section 5.6            Application of Money Collected .

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7;

 

SECOND:  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium, if any, and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD:  The balance, if any, to the Company or any other Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

Section 5.7            Limitation on Suits .

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or 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 that series;

 

(2)           the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(3)           such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity 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 that series;

 

it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of

such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

Section 5.8            Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert .

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.7) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date), to convert such Securities in accordance with Article 14 to the extent that such right to convert is applicable to such Security, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

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Section 5.9            Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 5.10         Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 5.11         Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.  Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (subject to the limitations contained in this Indenture) or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

Section 5.12         Control by Holders .

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that:

 

(1)           such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and the Trustee shall not have determined that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders of Securities of that series, or any other series, not taking part in such direction; and

 

(2)           the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction or this Indenture.

  

Section 5.13         Waiver of Past Defaults .

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except:

 

(1)           a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms thereof, otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest, principal and premium, if any, has been deposited with the Trustee), or

 

(2)           to the extent such right is applicable to such Security, a failure by the Company on request to convert any Security into Common Stock; or

 

(3)           in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article 9 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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Section 5.14         Undertaking for Costs .

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company.

 

The Section does not apply to a suit by a Holder to enforce payment of principal of or interest on any Security on the respective due dates, a suit by a Holder to enforce the right to convert in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance with Article 14 to the extent such right to convert is applicable to such Security, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities.

 

Section 5.15         Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws .

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it 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.

   

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 and as set forth herein.  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 if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.  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.

 

Section 6.2            Notice of Defaults .

 

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided , however , that except in the case of a default in the payment of principal or Redemption Price of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment or any conversion right applicable to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of Securities of such series; provided , further , however , 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 60 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.

 

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Except with respect to Section 10.1, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company with respect to the covenants contained in Article 10.  In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of an Event of Default except (i) any Default or Event of Default occurring pursuant to Sections 5.1(1), 5.1(2) and 5.1(3) (defaults in payments on the Securities) or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer the Trustee shall have received written notification or obtained actual knowledge.

 

Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 7.4 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

Section 6.3            Certain Rights of Trustee .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

 

(1)           in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(2)           any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall 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 be herein specifically prescribed) is entitled to and may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(4)           the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written 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 this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(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, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney; and

 

(7)           the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

 

Section 6.4            Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness.  The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity, 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 Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

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Section 6.5            May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee under Other Indentures .

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

Subject to the limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, nothing in this Indenture shall prohibit the Trustee from becoming and acting as trustee under other indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest of participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding in the same manner as if it were not Trustee hereunder.

 

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 with the Company.

 

Section 6.7            Compensation and Reimbursement .

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1)           to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it 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 (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and

 

(3)           to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

  

When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) or Section 5.1(6) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar law.

 

Section 6.8            Conflicting Interests .

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act and there is an Event of Default under the Securities of that series, 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 the Trust Indenture 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.

 

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Section 6.9            Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

 

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series.  Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has (or if the Trustee is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.  If any such Person or bank holding company publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person or bank holding company shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 6.10         Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

 

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

 

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 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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 to the Company.

 

If at any time:

 

(1)           the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2)           the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

(3)           the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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 a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, the retiring Trustee may petition, or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may petition, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.6.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 6.11         Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, 

trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

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Section 6.12         Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .

 

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of the trust created by this Indenture), shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.  In the event that any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities in either its own name or that of such predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

 

Section 6.13         Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company.

 

Section 6.14         Appointment of Authenticating Agent .

 

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof 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 shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having (or if the Authenticating Agent is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.  Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 1.6 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve.  Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.  No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

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The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.7.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 6.14, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in 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

 

ARTICLE 7

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

Section 7.1            Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders .

 

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(1)           semi-annually, not later than 15 days after the Regular Record Date for each respective series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of such Regular Record Date, as the case may be, or if there is no Regular Record Date for such series of Securities, semi-annually, 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 that no such list need be furnished by the Company to the Trustee so long as the Trustee is acting as Security Registrar.

 

Section 7.2            Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

 

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.  The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 7.3            Reports by Trustee .

 

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

 

Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than July 15 in each calendar year, commencing with the first July 15 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture.

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company.  The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 7.4            Reports by Company .

 

Any information, documents or other reports that the Company shall file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission; provided that any such information, documents or reports filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (or EDGAR) system or any successor thereto shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee as of the time such information, documents or reports are filed or furnished via EDGAR or any successor thereto.  Delivery of such information, documents or other reports 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).

 

ARTICLE 8

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

Section 8.1            Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms .

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company) (in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation) or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company), unless:

 

(1)           in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person (in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation) or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other business entity, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and the conversion rights shall be provided for in accordance with Article 14, if applicable, or as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee, by the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company shall have been merged or by the Person which shall have acquired the Company’s assets;

 

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(2)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3)           the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Section 8.2            Successor Substituted .

 

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of 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, the Company, when authorized by 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, or successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities in compliance with Article 8; or

 

(2)           to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

(3)           to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

 

(4)           to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

 

(5)           to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

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(6)           to secure the Securities, including provisions regarding the circumstances under which collateral may be released or substituted; or

 

(7)          to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1; or

 

(8)           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 6.11; or

 

(9)         to conform this Indenture to the description of the Securities set forth in the Prospectus for such series of Securities; or

 

(10)         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 such action pursuant to this clause (11) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

  

(11)         to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Articles 4 and 13, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

 

(12)         to make such other provisions in regards to matters or questions arising under the Indenture or any supplemental Indenture hereto as the Board of Directors may deem necessary or desirable, and which does not in each case adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities or any series; or

 

(13)         to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 9.2            Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders .

 

With the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by 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; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1)           change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase thereof, whether at the option of the Company or at the option of the Holder, or reduce the amount of any sinking fund payments, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change the Place of Payment or the currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or

 

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(2)           in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible into Common Stock or other securities of the Company pursuant to Article 14 and any supplemental Indenture hereto, adversely affect the rights of the Holders to convert any of the Securities of such series other than as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any supplemental indenture, or

 

(3)           reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is 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

 

(4)           modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 5.13, 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; provided , however , that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11 and 9.1(9).

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 9.3            Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.3) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.  The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.4            Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

Section 9.5            Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .

 

The Indenture shall incorporate and be governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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 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.

 

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ARTICLE 10

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 10.1         Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

Section 10.2         Maintenance of Office or Agency .

 

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for conversion to the extent that such right to convert is applicable to such Security and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.  The Company 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.  Unless otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant

to Section 3.1 hereof, the Place of Payment for any series of Securities shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities 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 will 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.

 

Section 10.3         Money for Securities Payments to be Held in Trust; Paying Agents .

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will 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, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which 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 money.

 

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Any amounts deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for a period ending on the earlier of the date that is ten Business Days prior to the date such money would escheat to any state or two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in each Place of Payment, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

Section 10.4         Statement by Officers as to Default .

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate which shall comply with the provisions of Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which the signer thereof may have knowledge. The fiscal year of the Company currently ends on December 31; and the Company will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any change of its fiscal year.

 

Section 10.5         Existence .

 

Subject to Article 8, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence.

 

Section 10.6         Waiver of Certain Covenants .

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 3.1(19) or 9.1(2) for the benefit of the Holders of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive 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, 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.

 

ARTICLE 11

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 11.1         Applicability of Article .

 

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 11.2         Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.  In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee or is specified in the Board Resolution (or in an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to such Board Resolution detailing such establishment) or supplemental indenture establishing such series), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

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Section 11.3         Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed .

 

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by lot, or in the Trustee’s discretion, on a pro-rata basis, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

 

If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion 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 during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

The provisions of the three preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part.  In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

 

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 amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 11.4         Notice of Redemption .

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not fewer 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 each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at its address appearing in the Security Register or, if the Securities are held in book-entry form, sent by electronic transmission.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)           the Redemption Date,

 

(2)           the Redemption Price (including accrued interest, if any),

 

(3)           if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

 

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(4)           in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, 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 will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(6)           the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

 

(7)           if applicable, the conversion price or the conversion rate, as the case may be, the date on which the right to convert the principal of the Securities or the portions thereof to be redeemed will terminate, and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion,

 

(8)           that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case, and

  

(9)           the CUSIP number or numbers and/or common code(s) of the Security being redeemed.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.

 

Section 11.5         Deposit of Redemption Price .

 

On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

To the extent such Security of a series is convertible pursuant to Article 14, upon conversion of any such Security called for redemption, any money deposited with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to the right of any Holder of such Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.7) be paid to the Company on Company Request, or if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

 

Section 11.6         Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall 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 accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided , however , that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

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Section 11.7         Securities Redeemed in Part .

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE 12

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 12.1         Applicability of Article .

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.

 

The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities 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 such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.”  If provided for by the terms of any Securities, 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 as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

 

Section 12.2         Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

 

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

Section 12.3         Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .

 

Not fewer than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, 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 Securities pursuant to Section 12.2 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not fewer than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.4.  Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.6 and 11.7.

 

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ARTICLE 13

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 13.1         Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 3.1 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 13.2 or 13.3, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 3.1 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.  Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.

 

Section 13.2         Defeasance and Discharge .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”).  For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(1)           the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.4 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any  

premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due,

 

(2)           the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3, and, if applicable, Article 14,

 

(3)           the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and

 

(4)           this Article.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 13.3 applied to such Securities.

 

Section 13.3         Covenant Defeasance .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

 

(1)           the Company shall be released from any covenants provided pursuant to Sections 3.1(19) or 9.1(2) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and

 

(2)           the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.1(4) (with respect to any such covenants provided pursuant to Section 3.1(19) or 9.1(2)) and the occurrence of any other Event of Default specified pursuant to Section 3.1 shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities or any series of Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”).  For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such 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 specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 5.1(4) and the occurrence of any other Event of Default specified pursuant to Section 3.1), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

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Section 13.4         Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

 

(1)           The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.9 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article 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 benefits of the Holders of such Securities,

 

(A)           in the case of Securities of a series denominated in currency of the United States of America,

 

(i)            cash in currency of the United States of America in an amount, or

 

(ii)           U.S. Government Obligations 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, an amount in cash, or

 

(iii)          a combination thereof, or

 

(B)           in the case of Securities of a series denominated in currency other than that of the United States of America,

 

(i)            cash in the currency in which such series of Securities is denominated in an amount, or

 

(ii)           Foreign Government Obligations 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, an amount in cash, or

 

(iii)          a combination thereof,

 

in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities.

 

(2)           In the event of an election to have Section 13.2 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

 

(3)           In the event of an election to have Section 13.3 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

 

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(4)           The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

 

(5)           No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 5.1(5) and (6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

 

(6)           Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

 

(7)           Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(8)           Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

 

(9)           The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

Section 13.5         Deposited Money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions .

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.6, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.  Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money, U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

 

Section 13.6         Reinstatement .

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 13.2 or 13.3 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.5 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided , however , that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

 

ARTICLE 14

 

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 14.1         Conversion .

 

The terms of any conversion provision that shall be applicable to the Securities of any series shall be set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto for the Securities of such series.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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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.

 

  YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED
   
  By:
   
  Title:
                                                                               ,
  as Trustee
   
  By:
   
  Title:

 

  43  

Exhibit 4.11

 

YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED

 

TO

 

AS TRUSTEE

 

INDENTURE

 

DATED AS OF                       , 20

 

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

    Page  
     
ARTICLE 1 DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 1
     
Section 1.1 Definitions 1
Section 1.2 Compliance Certificates and Opinions 8
Section 1.3 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee 8
Section 1.4 Acts of Holders; Record Dates 9
Section 1.5 Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company 10
Section 1.6 Notice to Holders; Waiver 10
Section 1.7 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act 10
Section 1.8 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents 10
Section 1.9 Successors and Assigns 11
Section 1.10 Severability Clause 11
Section 1.11 Benefits of Indenture 11
Section 1.12 Governing Law 11
Section 1.13 Legal Holidays 11
Section 1.14 Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations 11
Section 1.15 Indenture May be Executed in Counterparts 11
     
ARTICLE 2 SECURITY FORMS 12
     
Section 2.1 Forms Generally 12
Section 2.2 Form of Legend for Global Securities 12
Section 2.3 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 12
     
ARTICLE 3 THE SECURITIES 12
     
Section 3.1 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series 12
Section 3.2 Denominations 15
Section 3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating 15
Section 3.4 Temporary Securities 16
Section 3.5 Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange; Global Securities 17
Section 3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 18
Section 3.7 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved 18
Section 3.8 Persons Deemed Owners 19
Section 3.9 Cancellation 19
Section 3.10 Computation of Interest 19
     
ARTICLE 4 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 20
     
Section 4.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 20
Section 4.2 Application of Trust Money 20
     
ARTICLE 5 DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES 21
     
Section 5.1 Events of Default 21
Section 5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 22
Section 5.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 23

 

  i  

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
     
Section 5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 23
Section 5.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 24
Section 5.6 Application of Money Collected 24
Section 5.7 Limitation on Suits 24
Section 5.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert 25
Section 5.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies 25
Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative 25
Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver 25
Section 5.12 Control by Holders 25
Section 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults 26
Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs 26
Section 5.15 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws 26
     
ARTICLE 6 THE TRUSTEE 26
     
Section 6.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities 26
Section 6.2 Notice of Defaults 27
Section 6.3 Certain Rights of Trustee 27
Section 6.4 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities 28
Section 6.5 May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee under Other Indentures 28
Section 6.6 Money Held in Trust 28
Section 6.7 Compensation and Reimbursement 28
Section 6.8 Conflicting Interests 29
Section 6.9 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility 29
Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor 29
Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor 30
Section 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 31
Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company 31
Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent 31
     
ARTICLE 7 HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY 33
     
Section 7.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders 33
Section 7.2 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders 33
Section 7.3 Reports by Trustee 33
Section 7.4 Reports by Company 33
     
ARTICLE 8 CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE 34
     
Section 8.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms 34
Section 8.2 Successor Substituted 34
     
ARTICLE 9 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 35
     
Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 35
Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders 36
Section 9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures 37

 

  ii  

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

    Page
     
Section 9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures 37
Section 9.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act 37
Section 9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures 37
Section 9.7 Subordination Unimpaired 37
     
ARTICLE 10 COVENANTS 37
     
Section 10.1 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest 37
Section 10.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency 37
Section 10.3 Money for Securities Payments To Be Held in Trust; Paying Agents 38
Section 10.4 Statement by Officers as to Default 39
Section 10.5 Existence 39
Section 10.6 Waiver of Certain Covenants 39
     
ARTICLE 11 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 39
     
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article 39
Section 11.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee 39
Section 11.3 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed 39
Section 11.4 Notice of Redemption 40
Section 11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price 41
Section 11.6 Securities Payable on Redemption Date 41
Section 11.7 Securities Redeemed in Part 41
     
ARTICLE 12 SINKING FUNDS 41
     
Section 12.1 Applicability of Article 41
Section 12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 42
Section 12.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 42
     
ARTICLE 13 DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 42
     
Section 13.1 Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 42
Section 13.2 Defeasance and Discharge 42
Section 13.3 Covenant Defeasance 43
Section 13.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 43
Section 13.5 Deposited Money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions 45
Section 13.6 Reinstatement 45
     
ARTICLE 14 CONVERSION OF SECURITIES 46
     
Section 14.1 Conversion 46
     
ARTICLE 15 SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES 46
     
Section 15.1 Agreement of Subordination 46
Section 15.2 Payments to Holders 46
Section 15.3 Subrogation of Securities 48
Section 15.4 Authorization to Effect Subordination 49
Section 15.5 Notice to Trustee 49
Section 15.6 Trustee’s Relation to Senior Debt. 50
Section 15.7 No Impairment of Subordination 50
Section 15.8 Certain Conversions/Exchanges Deemed Payment 50
Section 15.9 Article Applicable to Paying Agents 50
Section 15.10 Senior Debt Entitled to Rely 50
Section 15.11 Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent 51
Section 15.12 Trust Monies Not Subordinated 51

 

  iii  

 

 

YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED

 

Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:

 

Section 310(a)(1)   6.9
                   (a)(2)   6.9
                   (a)(3)   Not Applicable
                   (a)(4)   Not Applicable
                   (b)   6.8, 6.10
Section 311(a)   6.13
                   (b)   6.13
Section 312(a)   7.1, 7.2
                   (b)   7.2
                   (c)   7.2
Section 313(a)   7.3
                   (b)   7.3
                   (c)   7.3
                   (d)   7.3
Section 314(a)   7.4
                   (a)(4)   10.1, 10.4
                   (b)   Not Applicable
                   (c)(1)   1.2
                   (c)(2)   1.2
                   (c)(3)   Not Applicable
                   (d)   Not Applicable
                   (e)   1.2
Section 315(a)   6.1
                   (b)   6.2
                   (c)   6.1
                   (d)   6.1
                   (e)   5.14
Section 316(a)   1.1
                   (a)(1)(A)   5.2, 5.12
                   (a)(1)(B)   5.13
                   (a)(2)   Not Applicable
                   (b)   5.8
                   (c)   1.4
Section 317(a)(1)   5.3
                   (a)(2)   5.4
                   (b)   10.3
Section 318(a)   1.7

 

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

 

  iv  

 

 

INDENTURE, dated as of                         , 20    , between YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Nevada (herein called the “Company”), having its principal executive office at 41 John Street, Suite 2A, New York, NY 10038, and                     , as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee”).

 

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the “Securities”), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

 

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

 

The Indenture is subject to, and will be governed by, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be a part of and govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

For and in consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities by the Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for the benefit of the Company and the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of series thereof appertaining, as follows:

 

ARTICLE 1

 

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.1            Definitions .

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

(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 which 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 in the United States of America, and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term “generally accepted accounting principles” with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting principles in the United States of America as are generally accepted at the date of such computation;

 

(4)           all references to “$” refer to the lawful currency of the United States of America;

 

(5)           unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture; and

 

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

 

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

 

“Additional Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b).

 

  1  

 

 

“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.

 

“Authenticating Agent” means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.14 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one or more series.

 

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

 

“Board Resolution” means, with respect to the Company, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Business Day,” when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law or executive order or governmental decree to be closed.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.

 

“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 and which is not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, however, subject to the provisions of Article 14 and any indenture supplemental hereto, shares issuable upon conversion of Securities shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of the Company at the date of this Indenture or shares of any class or classes resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and which have 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 and which are not subject to redemption by the Company.

 

“Company” means the corporation named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this instrument 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” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by any of its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any Vice President or any executive officer, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer, its Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

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

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at                                                       , Attention:  Corporate Trust Department, or such other office, designated by the Trustee by written notice to the Company, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.

 

“corporation” means a corporation, association, company, joint-stock company or business trust.

 

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.

 

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

 

  2  

 

 

“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary for such Securities as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

“Designated Senior Debt” means the Company’s obligations under any particular Senior Debt in which the instrument creating or evidencing the same or the assumption or guarantee thereof (or related agreements or documents to which the Company is a party) expressly provides that such Senior Debt shall be “Designated Senior Debt” for purposes of this Indenture ( provided, that such instrument, agreement or other document may place limitations and conditions on the right of such Senior Debt to exercise the rights of Designated Senior Debt).  If any payment made to any holder of any Designated Senior Debt or its Representative with respect to such Designated Senior Debt is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by such holder or Representative upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, the reinstated Indebtedness of the Company arising as a result of such rescission or return shall constitute Designated Senior Debt effective as of the date of such rescission or return.

 

“euro” or “euros” means the currency adopted by those nations participating in the third stage of the economic and monetary union provisions of the Treaty on European Union, signed at Maastricht on February 7, 1992.

 

“European Economic Area” means the member nations of the European Economic Area pursuant to the Oporto Agreement on the European Economic Area dated May 2, 1992, as amended.

 

“European Union” means the member nations of the European Union established by the Treaty of European Union, signed at Maastricht on February 7, 1992, which amended the Treaty of Rome establishing the European Community.

 

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

 

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

 

“Expiration Date” has the meaning specified in Section 1.4.

 

“Foreign Government Obligation” means with respect to Securities of any series which are not denominated in the currency of the United States of America (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the government which issued or caused to be issued the currency in which such security is denominated and for the payment of which obligations its full faith and credit is pledged or, with respect to Securities of any series which are denominated in euros, a direct obligation of any member nation of the European Union for the payment of which obligation the full faith and credit of the respective nation is pledged so long as such nation has a credit rating at least equal to that of the highest rated member nation of the European Economic Area, or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of a government specified in clause (i) above the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the such government, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any Foreign Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any Foreign Government Obligation which is so specified and held, 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 Foreign Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depositary pursuant to a safekeeping agreement with the Depositary, all in accordance with the Indenture, which shall be registered in global form without interest coupons in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.

 

  3  

 

 

“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.

  

“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person, and without duplication, whether absolute or contingent, secured or unsecured, due or to become due, (a) all indebtedness, obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of such Person evidenced by a credit or loan agreement, note, bond, debenture, or other written obligation (whether or not the recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of such person or to only a portion thereof) or for money borrowed (including obligations of such Person in respect of overdrafts, foreign exchange contracts, currency exchange agreements, interest rate protection agreements, and any loans or advances from banks, whether or not evidenced by notes or similar instruments); (b) all obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of such Person evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind; (c) all obligations and liabilities (contingent or otherwise) in respect of leases of such Person required, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, to be accounted for as capitalized lease obligations on the balance sheet of such Person and all obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) or as lessee under any leases or related documents for facilities, capital equipment or related assets, whether or not capitalized, entered into or leased for financing purposes; (d) all obligations of such Person (contingent or otherwise) with respect to interest rate and currency swaps, caps, floors, collars, hedge agreements, forward contracts or similar agreements or arrangements; (e) all obligations and other liabilities (contingent or otherwise) of such Person with respect to letters of credit, bankers’ acceptances or similar facilities, including reimbursement obligations with respect to the foregoing; (f) all obligations and liabilities of such Person or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services, but excluding trade accounts payable and accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business; (g) all obligations of the type referred to in (a) through (f) above of another Person the payment of which, in either case, such Person has assumed or guaranteed or for which such Person is responsible or liable directly or indirectly, jointly or severally, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, or which are secured by a lien on such Person’s property; and (h) any and all renewals, extensions, modifications, replacements, restatements and refundings of, or, any indebtedness or obligation issued in exchange for, any such indebtedness or obligation of the kind described in clauses (a) through (g) above.

 

“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively.  The term “Indenture” shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.1; provided , however , that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities, “Indenture” shall mean, with respect to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.1, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such Person had become such Trustee, but to which such person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided , further that in the event that this Indenture is supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain series of Securities, the term “Indenture” for a particular series of Securities shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

 

“interest,” when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security, which by its terms bears interest only at Maturity, means interest payable at Maturity.

 

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

 

“Investment Company Act” means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

  4  

 

 

“Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal of such Security or an installment of principal becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity

or by declaration of acceleration, repurchase at the option of the Holder, upon redemption or otherwise.

 

“Non-Payment Default” has the meaning specified in Section 15.2.

 

“Notice of Default” means a written notice of the kind specified in Section 5.1(4).

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any of its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, any Vice President, its Chief Financial Officer, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.  The officer signing an Officers’ Certificate given pursuant to Section 10.4 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel for, or an employee of, the Company.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2.

 

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

 

(1)           Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

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

 

(3)           Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to Section 13.2; and

 

(4)           Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; provided , however , that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 5.2, (B) if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as contemplated by Section 3.1, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated in one or more non-U.S. dollar currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in the manner provided as contemplated by Section 3.1, of the principal amount of such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in clause (A) or (B) above, of the amount determined as provided in such clause), and (D) Securities owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any Affiliate of the Company.

 

  5  

 

 

“Paying Agent” means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the Company.

 

“Payment Blockage Notice” has the meaning specified in Section 15.2.

 

“Payment Default” has the meaning specified in Section 15.2.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment,” when used with respect to the Securities of any series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

“Predecessor Security” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt 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 mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

 

“Prospectus” means the prospectus (including any prospectus supplement) used with respect to the offer and sale of the Securities of any series.

 

“Record Date” means any Regular Record Date or Special Record Date.

 

“Redemption Date,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Redemption Price,” when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture.

 

“Regular Record Date” for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

“Reporting Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.2(b).

 

“Representative” means the (a) indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or representative for any Senior Debt or (b) with respect to any Senior Debt that does not have any such trustee, agent or other representative, (i) in the case of such Senior Debt issued pursuant to an agreement providing for voting arrangements as among the holders or owners of such Senior Debt, any holder or owner of such Senior Debt acting with the consent of the required persons necessary to bind such holders or owners of such Senior Debt and (ii) in the case of all other such Senior Debt, the holder or owner of such Senior Debt.

 

“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, any officer of the Trustee in the Corporate Trust Office assigned and duly authorized by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

 

“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

 

“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

 

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

 

  6  

 

 

“Senior Debt” means the principal of, premium, if any, interest (including all interest accruing subsequent to the commencement of any bankruptcy or similar proceeding, whether or not a claim for post-petition interest is allowable as a claim in any such proceeding) and rent payable on or in connection with, and all fees, costs, expenses and other amounts accrued or due on or in connection with, Indebtedness of the Company, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or thereafter created, incurred, assumed, guaranteed or in effect guaranteed by the Company (including all deferrals, renewals, extensions or refundings of, or amendments, modifications or supplements to, the foregoing), unless in the case of any particular Indebtedness the instrument creating or evidencing the same or the assumption or guarantee thereof expressly provides that such Indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the Securities or expressly provides that such Indebtedness is “ pari passu ” or “ junior” to the Securities.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term Senior Debt shall not include any Indebtedness of the Company to any Subsidiary of the Company.  If any payment made to any holder of any Senior Debt or its Representative with respect to such Senior Debt is rescinded or must otherwise be returned by such holder or Representative upon the insolvency, bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise, the reinstated Indebtedness of the Company arising as a result of such rescission or return shall constitute Senior Debt effective as of the date of such rescission or return.

 

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

 

“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

 

“Subsidiary” means a Person of which at least a majority of the outstanding voting stock having the power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such Person (in the case of a corporation) is, or of which at least a majority of the equity interests (in the case of a Person which is not a corporation) are, at the time owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries.  For the purposes of this definition, “voting stock” means stock or similar interests which ordinarily has or have voting power for the election of directors or persons performing similar functions, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock or other interests has or have such voting power by reason of any contingency.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in effect on the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided , however , that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

 

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

 

“U.S. Government Obligation” means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and held, 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 U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

 

  7  

 

  

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

 

Section 1.2            Compliance Certificates and Opinions .

 

Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust Indenture Act.  Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an Officers’ Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in this Indenture.

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include:

 

(1)           a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition 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 covenant or condition 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 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 a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion is based are erroneous.  Any such certificate or 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, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

 

Any such certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants in the employ of the Company, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate or opinion are based 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, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.

 

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Section 1.4            Acts of Holders; Record Dates .

 

Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company copies of any such instrument or instruments delivered to the Trustee.  Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Holders signing such instrument or instruments.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.1) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof.  Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.  The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner that the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

 

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

 

The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, vote, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date.  Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.

 

With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the Company may designate any day as the “Expiration Date” and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the proposed new Expiration Date is given to the Trustee in writing, and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date.  If an Expiration Date is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the Company shall be deemed to have initially designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided in this paragraph.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

 

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Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

 

Section 1.5            Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company .

 

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

 

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

 

(2)           the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, or if personally delivered or if sent via overnight courier to the Company, in each case addressed to it 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, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

 

Section 1.6            Notice to Holders; Waiver .

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed by first-class postage prepaid, or delivered by hand or overnight courier to each Holder affected by such event, at its address as it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.  Neither the failure to mail or deliver by hand or overnight courier any notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed or delivered by hand or overnight courier, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.  Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice.  Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

 

In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

 

Section 1.7            Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under the Trust Indenture Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture with respect to one or more series of Securities, the relevant provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control.  If any provision of this Indenture modifies any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified with respect to one or more series of Securities, the relevant provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to apply to this Indenture as so modified.   If any provision of this Indenture excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so excluded with respect to one or more series of Securities, the relevant provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall be excluded to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 1.8            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.

 

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Section 1.9            Successors and Assigns .

 

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

 

Section 1.10         Severability Clause .

 

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

 

Section 1.11         Benefits of Indenture .

 

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

 

Section 1.12         Governing Law .

 

THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

 

Section 1.13         Legal Holidays .

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right to convert a Security at a particular conversion price or conversion rate, as the case may be, shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or, if applicable to a particular series of Securities, conversion need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, at the Stated Maturity or on such last day for conversion, as the case may be.

 

Section 1.14         Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations .

 

No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company in this Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or in any Security, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, employee, agent, officer, or director or subsidiary, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, 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 all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities.

 

Section 1.15         Indenture May be Executed in Counterparts .

 

This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

 

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ARTICLE 2

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 2.1            Forms Generally

 

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution and as set forth in such Board Resolution (including such terms as set forth in any form of Securities for each series approved by such Board Resolution) or, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment (including any exhibit attached thereto), or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends, notations or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with any law, rules or regulations, or with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or to conform to general usage, all as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company Order contemplated by Section 3.3 for the authentication and delivery of such Securities.  Any such Board Resolution or record of such action shall have attached thereto a true and correct copy of the form of Security referred to therein approved by or pursuant to such Board Resolution.

 

The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed typewritten or otherwise reproduced in any other manner, all as determined by the officer executing such Securities, as evidenced by such officer’s execution of such Securities.

 

Section 2.2            Form of Legend for Global Securities .

 

Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for the Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

 

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF.  THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

 

Section 2.3            Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication .

 

The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:

 

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

 

                                                                ,
  as Trustee
   
  By:  
                     Authorized Officer

 

 

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.

 

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The Securities may be issued in one or more series.  There shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and as set forth in such Board Resolution (including such terms as set forth in any form of Securities for each series approved by such Board Resolution) or, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment (including any exhibit attached thereto), or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:

 

(1)           the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);

 

(2)           any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered hereunder);

 

(3)           the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest;

 

(4)           the date or dates on which the principal of any Securities of the series is payable;

 

(5)           the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which any Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date (or the method for determining the dates and rates);

 

(6)           the place or places where the principal of and any premium and interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable;

 

(7)           the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem the Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(8)           the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase any Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or any redemption or purchase at the option of the Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(9)           if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which any Securities of the series shall be issuable;

 

(10)         if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

  

(11)         if other than the currency of the United States of America, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of “Outstanding” in Section 1.1;

 

(12)         if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

 

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(13)         the percentage of the principal amount at which the Securities will be issued, and, if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2;

 

(14)         if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount shall be determined);

 

(15)         if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 or both such Sections, or any other defeasance provisions applicable to any Securities of the series, and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

 

(16)         if applicable, the terms of any right to convert or exchange Securities of the series;

 

(17)         if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 2.2 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

 

(18)         any deletion of or addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 5.2;

 

(19)         any deletion of or addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article 10 which applies to Securities of the series;

 

(20)         any Authenticating Agents, Paying Agents, Security Registrars or such other agents necessary in connection with the issuance of the Securities of such series, including, without limitation, exchange rate agents and calculation agents;

 

(21)         if applicable, the terms of any security that will be provided for a series of Securities, including any provisions regarding the circumstances under which collateral may be released or substituted;

 

(22)         any provisions granting special rights to holders when a specified event occurs;

 

(23)         any provisions with respect to any special interest premium or other premium;

 

(24)         any special tax provisions that apply to any series of Securities;

 

(25)         with respect to any series of Securities that do not bear interest, the date for any required reports to the Trustee;

 

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(26)         any and all additional, eliminated or changed terms that will apply to such series of Securities;

 

(27)         any addition to or change in or modification to the subordination provisions of this Indenture relating to the Securities of that series (including the provisions of Article 15), or different subordination provisions, including a different definition of “Senior Debt” or “Designated Senior Debt,” that will apply to Securities of the series; and

 

(28)         any other terms of the series of Securities (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by Section 9.1(5)).

 

All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 3.3) set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers’ Certificate (including any exhibit attached thereto) referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

 

If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

 

The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Debt as provided in Article 15.

 

Section 3.2            Denominations .

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1.  In the absence of any such specified denomination with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 3.3            Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating .

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its Chief Executive Officer, its principal financial officer, its principal accounting officer, its President or one of its executive officers, and attested by its Treasurer, its Secretary or one of its Assistant Treasurers or Assistant Secretaries.  The signature of any of these officers 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 of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.  If the form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1, in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, a certified copy of such Board Resolution, an Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto setting forth the terms of the series and an Opinion of Counsel (which Opinion of Counsel may contain customary qualifications and exceptions), with such Opinion of Counsel stating:

 

(1)           if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 2.1, that such form has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

 

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(2)           if the terms of such Securities have been established by or pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 3.1, that such terms have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

 

(3)           that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer or conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.1 and of this Section 3.3, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver an Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture otherwise required pursuant to Section 3.1 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this Section 3.3 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.

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and 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.

 

In issuing the Securities, the Company may use “CUSIP” numbers, and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP” numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any defect in any CUSIP number that appears on any Security, check, advice of payment or redemption notice, and any such document may contain a statement to the effect that CUSIP numbers have been assigned by an independent service for convenience of reference and that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be liable for any inaccuracy in any such numbers.

 

Section 3.4            Temporary Securities .

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities 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 and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable delay.  After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, without charge to the Holder.  Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.  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 and tenor.

 

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Section 3.5            Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange; Global Securities .

 

The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the “Security Register”) in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities.  The Trustee is hereby appointed “Security Registrar” for the purpose of registering Securities and transfers of Securities as herein provided.

 

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and aggregate principal amount.

 

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

 

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

 

Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed, by the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, 9.6 or 11.7 not involving any transfer.

 

If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor) are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue, register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 11.3 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

 

The provisions of clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only to Global Securities:

 

(1)           Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

 

(2)           Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (B) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such Global Security or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as contemplated by Section 3.1.

 

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(3)           Subject to clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

 

(4)           Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 3.4, 3.6, 9.6 or 11.7 or otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

 

Section 3.6            Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities .

 

If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security has become or is about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of issuing a new Security, pay such Security.

 

Upon the issuance of any new Security under this Section, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

 

Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.

 

The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities.

 

Section 3.7            Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved .

 

Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.

 

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Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted Interest 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 Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money 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 prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor having been so given, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (2).

 

(2)           The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on the Securities of any series in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, 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.

 

Section 3.8            Persons Deemed Owners .

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

Section 3.9            Cancellation .

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and shall be promptly canceled by it.  The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee.  No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.  All canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of in accordance with its customary procedures.

 

Section 3.10         Computation of Interest .

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

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ARTICLE 4

 

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 4.1            Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture .

 

This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

 

(1)           either

 

(A)          all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6 and (ii) Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Trustee or the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

 

(B)          all such Securities 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)          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 the purpose money in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be;

 

(2)           the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; and

 

(3)           the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 6.7, the obligations of the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 6.14 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (1) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 4.2 and the last paragraph of Section 10.3 shall survive.

 

Section 4.2            Application of Trust Money .

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.

 

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ARTICLE 5

 

DEFAULTS AND 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 occasioned by the provisions of Article 15 or 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 in the Board Resolution (or an Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment pursuant to such Board Resolution) or supplemental indenture establishing such series, it is provided that such series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:

 

(1)           default in the payment of the principal or the Redemption Price of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity; or

 

(2)           default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(3)           default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security of that series; or

 

(4)           default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

(5)           the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

 

(6)           the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

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(7)           any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that series in the Board Resolution (or in an Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment pursuant to such Board Resolution) or supplemental indenture establishing that series.

 

Section 5.2            Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment .

 

(a)           Unless the Board Resolution (or Officers’ Certificate detailing such establishment pursuant to such Board Resolution) or supplemental indenture establishing such series provides otherwise, if an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) or 5.1(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof), and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount), and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) or 5.1(6) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof), and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, thereon, shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable.  Any payments by the Company on the Securities following any such acceleration will be subject to the subordination provisions of Article 15 to the extent provided therein.

 

(b)           Notwithstanding the foregoing, at the election of the Company, the sole remedy with respect to an Event of Default for the failure by the Company to comply with its obligations under Section 314(a)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act relating to the Company’s failure to file any documents or reports that the Company is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or of its covenants set forth in Section 7.4 (any such Event of Default, a “Reporting Default”), shall for the first 180 calendar days after the occurrence of such Reporting Default consist exclusively of the right to receive additional interest (the “Additional Interest”) on the Securities at an annual rate equal to (i) 0.25% of the principal amount of the Securities for the first 90 calendar days after the occurrence of such Reporting Default and (ii) 0.50% of the principal amount of the Securities from the 91st day to, and including, the 180th day after the occurrence of such Reporting Default.  If the Company so elects, the Additional Interest shall accrue on all Outstanding Securities from and including the date on which such Reporting Default first occurs until such violation is cured or waived and shall be payable as provided in Section 3.7.  On the 181st day after such Reporting Default (if such violation is not cured or waived prior to such 181st calendar day), then the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding securities may declare the principal of, and premium, if any, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all such Securities to be due and payable immediately.

 

If the Company elects to pay the Additional Interest as the sole remedy for the Reporting Default, the Company shall notify in writing, by a certificate, the Holders, the Paying Agent and the Trustee of such election at any time on or before the close of business on the first Business Day following the date on which such Event of Default first occurs.  Unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee receives at the Corporate Trust Office such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that Additional Interest is not payable.  The Company shall pay the Additional Interest semi-annually in arrears, with the first semi-annual payment due on the first Interest Payment Date following the date of such Reporting Default, in the same manner as described on the face of the Security.

 

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(c)           At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to 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 hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:

 

(1)           the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay

 

(A)          all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

 

(B)           the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Securities of that series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and any interest thereon at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities,

 

(C)           to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful, 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 that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series that have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.

 

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

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 the principal or the Redemption Price of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

 

(2)           default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days,

 

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

 

Section 5.4            Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .

 

In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company, its property or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding.  In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7.

 

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No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided , however , that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors’ or other similar committee.

 

Section 5.5            Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities .

 

All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

 

Section 5.6            Application of Money Collected .

 

Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

 

FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7;

 

SECOND:  Subject to Article 15, to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium, if any, and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium, if any, and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD:  The balance, if any, to the Company or any other Person or Persons entitled thereto.

 

Section 5.7            Limitation on Suits .

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or 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 that series;

 

(2)           the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(3)           such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity 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 that series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all of such Holders.

 

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Section 5.8            Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert .

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.7) interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date), to convert such Securities in accordance with Article 14 to the extent that such right to convert is applicable to such Security, and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

 

Section 5.9            Restoration of Rights and Remedies .

 

If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceeding, the Company, the Trustee and the Holders shall be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder and thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

 

Section 5.10         Rights and Remedies Cumulative .

 

Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of Section 3.6, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 5.11         Delay or Omission Not Waiver .

 

No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.  Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (subject to the limitations contained in this Indenture) or by the Holders, as the case may be.

 

Section 5.12         Control by Holders .

 

The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the Securities of such series, provided that:

 

(1)           such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture and the Trustee shall not have determined that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders of Securities of that series, or any other series, not taking part in such direction; and

 

(2)           the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction or this Indenture.

 

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Section 5.13         Waiver of Past Defaults .

 

The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except:

 

(1)           a default in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms thereof, otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest, principal and premium, if any, has been deposited with the Trustee), or

 

(2)           to the extent such right is applicable to such Security, a failure by the Company on request to convert any Security into Common Stock; or

 

(3)           in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article 9 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series affected.

 

Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.

 

Section 5.14         Undertaking for Costs .

 

In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company.

 

The Section does not apply to a suit by a Holder to enforce payment of principal of or interest on any Security on the respective due dates, a suit by a Holder to enforce the right to convert in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security in accordance with Article 14 to the extent such right to convert is applicable to such Security, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities.

 

Section 5.15         Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws .

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any usury, stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law and covenants that it 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.

 

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 and as set forth herein.  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 if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.  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.

 

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Section 6.2            Notice of Defaults .

 

If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act; provided , however , that except in the case of a default in the payment of principal or Redemption Price of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment or any conversion right applicable to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the holders of Securities of such series; provided , further , however , 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 60 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.

 

Except with respect to Section 10.1, the Trustee shall have no duty to inquire as to the performance of the Company with respect to the covenants contained in Article 10.  In addition, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of an Event of Default except (i) any Default or Event of Default occurring pursuant to Sections 5.1(1), 5.1(2) and 5.1(3) (defaults in payments on the Securities) or (ii) any Default or Event of Default of which a Responsible Officer the Trustee shall have received written notification or obtained actual knowledge.

 

Delivery of reports, information and documents to the Trustee under Section 7.4 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of the foregoing shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of their covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively on Officers’ Certificates).

 

Section 6.3            Certain Rights of Trustee .

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

 

(1)           in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

 

(2)           any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution of the Board of Directors shall 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 be herein specifically prescribed) is entitled to and may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate;

 

(4)           the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written 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 this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

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(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, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney; and

 

(7)           the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.

 

Section 6.4            Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities .

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee’s certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any responsibility for their correctness.  The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity, 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 Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 6.5            May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee under Other Indentures .

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security Registrar or such other agent.

 

Subject to the limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, nothing in this Indenture shall prohibit the Trustee from becoming and acting as trustee under other indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest of participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding in the same manner as if it were not Trustee hereunder.

 

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 with the Company.

 

Section 6.7            Compensation and Reimbursement .

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1)           to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it 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 (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and

 

(3)           to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

 

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When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) or Section 5.1(6) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar law.

 

Section 6.8            Conflicting Interests .

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act and there is an Event of Default under the Securities of that series, 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 the Trust Indenture 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            Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility .

 

There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for Securities of one or more other series.  Each Trustee shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has (or if the Trustee is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.  If any such Person or bank holding company publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the combined capital and surplus of such Person or bank holding company shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 6.10         Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .

 

No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.

 

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 6.11 shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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 to the Company.

 

If at any time:

 

(1)           the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or

 

(2)           the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Holder, or

 

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(3)           the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

 

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

 

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 a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11, become the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 6.11, the retiring Trustee may petition, or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may petition, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.6.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 6.11         Acceptance of Appointment by Successor .

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2) if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

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Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

 

No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.

 

Section 6.12         Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business .

 

Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of the trust created by this Indenture), shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.  In the event that any Securities shall not have been authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may authenticate and deliver such Securities in either its own name or that of such predecessor Trustee, with the full force and effect which this Indenture provides for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

 

Section 6.13         Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company, the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company.

 

Section 6.14         Appointment of Authenticating Agent .

 

The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof 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 shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having (or if the Authenticating Agent is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.  Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such appointment in the manner provided in Section 1.6 to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve.  Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.  No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.

 

The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 6.7.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section 6.14, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in lieu of the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in 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

 

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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 .

 

The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(1)           semi-annually, not later than 15 days after the Regular Record Date for each respective series of Securities, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of such Regular Record Date, as the case may be, or if there is no Regular Record Date for such series of Securities, semi-annually, 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;

 

(3)           provided that no such list need be furnished by the Company to the Trustee so long as the Trustee is acting as Security Registrar.

 

Section 7.2            Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders .

 

The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.1 and the names and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar.  The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by 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 nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 7.3            Reports by Trustee .

 

The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

 

Reports so required to be transmitted at stated intervals of not more than 12 months shall be transmitted no later than July 15 in each calendar year, commencing with the first July 15 after the first issuance of Securities pursuant to this Indenture.

 

A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company.  The Company will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 7.4            Reports by Company .

 

Any information, documents or other reports that the Company shall file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission; provided that any such information, documents or reports filed or furnished with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval (or EDGAR) system or any successor thereto shall be deemed to be filed with the Trustee as of the time such information, documents or reports are filed or furnished via EDGAR or any successor thereto.  Delivery of such information, documents or other reports 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, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

Section 8.1            Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms .

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company) (in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation) or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person (other than a Subsidiary of the Company), unless:

 

(1)           in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person (in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation) or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust or other business entity, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and the conversion rights shall be provided for in accordance with Article 14, if applicable, or as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.1, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee, by the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into which the Company shall have been merged or by the Person which shall have acquired the Company’s assets;

 

(2)           immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(3)           the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Section 8.2            Successor Substituted .

 

Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.

 

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ARTICLE 9

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.1            Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders .

 

Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by 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, or successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities in compliance with Article 8; or

 

(2)           to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

 

(3)           to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or

 

(4)           to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or

 

(5)           to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

 

(6)           to secure the Securities, including provisions regarding the circumstances under which collateral may be released or substituted; or

 

(7)          to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1; or

 

(8)           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 6.11; or

 

(9)         to conform this Indenture to the description of the Securities set forth in the Prospectus for such series of Securities; or

 

(10)         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 such action pursuant to this clause (11) shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

 

(11)         to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Articles 4 and 13, provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any material respect; or

 

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(12)         to make such other provisions in regards to matters or questions arising under the Indenture or any supplemental Indenture hereto as the Board of Directors may deem necessary or desirable, and which does not in each case adversely affect the interest of the Holders of Securities or any series; or

 

(13)         to comply with requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 9.2            Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders .

 

With the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by 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; provided , however , that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby,

 

(1)           change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption or repurchase thereof, whether at the option of the Company or at the option of the Holder, or reduce the amount of any sinking fund payments, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.2, or change the Place of Payment or the currency in which, any Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the subordination of such series of Securities in a manner materially adverse to the Holders of Securities of such series or, in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible into Securities or other securities of the Company, adversely affect the right of Holders or convert any of the Securities of such series other than as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture, or

 

(2)           in the case of Securities of any series that are convertible into Common Stock or other securities of the Company pursuant to Article 14 and any supplemental Indenture hereto, adversely affect the rights of the Holders to convert any of the Securities of such series other than as provided in or pursuant to this Indenture or any supplemental indenture, or

 

(3)           reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is 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

 

(4)           modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 5.13, 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; provided , however , that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11 and 9.1(9).

 

A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

 

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It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 9.3            Execution of Supplemental Indentures .

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.3) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.  The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.4            Effect of Supplemental Indentures .

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be bound thereby.

 

Section 9.5            Conformity with Trust Indenture Act .

 

The Indenture shall incorporate and be governed by the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of and to govern indentures qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

 

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 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            Subordination Unimpaired .

 

No provision in any supplemental indenture that affects the superior position of the holders of Senior Debt shall be effective against holders of Senior Debt.

 

ARTICLE 10

 

COVENANTS

 

Section 10.1         Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest .

 

The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.

 

Section 10.2         Maintenance of Office or Agency .

 

The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for conversion to the extent that such right to convert is applicable to such Security and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.  The Company 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.  Unless otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 3.1 hereof, the Place of Payment for any series of Securities shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

 

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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 will 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.

 

Section 10.3         Money for Securities Payments to be Held in Trust; Paying Agents .

 

If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any of the Securities of that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal and any premium and interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will 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, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the continuance of any default by the Company in the making of any payment in respect of the Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in respect of the Securities of that series.

 

The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which 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 money.

 

Any amounts deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for a period ending on the earlier of the date that is ten Business Days prior to the date such money would escheat to any state or two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided , however , that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in each Place of Payment, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

 

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Section 10.4         Statement by Officers as to Default .

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers’ Certificate which shall comply with the provisions of Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signer thereof the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which the signer thereof may have knowledge. The fiscal year of the Company currently ends on December 31; and the Company will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any change of its fiscal year.

 

Section 10.5         Existence .

 

Subject to Article 8, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence.

 

Section 10.6         Waiver of Certain Covenants .

 

Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 3.1(19) or 9.1(2) for the benefit of the Holders of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally waive 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, 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.

 

ARTICLE 11

 

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 11.1         Applicability of Article .

 

Securities of any series that are redeemable before their Stated Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities) in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 11.2         Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .

 

The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.  In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee or is specified in the Board Resolution (or in an Officers’ Certificate pursuant to such Board Resolution detailing such establishment) or supplemental indenture establishing such series), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed.

 

Section 11.3         Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed .

 

If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by lot, or in the Trustee’s discretion, on a pro-rata basis, provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

 

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If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part before termination of the conversion 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 during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

The provisions of the three preceding paragraphs shall not apply with respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part.  In the case of any such redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

 

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 amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 11.4         Notice of Redemption .

 

Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 1.6, not fewer 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 each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at its address appearing in the Security Register or, if the Securities are held in book-entry form, sent by electronic transmission.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1)           the Redemption Date,

 

(2)           the Redemption Price (including accrued interest, if any),

 

(3)           if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

 

(4)           in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, 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 will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

 

(6)           the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

 

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(7)           if applicable, the conversion price or the conversion rate, as the case may be, the date on which the right to convert the principal of the Securities or the portions thereof to be redeemed will terminate, and the place or places where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion,

 

(8)           that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case, and

 

(9)           the CUSIP number or numbers and/or common code(s) of the Security being redeemed.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.

 

Section 11.5         Deposit of Redemption Price .

 

On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.3) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date) accrued interest, if any, on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

To the extent such Security of a series is convertible pursuant to Article 14, upon conversion of any such Security called for redemption, any money deposited with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for the redemption of such Security shall (subject to the right of any Holder of such Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section 3.7) be paid to the Company on Company Request, or if then held by the Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

 

Section 11.6         Securities Payable on Redemption Date .

 

Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any) such Securities shall 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 accrued interest, if any, to the Redemption Date; provided , however , that, unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.

 

Section 11.7         Securities Redeemed in Part .

 

Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

ARTICLE 12

 

SINKING FUNDS

 

Section 12.1         Applicability of Article .

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.

 

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The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of any Securities 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 such Securities is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.”  If provided for by the terms of any Securities, 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 as provided for by the terms of such Securities.

 

Section 12.2         Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities .

 

The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited have not been previously so credited. The Securities to be so credited shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price, as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

 

Section 12.3         Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .

 

Not fewer than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, 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 Securities pursuant to Section 12.2 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not fewer than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 11.4.  Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections 11.6 and 11.7.

 

ARTICLE 13

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 13.1         Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, designated pursuant to Section 3.1 as being defeasible pursuant to such Section 13.2 or 13.3, in accordance with any applicable requirements provided pursuant to Section 3.1 and upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article.  Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities.

 

Section 13.2         Defeasance and Discharge .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations, and the provisions of Article 15 shall cease to be effective, with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Defeasance”).  For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:

 

(1)           the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.4 and as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due,

 

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(2)           the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3, and, if applicable, Article 14,

 

(3)           the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, and

 

(4)           this Article.

 

Subject to compliance with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have Section 13.3 applied to such Securities.

 

Section 13.3         Covenant Defeasance .

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

 

(1)           the Company shall be released from any covenants provided pursuant to Sections 3.1(19) or 9.1(2) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities,

 

(2)           the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.1(4) (with respect to any such covenants provided pursuant to Section 3.1(19) or 9.1(2)) and the occurrence of any other Event of Default specified pursuant to Section 3.1, shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, and

 

(3)           the provisions of Article 15 shall cease to be effective.

 

in each case with respect to such Securities or any series of Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 13.4 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”).  For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such 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 specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 5.1(4) and the occurrence of any other Event of Default specified pursuant to Section 3.1) or Article 15, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or Article or by reason of any reference in any such Section or Article to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

 

Section 13.4         Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance .

 

The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be:

 

(1)          The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.9 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this Article 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 benefits of the Holders of such Securities,

 

(A)         in the case of Securities of a series denominated in currency of the United States of America,

 

(i)            cash in currency of the United States of America in an amount, or

 

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(ii)           U.S. Government Obligations 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, an amount in cash, or

 

(iii)          a combination thereof, or

 

(B)         in the case of Securities of a series denominated in currency other than that of the United States of America,

 

(i)            cash in the currency in which such series of Securities is denominated in an amount, or

 

(ii)           Foreign Government Obligations 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, an amount in cash, or

 

(iii)          a combination thereof,

 

in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities.

 

(2)          In the event of an election to have Section 13.2 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

 

(3)          In the event of an election to have Section 13.3 apply to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

 

(4)          The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

 

(5)          No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 5.1(5) and (6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

 

(6)          Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act (assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

 

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(7)          Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

 

(8)           Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

 

(9)           At the time of such deposit,

 

(A)         no default in the payment of any principal of or premium or interest on any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing,

 

(B)         no event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have resulted in such Senior Debt becoming, and continuing to be, due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable (unless payment of such Senior Debt has been made or duly provided for), and

 

(C)         no other event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have occurred and be continuing permitting (after notice or lapse of time or both) the holders of such Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of such holders) to declare such Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable.

 

(10)         The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.

 

Section 13.5         Deposited Money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions .

 

Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.6, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 in respect of any Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  Money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations so held in trust shall not be subject to the provisions of Article 15. The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.  Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money, U.S. Government Obligations or Foreign Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 with respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of

independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

 

Section 13.6         Reinstatement .

 

If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or released pursuant to Section 13.2 or 13.3 shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money held in trust pursuant to Section 13.5 with respect to such Securities in accordance with this Article; provided , however , that if the Company makes any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money so held in trust.

 

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ARTICLE 14

 

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 14.1         Conversion .

 

The terms of any conversion provision that shall be applicable to the Securities of any series shall be set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto for the Securities of such series.

 

ARTICLE 15

 

SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 15.1         Agreement of Subordination .

 

Except as otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to Section 3.1, the Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities issued hereunder by its acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article 15; and each Person holding any Security, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

 

The payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on all Securities (including, but not limited to, the redemption price with respect to the Securities called for redemption in accordance with Article 11 as provided in the Indenture) issued hereunder shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

 

No provision of this Article 15 shall prevent the occurrence of any default or Event of Default hereunder.

 

Section 15.2         Payments to Holders .

 

No payment shall be made with respect to the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (including, but not limited to, the redemption price with respect to the Securities to be called for redemption in accordance with Article 11 as provided in the Indenture), except payments and distributions made by the Trustee as permitted by the first or second paragraph of Section 15.5, if:

 

(i)          a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, rent or other obligations due on any Senior Debt occurs and is continuing (or, in the case of Senior Debt for which there is a period of grace, in the event of such a default that continues beyond the period of grace, if any, specified in the instrument or lease evidencing such Senior Debt) (a “Payment Default”), unless and until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist; or

 

(ii)          a default, other than a Payment Default, on any Designated Senior Debt occurs and is continuing that then permits holders of such Designated Senior Debt to accelerate its maturity and the Trustee receives a notice of the default (a “Payment Blockage Notice”) from a holder of Designated Senior Debt, a Representative of Designated Senior Debt or the Company (a “Non-Payment Default”).

 

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If the Trustee receives any Payment Blockage Notice pursuant to clause (ii) above, no subsequent Payment Blockage Notice shall be effective for purposes of this Section unless and until at least 365 days shall have elapsed since the initial effectiveness of the immediately prior Payment Blockage Notice.  No Non-Payment Default that existed or was continuing on the date of delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage Notice.

 

The Company may and shall resume payments on and distributions in respect of the Securities upon the earlier of:

 

(2)          in the case of any Payment Default, the date upon which the Payment Default is cured or waived or ceases to exist, or

 

(3)          in the case of a Non-Payment Default, the earlier of (a) the date upon which such Non-Payment Default is cured, waived or ceases to exist or (b) 179 days after the date on which the applicable Payment Blockage Notice is received by the Trustee,

 

unless this Article 15 otherwise prohibits the payment or distribution at such time.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, receivership or other proceedings, or upon an assignment for the benefit of creditors or any marshalling of the assets and liabilities of the Company, or otherwise, all amounts due or to become due upon all Senior Debt shall first be paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Debt, or payment thereof in accordance with its terms provided for in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Debt, before any payment is made on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (except payments made pursuant to Article 4 from monies deposited with the Trustee pursuant thereto prior to commencement of proceedings for such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or the marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company); and upon any such dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company or bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceeding, any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled, except for the provision of this Article 15, shall (except as aforesaid) be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders of the Securities or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Debt (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Debt held by such holders, or as otherwise required by law or a court order) or their Representative or Representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Debt in full, in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Debt, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Debt, before any payment or distribution or provision therefor is made to the Holders of the Securities or to the Trustee.

 

For purposes of this Article 15, the words, “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article 15 with respect to the Securities to the payment of all Senior Debt which may at the time be outstanding; provided that (i) the Senior Debt is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of Senior Debt (other than leases which are not assumed by the Company or the new corporation, as the case may be) are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment.  The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article 8 shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section 15.2 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article 8.

 

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In the event of the acceleration of the Securities because of an Event of Default, no payment or distribution shall be made to the Trustee or any Holder of Securities in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities (including, but not limited to, the redemption price with respect to the Securities called for redemption in accordance with Article 11 as provided in the Indenture), except payments and distributions made by the Trustee as permitted by the first or second paragraph of Section 15.5, until all Senior Debt has been paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt or such acceleration is rescinded in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.  If payment of the Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Debt of the acceleration.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities (including, without limitation, by way of setoff or otherwise), prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior Debt is paid in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Debt, or provision is made for such payment thereof in accordance with its terms in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Debt, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of Senior Debt or their Representative or Representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any Senior Debt may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Debt remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Debt in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of such Senior Debt, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Debt.

 

Nothing in this Section 15.2 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.7.  This Section 15.2 shall be subject to the further provisions of Section 15.5.

 

Section 15.3         Subrogation of Securities .

 

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Debt, the rights of the Holders of the Securities shall be subrogated to the extent of the payments or distributions made to the holders of such Senior Debt pursuant to the provisions of this Article 15 (equally and ratably with the holders of all indebtedness of the Company which by its express terms is subordinated to other indebtedness of the Company to substantially the same extent as the Securities are subordinated and is entitled to like rights of subrogation) to the rights of the holders of Senior Debt to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Debt until the principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Debt of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article 15, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article 15, to or for the benefit of the holders of Senior Debt by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Debt; and no payments or distributions of cash, property or securities to or for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities pursuant to the subrogation provisions of this Article 15, which would otherwise have been paid to the holders of Senior Debt shall be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or for the account of the Securities.  It is understood that the provisions of this Article 15 are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Debt, on the other hand.

 

Nothing contained in this Article 15 or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Debt, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of the Senior Debt, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article 15 of the holders of Senior Debt in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

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Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article 15, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such bankruptcy, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 15.

 

Section 15.4         Authorization to Effect Subordination .

 

Each Holder of a Security by the holder’s acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on the holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided in this Article 15 and appoints the Trustee to act as the holder’s attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.  If the Trustee does not file a proper proof of claim or proof of debt in the form required in any proceeding referred to in Section 5.4 hereof at least 30 days before the expiration of the time to file such claim, the holders of any Senior Debt or their representatives are hereby authorized to file an appropriate claim for and on behalf of the Holders of the Securities.

 

Section 15.5         Notice to Trustee .

 

The Company shall give prompt written notice in the form of an Officers’ Certificate to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and to any Paying Agent of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee or any Paying Agent in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article 15.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article 15 or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article 15, unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof at the Corporate Trust Office from the Company (in the form of an Officers’ Certificate) or a Representative or a holder or holders of Senior Debt or from any trustee therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided that if on a date not fewer than two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such monies may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on any Security) the Trustee shall not have received, with respect to such monies, the notice provided for in this Section 15.5, then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such prior date.

 

Notwithstanding anything in this Article 15 to the contrary, nothing shall prevent any payment by the Trustee to the Holders of monies deposited with it pursuant to Section 4.1, and any such payment shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 15.1 or 15.2.

 

The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Representative or a person representing himself to be a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a Representative or a holder of Senior Debt or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or holders.  The Trustee shall not be required to make any payment or distribution to or on behalf of a holder of Senior Debt pursuant to this Article 15 unless it has received satisfactory evidence as to the amount of Senior Debt held by such person, the extent to which such person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such person under this Article 15.

 

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Section 15.6         Trustee’s Relation to Senior Debt .

 

The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article 15 in respect of any Senior Debt at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt, and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

 

With respect to the holders of Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article 15, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Debt shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.  The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of Senior Debt (i) for any failure to make any payments or distributions to such holders or (ii) if it shall pay over or deliver to Holders of Securities, the Company or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of Senior Debt shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 15 or otherwise.

 

Section 15.7         No Impairment of Subordination .

 

No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Debt to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company, the Trustee or any Holder of Securities with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

Section 15.8         Certain Conversions/Exchanges Deemed Payment .

 

For the purposes of this Article 15 only, (1) the issuance and delivery of junior securities upon conversion or exchange of Securities in accordance with Article 14 or any supplemental indenture with respect to such series of securities or otherwise (except upon conversion of the Securities in accordance with their terms) shall not be deemed to constitute a payment or distribution on account of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on Securities or on account of the purchase or other acquisition of Securities, and (2) the payment, issuance or delivery of cash (except in satisfaction of fractional shares upon conversion, if applicable), property or securities (other than junior securities) upon conversion or exchange of a Security shall be deemed to constitute payment on account of the principal of such Security.  For the purposes of this Section 15.8, the term “junior securities” means (a) shares of any stock of any class of the Company, or (b) securities of the Company which are subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Debt which may be outstanding at the time of issuance or delivery of such securities to substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities are so subordinated as provided in this Article.  Nothing contained in this Article 15 or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of Securities, the right, which is absolute and unconditional, of the Holder of any Security to convert such Security in accordance with Article 14.

 

Section 15.9         Article Applicable to Paying Agents .

 

If at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term “Trustee” as used in this Article shall (unless the context otherwise requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided however , that the first paragraph of Section 15.5 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of the Company if the Company or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.

 

The Trustee shall not be responsible for the actions or inactions of any other Paying Agents (including the Company if acting as its own Paying Agent) and shall have no control of any funds held by such other Paying Agents.

 

Section 15.10       Senior Debt Entitled to Rely .

 

The holders of Senior Debt (including, without limitation, Designated Senior Debt) shall have the right to rely upon this Article 15, and no amendment or modification of the provisions contained herein shall diminish the rights of such holders unless such holders shall have agreed in writing thereto.

 

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Section 15.11       Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent .

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article, the Trustee and the Holders shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshalling of assets and liabilities of the Company or bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other like proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Debt and other indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.

 

Section 15.12       Trust Monies Not Subordinated.

 

Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from money, U.S. Government Obligations and/or Foreign Government Obligations held in trust under Article 4 or Article 13 by the Trustee for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior payment in full of any Senior Debt of the Company or subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article 15, and none of the Holders shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to the Company or any holder of Senior Debt of the Company or any other creditor of the Company.

 

[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]

 

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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.

 

  YANGTZE RIVER PORT AND LOGISTICS LIMITED
   
   
  By:
   
  Title:
   
   
                                                                               ,
  as Trustee
   
   
  By:
   
  Title:

 

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Exhibit 5.1

 

 

 

March 20, 2018

 

Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited

41 John Street, Suite 2A,

New York, NY 10038

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), relating to the offering and sale from time to time, as set forth in the Registration Statement, the form of prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”), and one or more supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”), by the Company of up to $ 300,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of Securities consisting of (i) shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), or (ii) shares of the Company’s preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), or (iii) debt securities (“Debt Securities”), or (iv) warrants (“Warrants”) to purchase Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or (v) subscription rights (“Rights”) entitling the holders thereof to purchase shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or (vi) units consisting of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Rights or Warrants, or any combination thereof, in one or more series (the “Units”). The Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities, Warrants, Rights and Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.”

 

We have examined originals or certified copies of such corporate records of the Company and other certificates and documents of officials of the Company, public officials and others as we have deemed appropriate for purposes of this letter. We have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of each natural person signing any document reviewed by us, the authority of each person signing in a representative capacity (other than the Company) any document reviewed by us, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all copies submitted to us or filed with the Commission as conformed and certified or reproduced copies. As to any facts material to our opinion, we have made no independent investigation of such facts and have relied, to the extent that we deem such reliance proper, upon certificates of public officials and officers or other representatives of the Company.

 

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the assumptions, exceptions, qualifications and limitations set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:

 

1. With respect to Securities constituting Common Stock to be sold by the Company, when (i) the Company has taken all necessary action to authorize and approve the issuance of such Common Stock, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters and (ii) such Common Stock has been issued and delivered, with certificates representing such Common Stock having been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations therefor having been made in the share register of the Company, in accordance with the terms of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement or, if such Common Stock is issuable upon the exercise of Warrants or Rights, the applicable warrant or rights agreement therefor, against payment (or delivery) of the consideration therefor provided for therein, such Common Stock (including any Common Stock duly issued upon exercise of Warrants or Rights that are exercisable to purchase Common Stock) will have been duly authorized and validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

1185 Avenue of the Americas | 37 th Floor | New York, NY | 10036

T (212) 930 9700 | F (212) 930 9725 | WWW.SRFKLLP.COM

 

 

 

 

2. With respect to Securities constituting Preferred Stock, when (i) the Company has taken all necessary action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of the shares of the series of such Preferred Stock, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of a resolution fixing the number of shares in any series of Preferred Stock and the designation of relative rights, preferences and limitations in any series of Preferred Stock and the filing of a certificate of designation with respect to the series with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada as required by 78.1955 of the Nevada Revised Statutes and (ii) such Preferred Stock has been issued and delivered, with certificates representing such Preferred Stock having been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered or, if uncertificated, valid book-entry notations therefor having been made in the share register of the Company, in accordance with the terms of the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement or, if such Preferred Stock is issuable upon the exercise of Warrants  or Rights, the applicable warrant  or rights agreement therefor, against payment (or delivery) of the consideration therefor provided for therein, such Preferred Stock (including any Preferred Stock duly issued upon exercise of Warrants that are exercisable to purchase Preferred Stock) will have been duly authorized and validly issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable.

 

3. With respect to Securities constituting Debt Securities to be issued under one or more indentures (each, an “Indenture”), when (i) the terms of the Debt Securities have been established in accordance with the Indenture, (ii) the Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, (iii) the Indenture and the applicable supplement thereto, if any, has been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the trustee thereunder and (iv) the Debt Securities have been executed, issued, delivered and authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the applicable purchase, underwriting or similar agreement against the receipt of requisite consideration therefor provided for therein, the Debt Securities will constitute legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company.

 

4. With respect to the Warrants, when (i) the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Warrants, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) the warrant agreement or agreements relating to the Warrants have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the warrant agent appointed by the Company; and (iii) the Warrants or certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the appropriate warrant agreement or agreements and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for therein, the Warrants will be validly issued and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms.

 

5. With respect to Securities constituting Rights, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate actions to approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Rights, terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) the agreement or agreements relating to the Securities comprising the Rights have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company; (iii) any shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock that are a component of any Rights are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and any other Securities that are components of any Rights are valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms; the Rights will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.

 

With respect to Securities constituting Units, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation of and the issuance and terms of the Units, terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) the agreement or agreements relating to the Securities comprising the Units have been duly authorized and validly executed and delivered by the Company; and (iii) the certificates representing the Securities comprising the Units have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the appropriate agreements, the Units will be valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with the their terms.

 

1185 Avenue of the Americas | 37 th Floor | New York, NY | 10036

T (212) 930 9700 | F (212) 930 9725 | WWW.SRFKLLP.COM

 

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The opinions and other matters in this letter are qualified in their entirety and subject to the following:

 

A. With respect to the opinions above, we have assumed that, in the case of each offering and sale of Securities, (i) the Registration Statement, and any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have become effective under the Act and such effectiveness or qualification shall not have been terminated or rescinded; (ii) a Prospectus Supplement will have been prepared and filed with the Commission describing such Securities; (iii) such Securities will have been issued and sold in compliance with applicable United States federal and state securities Laws (hereinafter defined) and pursuant to and in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the applicable Prospectus Supplement; (iv) unless such Securities constitute Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon exchange or conversion of Securities constituting Common Stock or Preferred Stock, or Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of Warrants or Rights, a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement with respect to the issuance and sale of such Securities will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (v) at the time of the issuance of such Securities, (a) the Company will validly exist and be duly qualified and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and (b) the Company will have the necessary corporate power and due authorization; (vi) the terms of such Securities and of their issuance and sale will have been established in conformity with and so as not to violate, or result in a default under or breach of, the amended and restated certificate of incorporation and bylaws of the Company and any applicable law or any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental or regulatory body having jurisdiction over the Company; (vii) if such Securities constitute Common Stock or Preferred Stock, (a) sufficient shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock will be authorized for issuance under the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company that have not otherwise been issued or reserved for issuance and (b) the consideration for the issuance and sale of such Common Stock or Preferred Stock established by the Board and provided for in the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement (or, if Common Stock or Preferred Stock is issuable upon exercise of Warrants or Rights, the applicable warrant or rights agreement) will not be less than the par value of such Common Stock or Preferred Stock; (viii) if such Securities constitute Common Stock or Preferred Stock issuable upon exercise of Warrants or Rights, the action with respect to such Warrants or Rights referred to in Paragraphs 4 and 5 above will have been taken; and (ix) if such Securities constitute Warrants or Rights that are exercisable for Securities constituting Common Stock or Preferred Stock, the Company will have then taken all necessary action to authorize and approve the issuance of such Common Stock or Preferred Stock upon exercise of such Warrants or Rights, the terms of such exercise and related matters and to reserve such Common Stock or Preferred Stock for issuance upon such exercise.

 

B. This letter is limited to matters governed by the Nevada Private Corporations Chapter of the Nevada Revised Statutes and by the laws of the State of New York (“Laws”).

 

C. This letter is limited to the matters stated herein, and no opinion is implied or may be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated. We assume herein no obligation, and hereby disclaim any obligation, to make any inquiry after the date hereof or to advise you of any future changes in the foregoing or of any fact or circumstance that may hereafter come to our attention.

 

D. The matters expressed in this letter are subject to and qualified and limited by (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer and conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights and remedies generally, and (ii) general principles of equity, including principles of commercial reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity).

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Validity of the Securities” in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus and in any supplement thereto. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  /s/ Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP
  Sichenzia Ross Ference Kesner LLP

 

1185 Avenue of the Americas | 37 th Floor | New York, NY | 10036

T (212) 930 9700 | F (212) 930 9725 | WWW.SRFKLLP.COM

 

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Exhibit 23.1

 

中正達會計師事務所有限公司

Centurion ZD CPA Limited

Certified Public Accountants (Practising)

 

Unit 1304, 13/F, Two Harbourfront, 22 Tak Fung Street, Hunghom, Hong Kong.

香港 紅磡 德豐街 22 號 海濱廣場二期 13 樓 1304 室

Tel 電話: (852) 2126 2388       Fax 傳真: (852) 2122 9078

Email 電郵: info@czdcpa.com

 

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

The Board of Directors 

 

Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited (fka Yangtze River Development Limited):

 

We consent to the use of our reports with respect to the consolidated financial statements and schedule of Yangtze River Port and Logistics Limited as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated by reference herein and to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the prospectus.

 

 

 

Centurion ZD CPA Ltd. (fka DCAW (CPA) Ltd. as successor to Dominic K.F. Chan & Co.) 

 

Hong Kong

 

March 20, 2018