As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 23, 2019

Registration No. 333-      

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-3

 

REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware   7389   27-0223495
(State of Incorporation)   (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

21255 Burbank Blvd, Suite 400
Woodland Hills, California 91367
(818) 884-3737
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

Bryant Riley
Co-Chief Executive Officer
21255 Burbank Blvd, Suite 400
Woodland Hills, California 91367
(818) 884-3737
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copies to:
Sara L. Terheggen, Esq.
The NBD Group, Inc.

350 N. Glendale Avenue, Ste B522

Glendale, California 91206

(408) 201-2662

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale of the securities to the public: From time to time, after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

 

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, 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 ☐ 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
(1)
  Amount to be
registered
(2)
    Proposed
maximum
offering price
per unit
(3)(4)
    Proposed
maximum
aggregate offering
price
    Amount of
registration fee
 
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share                                                                    (2)(3)(4)                 
Preferred Stock, par value $0.0001 per share                       (2)(3)(4)        
Warrants                       (2)(3)(4)        
Debt Securities                       (2)(3)(4)        
Depositary Shares(5)                                
Units(6)                       (2)(3)(4)        
Total Offering                   $ 250,000,000     $ 30,300  

 

(1) Securities registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder.

 

(2) An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and number or amount of the securities of each identified class is being registered as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices as shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $250,000,000. The securities registered also include such indeterminate amounts and numbers of common stock as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for preferred stock, warrants or debt securities that provide for such conversion or exchange. Separate consideration may or may not be received for securities that are issuable upon conversion of, or in exchange for, or upon exercise of, convertible or exchangeable securities.

 

(3) Not applicable pursuant to General Instruction II.D of Form S-3.

 

(4) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

(5) In the event that the registrant elects to offer to the public fractional interests in shares of preferred stock registered hereunder, depositary shares, evidenced by depositary receipts, issued pursuant to a deposit agreement, will be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests, and the shares of preferred stock will be issued to the depositary under any such agreement.

 

(6) Consisting of some or all of the securities listed above, in any combination, including common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities or depositary shares.

 

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 this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

 

 

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

This registration statement contains two prospectuses:

 

a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $250,000,000 of the registrant’s common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities, depositary shares and/or units; and

 

a sales agreement prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by the registrant of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $100,000,000 of the registrant’s (i) common stock, (ii) 7.25% Senior Notes Due 2027, (iii) 7.50% Senior Notes Due 2027, (iv) 7.375% Senior Notes Due 2023, (v) 6.875% Senior Notes Due 2023, (vi) 6.75% Senior Notes Due 2024 and (vii) 6.50% Senior Notes Due 2026 (clauses (i)-(vii), the “Offered Securities”), that may be issued and sold under a sales agreement with B. Riley FBR, Inc.

 

The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The sales agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus. The Offered Securities that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the sales agreement prospectus is included in the $250,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by the registrant under the base prospectus. Any portion of the $100,000,000 included in the sales agreement prospectus that is not previously sold or included in an active placement notice pursuant to the sales agreement is available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus, and if no shares are sold under the sales agreement, the full $250,000,000 of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement.

 

 

 

 

The information in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities, and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale thereof is not permitted.

 

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

 

PROSPECTUS

 

 

 

B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

 

$250,000,000
COMMON STOCK
PREFERRED STOCK
WARRANTS
DEBT SECURITIES

DEPOSITARY SHARES
UNITS

 

We may offer and sell from time to time the above securities in one or more classes, in one or more transactions, separately or together in any combination and as separate series, and in amounts, at prices and on terms that we will determine at the times of the offerings. We may also offer any of these securities that may be issuable upon the conversion, exercise or exchange of debt securities, preferred stock or warrants. The aggregate initial offering price of the securities that we may offer through this prospectus will be up to $250,000,000.

 

We will provide specific terms of any offering in supplements to this prospectus, which we will deliver together with the prospectus at the time of sale. The supplements may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

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.

 

Our common stock is traded on the Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “RILY”. On September 20, 2019, the last reported sales price of our common stock as quoted on NASDAQ was $24.94 per share.

 

On September 20, 2019, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates was $494.4 million.

 

Investing in our securities involves risks. Risks associated with an investment in our securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and certain of our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as described under the caption “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus.

 

NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

 

The date of this prospectus is      , 2019.

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
ABOUT B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC. 1
RISK FACTORS 3
SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS 3
DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE 3
USE OF PROCEEDS 3
SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER 4
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK 4
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS 6
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES 7
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES 14
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS 16
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION 17
LEGAL MATTERS 19
EXPERTS 19
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION 20
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE 20

 

i

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell the securities or combinations of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings in amounts that we will determine from time to time. For further information about our business and the securities, you should refer to the registration statement containing this prospectus and its exhibits. The exhibits to our registration statement contain the full text of certain contracts and other important documents we have summarized in this prospectus. Since these summaries may not contain all the information that you may find important in deciding whether to purchase the securities we offer, you should review the full text of these documents. We have filed and plan to continue to file other documents with the SEC that contain information about us and our business. Also, we will file legal documents that control the terms of the securities offered by this prospectus as exhibits to the reports we file by the SEC. The registration statement and other reports can be obtained from the SEC as indicated under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. Each time we offer securities pursuant to this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement and/or other offering material that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. When we refer to a “prospectus supplement,” we are also referring to any free writing prospectus or other offering material authorized by us. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement or incorporated information having a later date. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”

 

You should rely only on the information provided in this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement, or any other offering material that we authorize, including the information incorporated by reference. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus, any supplement to this prospectus, or any other offering material that we authorize, is accurate at any date other than the date indicated on the cover page of these documents or the date of the statement contained in any incorporated documents, respectively. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the securities referred to in the prospectus supplement. This prospectus is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy such securities in any circumstances in which such offer or solicitation is unlawful. You should not interpret the delivery of this prospectus, or any sale of securities, as an indication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date of this prospectus. You should also be aware that information in this prospectus may change after this date. The information contained in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement or amendment, or incorporated herein or therein by reference, is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or prospectus supplement or amendment, as applicable, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or prospectus supplement or amendment, as applicable, or of any sale of the shares.

 

As used in this prospectus, unless the context indicates or otherwise requires, “the Company,” “B. Riley,” “we,” “us,” or “our” refer to the combined business of B. Riley Financial, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries.

 

ii

 

 

ABOUT B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

 

Our Business

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: RILY) and its subsidiaries provide collaborative financial services and solutions through several operating subsidiaries including:

 

B. Riley FBR, Inc. (“B. Riley FBR”) is a leading, full service investment bank providing financial advisory, corporate finance, research, securities lending and sales and trading services to corporate, institutional and high net worth individual clients.

 

B. Riley Wealth Management, Inc. provides comprehensive wealth management and brokerage services to individuals and families, corporations and non-profit organizations, including qualified retirement plans, trusts, foundations and endowments.

 

B. Riley Capital Management, LLC, a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered investment advisor, which includes:

 

B. Riley Asset Management, an advisor to certain private funds and to institutional and high net worth investors.

 

Great American Capital Partners, LLC (“GACP”), the general partner of two private funds, GACP I, L.P. and GACP II, L.P., both direct lending funds that provide senior secured loans and second lien secured loan facilities to middle market public and private U.S. companies.

 

GlassRatner Advisory & Capital Group LLC (“GlassRatner”), a specialty financial advisory services firm that provides consulting services to shareholders, creditors and companies, including due diligence, fraud investigations, corporate litigation support, crisis management and bankruptcy services. We acquired GlassRatner on August 1, 2018. GlassRatner strengthens B. Riley’s diverse platform and complements the restructuring services provided by B. Riley FBR.

 

Great American Group, LLC, a leading provider of asset disposition and auction solutions to a wide range of retail and industrial clients.

 

Great American Group Advisory and Valuation Services, LLC, a leading provider of appraisal and valuation services for asset based lenders, private equity firms and corporate clients.

 

We also pursue a strategy of investing in or acquiring companies which we believe have attractive investment return characteristics. We acquired United Online, Inc. (“UOL”) on July 1, 2016 and magicJack VocalTec Ltd. (“magicJack”) on November 14, 2018 as part of our principal investment strategy.

 

UOL is a communications company that offers consumer subscription services and products, consisting of Internet access services and devices under the NetZero and Juno brands primarily sold in the United States.

 

magicJack is a Voice over IP (“VoIP”) cloud-based technology and services communications provider.

 

We are headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in major cities throughout the United States including New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Memphis, Metro Washington D.C. and West Palm Beach.

 

For financial reporting purposes we classify our businesses into four operating segments: (i) Capital Markets, (ii) Auction and Liquidation, (iii) Valuation and Appraisal and (iv) Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack.

 

1

 

 

Capital Markets Segment.    Our Capital Markets segment provides a full array of investment banking, corporate finance, consulting, financial advisory, research, securities lending, wealth management and sales and trading services to corporate, institutional and high net worth clients. Our corporate finance and investment banking services include merger and acquisitions as well as restructuring advisory services to public and private companies, initial and secondary public offerings, and institutional private placements. In addition, we trade equity securities as a principal for our account, including investments in funds managed by our subsidiaries. Our Capital Markets segment also includes our asset management businesses that manage various private and public funds for institutional and individual investors.

 

Auction and Liquidation Segment.    Our Auction and Liquidation segment utilizes our significant industry experience, a scalable network of independent contractors and industry-specific advisors to tailor our services to the specific needs of a multitude of clients, logistical challenges and distressed circumstances. Furthermore, our scale and pool of resources allow us to offer our services across North American as well as parts of Europe, Asia and Australia. Our Auction and Liquidation segment operates through two main divisions, retail store liquidations and wholesale and industrial assets dispositions. Our wholesale and industrial assets dispositions division operates through limited liability companies that are controlled by us.

 

Valuation and Appraisal Segment.    Our Valuation and Appraisal segment provides valuation and appraisal services to financial institutions, lenders, private equity firms and other providers of capital. These services primarily include the valuation of assets (i) for purposes of determining and monitoring the value of collateral securing financial transactions and loan arrangements and (ii) in connection with potential business combinations. Our Valuation and Appraisal segment operates through limited liability companies that are majority owned by us.

 

Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack Segment.    Our Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack segment consists of businesses which have been acquired primarily for attractive investment return characteristics. Currently, this segment includes UOL, through which we provide consumer Internet access, and magicJack, through which we provide VoIP communication and related product and subscription services.

 

Our Corporate Information

 

We are a Delaware corporation. Our executive offices are located at 21255 Burbank Blvd, Suite 400, Woodland Hills, California 91367, and the telephone number at our principal executive office is (818) 884-3737. Our website addresses are http://www.brileyfin.com, https://brileyfbr.com, http://www.greatamerican.com, https://www.glassratner.com, http://www.unitedonline.net, http://www.magicjack.com and http://www.vocaltec.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this document.

 

2

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our securities involves risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks described under the heading “Risk Factors” contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, together with all of the other information appearing in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These risks could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and could result in a partial or complete loss of your investment. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently believe are immaterial may also significantly impair our business operations and financial condition. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”

  

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Statements in this prospectus that are not descriptions of historical facts are forward-looking statements that are based on management’s current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties. If such risks or uncertainties materialize or such assumptions prove incorrect, our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price could be materially negatively affected. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology including “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated include those set forth in the section titled “Risk Factors.”

 

We operate in a very competitive and rapidly-changing environment and new risks emerge from time to time. As a result, it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements we may make. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus may not occur and actual results could differ materially and adversely from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. You should not rely upon forward-looking statements as predictions of future events. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot guarantee that the future results, levels of activity, performance or events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur. Moreover, neither we nor any other person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of the forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this prospectus speak only as of the date hereof, and except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason after the date of this prospectus to conform these statements to actual results or to changes in our expectations.

 

DETERMINATION OF OFFERING PRICE

 

The terms of any particular offering by us, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, relating to such offering.

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Unless we inform you otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, we expect to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general corporate purposes, which may include funding future acquisitions and investments, repaying indebtedness, making capital expenditures and funding working capital. Pending any specific application, we may initially invest the net proceeds in short-term marketable securities.

 

We have not determined the amounts we plan to spend on the areas listed above or the timing of these expenditures. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds of any offering.

 

3

 

 

SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

 

We may issue from time to time, in one or more offerings the following securities:

 

  shares of common stock;

 

  shares of preferred stock;

 

  warrants exercisable for debt securities, common stock or preferred stock;

 

  debt securities;
     
  depositary shares; and

 

  units of common stock, preferred stock, warrants, debt securities or depositary shares, in any combination.

 

This prospectus contains a summary of the material general terms of the various securities that we may offer. The specific terms of the securities will be described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, which may be in addition to or different from the general terms summarized in this prospectus. Where applicable, the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus will also describe any material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities offered and indicate whether the securities offered are or will be listed on any securities exchange. The summaries contained in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplements, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may not contain all of the information that you would find useful. Accordingly, you should read the actual documents relating to any securities sold pursuant to this prospectus. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” for information about how to obtain copies of those documents.

 

The terms of any particular offering, the initial offering price and the net proceeds to us will be contained in the prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus, relating to such offering.

  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, provides that we are authorized to issue 101,000,000 shares of capital stock. Our authorized capital stock is comprised of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, and 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

The following description is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock and certain provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended. This description does not purport to be complete. For information on how you can obtain our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

Common Stock

 

We are authorized to issue up to 100,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $0.0001 per share.

 

The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares voting are able to elect all of our directors. Subject to preferences that may apply to any then outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available for distribution at the times and in the amounts, if any, that our Board of Directors may determine from time to time. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, subject to the rights of each series of our preferred stock, which may, from time to time come into existence, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets remaining after we pay our liabilities. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or other subscription or conversion rights. Our common stock is not redeemable and there are no sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

 

4

 

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our Board of Directors is authorized, subject to limitations imposed by Delaware law, to issue up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share, in one or more series, without stockholder approval. Our Board of Directors is authorized to fix the number of shares of preferred stock and to determine or (so long as no shares of such series are then outstanding) alter for each such series, such voting powers, full or limited, or no voting powers, and such designations, preferences, and relative, participating, optional, or other rights and such qualifications, limitations, or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such shares and as may be permitted by Delaware General Corporation Law. The rights, privileges, preferences and restrictions of any such additional series may be subordinated to, pari passu with, or senior to any of those of any present or future class or series of our capital stock. Our Board of Directors is also authorized to decrease the number of shares of any series, prior or subsequent to the issue of that series, but not below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting any decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.

 

This section describes the general terms and provisions of our preferred stock. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any shares of preferred stock offered through that prospectus supplement, as well as any general terms described in this section that will not apply to those shares of preferred stock. We will file a copy of the certificate of designation that contains the terms of each new series of preferred stock with the SEC each time we issue a new series of preferred stock. Each certificate of designation will establish the number of shares included in a designated series and fix the designation, powers, privileges, preferences and rights of the shares of each series as well as any applicable qualifications, limitations or restrictions. You should refer to the applicable certificate of designation as well as our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation before deciding to buy shares of our preferred stock as described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

  

 Anti-Takeover Provisions of Delaware Law and Charter Provisions

 

Interested Stockholder Transactions

 

We are subject to Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, which prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any “business combination” with any “interested stockholder” for a period of three years after the date that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, with the following exceptions:

 

  before such date, the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested holder;

 

  upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction began, excluding, for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding, those shares owned by persons who are directors and also officers and by employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

  on or after such date, the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock that is not owned by the interested stockholder.

 

5

 

 

Section 203 defines “business combination” to include the following:

 

  any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;

 

  any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation involving the interested stockholder;

 

  subject to certain exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;

 

  any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock or any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; or

 

  the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits by or through the corporation.

 

In general, Section 203 defines “interested stockholder” as an entity or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation or any entity or person affiliated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws

 

Provisions in our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, may have the effect of discouraging certain transactions that may result in a change in control of our company. Some of these provisions provide that stockholders cannot act by written consent and impose advance notice requirements and procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and the nomination of candidates for election as directors. Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation allows us to issue shares of preferred stock (see “Blank Check Preferred Stock”) or common stock without any action by stockholders. Our directors and our officers are indemnified by us to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law pursuant to our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Our Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal our Amended and Restated Bylaws. These provisions may make it more difficult for stockholders to take specific corporate actions and may make it more difficult or discourage an attempt to obtain control of the Company by means of a proxy contest, tender offer, merger or otherwise.

 

Blank Check Preferred Stock

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, authorizes our Board of Directors to approve the issuance of up to 1,000,000 shares of preferred stock, without further approval of the stockholders, and to determine the rights and preferences of any series of preferred stock. The Board of Directors could issue one or more series of preferred stock with voting, conversion, dividend, liquidation or other rights that would adversely affect the voting power and ownership interest of holders of our common stock. This authority may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers, delaying or preventing a change in control and discouraging bids for our common stock at a premium over the market price.

  

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

 

We may issue warrants to purchase common stock, preferred stock or other securities described in this prospectus. We may issue warrants independently or as part of a unit with other securities. Warrants sold with other securities as a unit may be attached to or separate from the other securities. The prospectus supplement relating to any warrants we are offering will describe specific terms relating to the offering, including a description of any other securities sold together with the warrants. These terms will include some or all of the following:

 

  the title of the warrants;

 

  the aggregate number of warrants offered;

 

  the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;

 

  the designation, number and terms of any common stock, preferred stock or other securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants and procedures by which those numbers may be adjusted;

 

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  the exercise price of the warrants, including any provisions for changes or adjustments to the exercise price, and terms relating to the currency in which such price is payable;

 

  the dates or periods during which the warrants are exercisable;

 

  the designation and terms of any securities with which the warrants are issued as a unit;

 

  if the warrants are issued as a unit with another security, the date on or after which the warrants and the other security will be separately transferable;

 

  any minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;

 

  any terms relating to the modification of the warrants;

 

  a discussion of material federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and

 

  any other terms of the warrants and any other securities sold together with the warrants, including, but not limited to, the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the transferability, exchange, exercise or redemption of the warrants.

 

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any warrant units.

 

The descriptions of the warrants in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and do not contain all of the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define many of your rights as holders of the warrants or any warrant units. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of warrants or warrant units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. The senior debt securities will rank equally with any other unsubordinated debt that we may have and may be secured or unsecured. The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner described in the instrument governing the debt, to all or some portion of our senior indebtedness. Any convertible debt securities that we may issue will be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock or other securities of ours or of a third party. Conversion may be mandatory or at your option and would be at prescribed conversion rates.

 

The debt securities will be issued either (i) pursuant to our existing indenture, dated as of November 2, 2016, as supplemented, between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (our “2016 Indenture”), (ii) pursuant to our existing indenture, dated as of May 7, 2019, as supplemented, between us and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (our “2019 Indenture” and together with the 2016 Indenture, the “existing indentures”), or (iii) pursuant to a subordinated debt indenture that we will enter into with The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (“new subordinated debt indenture”). While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in a prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus).

  

We have incorporated by reference our existing indentures and filed forms of our new subordinated debt indenture as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We use the term “indentures” to refer collectively to our existing indentures and our new subordinated debt indenture.

 

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The indentures, to the extent not already qualified, will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

 

The following summaries of the material provisions of the senior debt securities, the subordinated debt securities and the indentures, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplements, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the form of our new subordinated debt indenture filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part, as it may be supplemented, amended or modified from time to time, as well as our existing indentures that are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is part. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement (and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize to be provided to you) related to the series of debt securities being offered, as well as the complete indentures that contain the terms of the debt securities.

 

The following are some of the terms relating to our existing indentures and our new subordinated debt indenture of debt securities that could be described in a prospectus supplement:

 

  title;

 

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

 

  any limit on the amount that may be issued;

 

  whether we will issue the series of debt securities in global form and, if so, the terms and who the depositary will be;

 

  maturity date;

 

  principal amount due at maturity, and whether the debt securities will be issued with any original issue discount;

 

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

 

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

 

  whether the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;

 

  terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;

 

  place where payments will be payable;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  incur additional indebtedness;

 

  issue additional securities;
     
  create liens;

 

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

 

  redeem capital stock;

 

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

 

  make investments or other restricted payments;

 

  sell or otherwise dispose of assets;
     
  enter into sale-leaseback transactions;

 

  engage in transactions with shareholders or affiliates;

 

  issue or sell stock of our subsidiaries; or

 

  effect a consolidation or merger;

 

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

 

  a discussion of any material or special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the debt securities;

 

  information describing any book-entry features;

 

  procedures for any auction or remarketing, if any;

 

  whether the debt securities are to be offered at a price such that they will be deemed to be offered at an “original issue discount” as defined in paragraph (a) of Section 1273 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended;

 

  denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof;

 

  if other than dollars, the currency in which the series of debt securities will be denominated; and

 

  any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of, or restrictions on, the debt securities, including any events of default that are in addition to those described in this prospectus or any covenants provided with respect to the debt securities that are in addition to those described above, and any terms that may be required by us or advisable under applicable laws or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of the debt securities.

 

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Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for common stock, preferred stock or other securities of ours, including the conversion or exchange rate, as applicable, or how it will be calculated, and the applicable conversion or exchange period. We will include provisions as to whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of our securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive upon conversion or exchange would, under the circumstances described in those provisions, be subject to adjustment, or pursuant to which those holders would, under those circumstances, receive other property upon conversion or exchange, for example in the event of our merger or consolidation with another entity.

 

Consolidation, Merger or Sale

 

The terms of any securities that we may offer pursuant to this prospectus may limit our ability to merge or consolidate or otherwise sell, convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our assets, which terms would be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and supplemental indenture. Any successor of ours or acquiror of such assets would have to assume all of our obligations under the indentures and the debt securities, as appropriate.

 

If the debt securities are convertible for our other securities, the person with whom we consolidate or merge or to whom we sell all of our property would have to make provisions for the conversion of the debt securities into securities that the holders of the debt securities would have received if they had converted the debt securities before the consolidation, merger or sale.

 

Events of Default Under the Indenture

 

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default under the indentures with respect to any series of debt securities that we may issue:

 

  if we fail to pay interest when due and payable and our failure continues for 30 days and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred;
     
  if we fail to pay the principal or premium, if any, when due and payable and the time for payment has not been extended or deferred;
     
  if we fail to deposit any sinking fund payment, to the extent applicable, when and as due;

 

  if we fail to observe or perform any other covenant contained in the debt securities or the indentures, and our failure continues for 60 days after we receive notice from the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the applicable series; and

 

  if specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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  the direction so given by the holder is not in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture, nor subject the trustee to a risk of personal liability in respect of which the trustee has not received indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action; and

 

  the trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

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

 

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

 

  the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series have made written request, and such holders have offered indemnity satisfactory to the trustee to institute the proceeding as trustee; and

 

  the trustee does not institute the proceeding, and does not receive from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series other conflicting directions within 60 days after the notice, request and offer.

  

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

 

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

 

Supplemental Indentures

 

We and the trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or supplemental indenture without the consent of any holders for one or more of the following purposes:

 

  to evidence the succession of another corporation, and the assumption by the successor corporation of our covenants, agreements and obligations under the indenture and debt securities;

 

  to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an event of default;

 

  to modify, eliminate or add to any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and to add to the indenture such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

  to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with other provisions;

 

  to make provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture, so long such other provisions to do not adversely affect the interest of any other holder of debt securities in any material respect;

 

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  to secure any series of security;

 

  to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment of a successor trustee and to add or change any provisions of the indenture as necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trust by more than one trustee; and

 

  to establish the form or terms of securities of any series as permitted under the indenture, including any subordination provisions.

 

In addition, we and the trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal of the outstanding debt securities of each series that is affected, may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or supplemental indenture for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner the rights of the holders of the securities of such series and any related coupons of the indenture, provided that no such supplemental indenture shall:

 

  extend the fixed maturity of any securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof or premium, if any, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest, without the extent of the holder so affected;

 

  reduce the aforesaid percentage of securities, the consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of all holders of outstanding series of debt securities; or

 

  modify any of the above provisions.

 

Discharge

 

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

 

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

 

  maintain paying agencies; and

 

  hold monies for payment in trust.

 

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

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer

 

We will issue the debt securities of each series only in fully registered form without coupons and, unless we otherwise specify in the applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus, in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. The indentures will provide that we may issue debt securities of a series in temporary or permanent global form and as book-entry securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company or another depositary named by us and identified in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus with respect to that series.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

  issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any debt securities of any series being redeemed in part during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of sending of a notice of redemption of any debt securities that may be selected for redemption and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmission; or

 

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

 

Information Concerning the Trustee

 

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

  

Payment and Paying Agents

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Governing Law

 

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

 

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Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

The subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in priority of payment to certain of our other indebtedness to the extent described in a prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. Our new subordinated debt indenture in the form initially filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and our existing indentures, do not limit the amount of indebtedness which we may incur, including senior indebtedness or subordinated indebtedness, and do not limit us from issuing any other debt, including secured debt or unsecured debt.

 

DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES

 

General

 

We may, at our option, elect to offer fractional interests in shares of preferred stock, which we call depositary shares, rather than full shares of preferred stock. If we do, we will issue to the public receipts, called depositary receipts, for depositary shares, each of which will represent a fraction, to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, of a share of a particular series of preferred stock. Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement, each owner of a depositary share will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in a share of preferred stock represented by the depositary share, to all the rights and preferences of the preferred stock represented by the depositary share. Those rights include dividend, voting, redemption, conversion and liquidation rights.

 

The shares of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares will be deposited with a bank or trust company selected by us to act as depositary under a deposit agreement between us, the depositary and the holders of the depositary receipts. The depositary will be the transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for the depositary shares.

 

The depositary shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the deposit agreement. Holders of depositary receipts agree to be bound by the deposit agreement, which requires holders to take certain actions such as filing proof of residence and paying certain charges.

 

The summary of terms of the depositary shares contained in this prospectus is not complete. You should refer to the form of the deposit agreement and the certificate of designation for the applicable series of preferred stock that are, or will be, filed with the SEC.

 

Dividends and Other Distributions

 

The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions, if any, received in respect of the preferred stock underlying the depositary shares to the record holders of depositary shares in proportion to the numbers of depositary shares owned by those holders on the relevant record date. The relevant record date for depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for, or otherwise in accordance with the terms of, the underlying preferred stock. The depositary will not distribute amounts less than one cent. The depositary will distribute any balance with the next sum received for distribution to record holders of depositary shares.

 

If there is a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make the distribution. If this occurs, the depositary may, with our approval, adopt another method for the distribution, including selling the property and distributing the net proceeds from the sale to the holders.

 

Liquidation Preference

 

If a series of preferred stock underlying the depositary shares has a liquidation preference, in the event of the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, holders of depositary shares will be entitled to receive the fraction of the liquidation preference accorded each share of the applicable series of preferred stock, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

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Withdrawal of Stock

 

Unless the related depositary shares have been previously called for redemption, upon surrender of the depositary receipts at the office of the depositary, the holder of the depositary shares will be entitled to delivery, at the office of the depositary to or upon his or her order, of the number of whole shares of the preferred stock and any money or other property represented by the depositary shares. If the depositary receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of depositary shares in excess of the number of depositary shares representing the number of whole shares of preferred stock to be withdrawn, the depositary will deliver to the holder at the same time a new depositary receipt evidencing the excess number of depositary shares. In no event will the depositary deliver fractional shares of preferred stock upon surrender of depositary receipts.

 

Redemption of Depositary Shares

 

Whenever we redeem shares of preferred stock held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem, as of the same redemption date, the number of depositary shares representing the preferred stock redeemed, so long as we have set aside all funds necessary for the redemption, including the redemption price for such shares and all dividends declared but not paid as of the date fixed for redemption. The redemption price per depositary share will bear the same relationship to the redemption price per share of preferred stock that the depositary share bears to the underlying preferred stock. If less than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected pro rata, by lot or by any other equitable method.

 

After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares called for redemption will no longer be outstanding. When the depositary shares are no longer outstanding, all rights of the holders will cease, except the right to receive money or other property that the holders of the depositary shares were entitled to receive upon the redemption. Payments will be made when holders surrender their depositary receipts to the depositary.

 

Voting the Preferred Stock

 

Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the preferred stock are entitled to vote, the depositary will forward the information contained in the notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary receipts relating to that preferred stock. The relevant record date for depositary shares will be the same date as the record date for, or otherwise in accordance with the terms of, the underlying preferred stock. Each record holder of the depositary shares on the record date will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of shares of preferred stock represented by that holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as reasonably practicable, to vote the number of shares of preferred stock represented by the depositary shares in accordance with those instructions, and we will agree to take all reasonable action requested by and deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. In the absence of any specific instructions from a holder of depositary shares, the depositary will, subject to any applicable restrictions, cast votes pertaining to the number of whole shares of preferred stock represented by such depositary shares proportionately with instructions actually received.

 

Charges of Depositary

 

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay associated charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the preferred stock and any redemption of the preferred stock. Holders of depositary receipts will pay transfer, income and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts. If these charges have not been paid by the holders of depositary receipts, the depositary may refuse to transfer depositary shares, withhold dividends and distributions and sell the depositary shares evidenced by the depositary receipt.

 

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Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement

 

The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may be amended by agreement between us and the depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless the amendment has been approved by at least a majority (or, in the case of such amendments relating to or affecting rights to receive dividends or distributions or voting or redemption rights, holders of at least two-thirds) of the outstanding depositary shares. The deposit agreement may be terminated by the depositary or us only if:

 

all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed; or

 

there has been a final distribution of the preferred stock in connection with our liquidation, dissolution or winding up and such distribution has been made to all the holders of depositary shares.

 

Resignation and Removal of Depositary

 

The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may remove the depositary at any time. Any resignation or removal of the depositary will take effect upon our appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. The successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and having the requisite combined capital and surplus as set forth in the applicable agreement.

 

Notices

 

The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all notices, reports and other communications, including proxy solicitation materials received from us, that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to the holders of the preferred stock. In addition, the depositary will make available for inspection by holders of depositary receipts at the principal office of the depositary, and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports and communications we deliver to the depositary as the holder of preferred stock.

 

Limitation of Liability

 

Neither we nor the depositary will be liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. Our obligations and those of the depositary under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of our and their obligations thereunder. We and the depositary will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. We and the depositary may rely upon advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by persons presenting preferred stock for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent to give such information and on documents believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

 

DESCRIPTION OF UNITS

 

As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The prospectus supplement will describe:

 

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

 

  the terms of any unit agreement governing the units;

 

  the provisions for the payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units;

 

  material federal income tax considerations, if applicable; and

 

  whether the units will be issued in fully registered or global form.

 

The descriptions of the units and any applicable underlying security or pledge arrangements in this prospectus and in any prospectus supplement are summaries of the material provisions of the applicable agreements. These descriptions do not restate those agreements in their entirety and may not contain all the information that you may find useful. We urge you to read the applicable agreements because they, and not the summaries, define many of your rights as holders of the units. For more information, please review the form of the relevant agreements, which will be filed with the SEC promptly after the offering of units and will be available as described under the heading “Where You Can Find Additional Information.”

 

16

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

Securities Offered by Us

 

We may sell the securities from time to time pursuant to underwritten public offerings, negotiated transactions, block trades, “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act or a combination of these methods. We may sell the securities to or through underwriters or dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers.

 

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

 

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

 

  at market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

  at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

  at negotiated prices.

 

Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriter to purchase securities will be subject to certain conditions, and an underwriter will be obligated to purchase all of the applicable securities if any are purchased. If a dealer is used in a sale, we may sell the securities to the dealer as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

 

We or our agents may solicit offers to purchase securities from time to time. Unless stated otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.

 

In connection with the sale of securities, underwriters or agents may receive compensation (in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions) from us or from purchasers of securities for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of securities may be deemed to be underwriters, as that term is defined in the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profits on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. We will identify any such underwriter or agent, and we will describe any compensation paid to them, in the related prospectus supplement.

 

Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled under agreements with us to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

If stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain specified institutions or other persons to purchase securities at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Institutions with which these contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to our approval. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement and the applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of these contracts. The obligations of any purchaser under any such contract will be subject to the condition that the purchase of the securities shall not be prohibited at the time of delivery under the laws of the jurisdiction to which the purchaser is subject. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or performance of these contracts.

 

17

 

 

There is no established trading market for any security other than our common stock, which is listed on the NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “RILY”, our 7.50% Senior Notes due 2021, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYL”, our 7.50% Senior Notes due 2027, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYZ”, our 7.375% Senior notes due 2023, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYH”, our 7.25% Senior notes due 2027, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYG”, our 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYI”, our 6.75% Senior Notes due 2024, listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYO”, and our 6.50% Senior Notes due 2026, to be listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYN”. The securities issued under this registration statement may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or traded in the over-the-counter market, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of our securities. Any underwriter may make a market in these securities. However, no underwriter will be obligated to do so, and any underwriter may discontinue any market making at any time, without prior notice.

 

If underwriters or dealers are used in the sale, until the distribution of the securities is completed, SEC rules may limit the ability of any underwriters and selling group members to bid for and purchase the securities. As an exception to these rules, representatives of any underwriters are permitted to engage in certain transactions that stabilize the price of the securities. These transactions may consist of bids or purchases for the purpose of pegging, fixing or maintaining the price of the securities. If the underwriters create a short position in the applicable securities in connection with any offering (in other words, if they sell more securities than are set forth on the cover page of the applicable prospectus supplement) the representatives of the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing securities in the open market. The representatives of the underwriters may also elect to reduce any short position by exercising all or part of any over-allotment option we may grant to the underwriters, as described in the prospectus supplement. The representatives of the underwriters may also impose a penalty bid on certain underwriters and selling group members. This means that if the representatives purchase securities in the open market to reduce the underwriters’ short position or to stabilize the price of the securities, they may reclaim the amount of the selling concession from the underwriters and selling group members who sold those shares as part of the offering.

 

In general, purchases of a security for the purpose of stabilization or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of those purchases. The imposition of a penalty bid might also have an effect on the price of the securities to the extent that it discourages resales of the securities. The transactions described above may have the effect of causing the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the representatives of the underwriters may discontinue any of the transactions at any time. In addition, the representatives of any underwriters may determine not to engage in those transactions or that those transactions, once commenced, may be discontinued without notice.

 

Certain of the underwriters or agents and their associates may engage in transactions with and perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of their respective businesses.

 

In no event will the commission or discount received by any Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) member or independent broker-dealer participating in a distribution of securities exceed eight percent of the aggregate principal amount of the offering of securities in which that FINRA member or independent broker-dealer participates.

 

18

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

The NBD Group, Inc., Los Angeles, California, has passed upon the validity of the securities to be offered pursuant to this prospectus.

 

EXPERTS

 

Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, as well as the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, as stated in its report incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and such audited consolidated financial statements have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon its authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The consolidated financial statements of FBR & Co. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

The consolidated financial statements of magicJack VocalTec Ltd. as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

19

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

 

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document that we file at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549, on official business days during the hours of 10:00 am and 3:00 pm. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the Public Reference Room. All filings we make with the SEC are also available on the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. Our website addresses are http://www.greatamerican.com, http://www.brileyfin.com, http://www.unitedonline.net, http://www.magicjack.com and http://www.vocaltec.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our websites, and you should not consider it to be a part of this document.

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act with respect to the securities being offered by this prospectus. This prospectus is part of that registration statement. This prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. For further information with respect to us and the securities we are offering pursuant to this prospectus, you should refer to the complete registration statement, its exhibits and the information incorporated by reference in the registration statement. Statements contained in this prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other document referred to are not necessarily complete, and you should refer to the copy of that contract or other documents filed as an exhibit to the registration statement. You may read or obtain a copy of the registration statement at the SEC’s public reference room and website referred to above.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

For purposes of this prospectus, the SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” certain information we have filed with the SEC, which means that we are disclosing important information to you by referring you to other information we have filed with the SEC. The information we incorporate by reference is considered part of this prospectus. We specifically are incorporating by reference the following documents filed with the SEC (excluding those portions of any Current Report on Form 8-K that are not deemed “filed” pursuant to the General Instructions of Form 8-K):

 

  Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 1, 2019 and August 9, 2019, respectively;
     
  Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2019 (including any portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 15, 2019 that are incorporated by reference into such Annual Report on Form 10-K);
     
  Our current reports on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on June 28, 2017, March 21, 2018 and December 10, 2018, and our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 21, 2017, January 5, 2018, January 16, 2018, March 20, 2018, April 25, 2018, May 11, 2018, July 16, 2018, July 31, 2018, August 13, 2018, November 20, 2018, December 27, 2018, January 4, 2019, February 7, 2019, April 9, 2019, April 22, 2019, May 7, 2019, July 18, 2019 and September 23, 2019; and

 

  Description of our common stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on July 15, 2015.

 

All documents we file with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, except as to any portion of any report or documents that is not deemed filed under such provisions, (1) on or after the date of filing of the registration statement containing this prospectus and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement and (2) on or after the date of this prospectus until the earlier of the date on which all of the securities registered hereunder have been sold or the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part has been withdrawn, shall be deemed incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be a part of this prospectus from the date of filing of those documents.

 

20

 

 

These reports and documents can be accessed free of charge on our website http://www.brileyfin.com by clicking on “Investor Relations” and then clicking on “SEC Filings.” We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, but not delivered with the prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into the documents that this prospectus incorporates. Please send written requests to:

 

21255 Burbank Boulevard, Suite 400

Woodland Hills, California 91367

Attn.: Chief Financial Officer

 

You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with different information. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front page of those documents.

 

21

 

 

THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS ARE NOT AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES, AND THEY ARE NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE THEREOF IS NOT PERMITTED.

  

SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 23, 2019

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Up to $100,000,000

 

 

7.375% Senior Notes due 2023

6.875% Senior Notes due 2023

6.75% Senior Notes due 2024

6.50% Senior Notes due 2026

7.50% Senior Notes due 2027

7.25% Senior Notes due 2027

Common Stock

 

We have entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with B. Riley FBR, Inc. (“B. Riley FBR” or the “Agent”), on September 23, 2019, under which we may offer and sell, from time to time through or to B. Riley FBR, as agent or principal, up to $100,000,000 aggregate amount of our:

 

7.375% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “7.375% 2023 Notes”);

 

6.875% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “6.875% 2023 Notes”);

 

6.75% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”);

 

6.50% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”);

 

7.50% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “7.50% 2027 Notes”);

 

7.25% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “7.25% 2027 Notes” and together with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, the 6.875% 2023 Notes, the 2024 Notes, the 2026 Notes, and the 7.50% 2027 Notes, the “Notes”); and

 

Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock” and, together with the Notes, the “Offered Securities”);

 

through this prospectus.

 

Sales of the Offered Securities, if any, under this prospectus may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Agent is not required to sell any specific number of the Offered Securities, but the Agent will make all sales using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices on mutually agreed terms between the Agent and us. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

The Offered Securities to which this prospectus relate will be offered and sold through the Agent over a period of time and from time to time. Under the Sales Agreement, the Agent will be entitled to compensation of equal to 2.0% of the gross proceeds of all Offered Securities sold through it as our Agent. In connection with the sale of the Offered Securities, the Agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. There is no arrangement to place proceeds of the offering in escrow, trust or similar arrangement. See “Plan of Distribution.”

 

 

 

 

The 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes will mature on May 31, 2023, September 30, 2023, May 31, 2024, September 30, 2026, May 31, 2027 and December 31, 2027, respectively. Interest will be paid quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year. Interest on the Notes will accrue from the most recent interest payment date immediately preceding the respective dates of issuance of the Notes, except that Notes purchased after the record dates noted below, but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date (or if settlement of a purchase of Notes otherwise occurs after such record date but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date), will not begin to accrue interest until the interest payment date immediately following such record date. The interest payable on each interest payment date will be paid only to holders of record of the Notes at the close of business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date. As a general matter, holders of the Notes will not be entitled to receive any payments of principal on the Notes prior to the stated maturity date. We may redeem the 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes in whole or in part on or after May 31, 2020 and December 31, 2020, respectively, at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” We may redeem the 7.375% 2023 Notes in whole or in part at our option (i) on or after May 31, 2020 and prior to May 31, 2021, at a price equal to $25.75 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after May 31, 2021 and prior to May 31, 2022, at a price equal to $25.375 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after May 31, 2022 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding the date of redemption, as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” We may redeem the 6.875% 2023 Notes in whole or in part at our option (i) on or after September 30, 2020 and prior to September 30, 2021, at a price equal to $25.50 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after September 30, 2021 and prior to September 30, 2022, at a price equal to $25.25 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after September 30, 2022 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding the date of redemption, as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” The Notes will be issued in denominations of $25 and in integral multiples thereof. We may redeem the 2024 Notes for cash in whole or in part at any time at our option (i) on or after May 31, 2021 and prior to May 31, 2022, at a price equal to $25.50 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after May 31, 2022 and prior to May 31, 2023, at a price equal to $25.25 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after May 31, 2023 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. We may redeem the 2026 Notes for cash in whole or in part at any time at our option (i) on or after September 30, 2022 and prior to September 30, 2023, at a price equal to $25.50 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after September 30, 2023 and prior to September 30, 2024, at a price equal to $25.25 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after September 30, 2024 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

The up to $100,000,000 in total aggregate principal amount (inclusive of any Common Stock sold hereunder) of 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes that we may offer and sell under this prospectus constitutes a further issuance of and are fungible with the $116,799,575 in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% Senior Notes due 2023 that we have issued to date (the “Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes”), the $105,253,975 in aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023 that we have issued to date (the “Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes”), the $100,050,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.75% Senior Notes due 2024 that we have issued to date (the “Initial 2024 Notes”), the $115,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of 6.50% Senior Notes due 2026 that we have issued to date (the “Initial 2026 Notes”), the $110,028,100 in aggregate principal amount of 7.50% Senior Notes due 2027 that we have issued to date (the “Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes”), and the $112,428,700 in aggregate principal amount of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2027 that we have issued to date (the “Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes” and, together with the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, the Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, the Initial 2024 Notes, the Initial 2026 Notes and the Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes, the “Initial Notes”), respectively, and form a single series of debt securities with the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes and Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes, respectively. Unless the context requires otherwise, references to the “Notes,” “7.375% 2023 Notes,” “6.875% 2023 Notes,” “2024 Notes,” “2026 Notes,” “7.50% 2027 Notes,” or “7.25% 2027 Notes,” will not include the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes, or Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes. The 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes will have terms identical to the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes and Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, and will have the same CUSIP number as, and will be fungible and vote together with, the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes, or Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, immediately upon issuance.

 

 

 

 

The Notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equal in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Notes will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness, and the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries.

 

The 7.375% 2023 Notes are quoted on Nasdaq Global Market (“NASDAQ”) under the symbol “RILYH,” the 6.875% 2023 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYI,” the 2024 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYO,” the 2026 Notes will be quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYN,” the 7.50% 2027 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYZ,” and the 7.25% 2027 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYG.” Our Common Stock is quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILY.”

 

On September 20, 2019, the last reported sale price per $25 principal amount of 7.375% 2023 Note was $26.40, the last reported sale price per $25 principal amount of 6.875% 2023 Note was $26.31, the last reported sale price per $25 principal amount of 2024 Note was $25.74, the last reported sale price per $25 principal amount of 7.50% 2027 Note was $25.66 and the last reported sale price per $25 principal amount of 7.25% 2027 Note was $25.70. The 2026 Notes will begin trading on NASDAQ on or around September 24, 2019. On September 20, 2019, there were 26,921,500 shares of Common Stock outstanding and the last reported sales price of our Common Stock was $24.94 per share.

 

Delivery of the Offered Securities in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company will be made on or about the second trading date following the date of purchase.

 

Investing in the Offered Securities involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described under “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus.

 

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

 

B. Riley FBR

 

The date of this prospectus is      , 2019.

 

 

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

  Page
ABOUT THIS SALES AGREEMENT PROSPECTUS S-1
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS S-2
Sales Agreement PROSPECTUS SUMMARY S-4
THE OFFERING S-6
RISK FACTORS S-10
USE OF PROCEEDS S-15
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES S-16
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK S-31
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS S-32
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION S-37
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST S-37
EXPERTS S-38
LEGAL MATTERS S-38
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE S-38

 

S-i

 

 

ABOUT THIS SALES AGREEMENT PROSPECTUS

 

This sales agreement prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may offer our Offered Securities having an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000 from time to time under this prospectus at prices and on terms to be determined by market conditions at the time of offering.

 

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

 

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, or incorporated by reference herein or therein. Neither we nor the Agent have authorized anyone to provide you with different information. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus. You should not rely on any unauthorized information or representation. This prospectus is an offer to sell only the securities offered hereby, and only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. You should assume that the information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the applicable document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the date of delivery of this prospectus, or any sale of a security.

 

As used in this prospectus, unless the context indicates or otherwise requires, “the Company,” “B. Riley,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to the combined business of B. Riley Financial, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

S-1

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This prospectus and any prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other important factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our future financial performance, the growth of the market for our services, expansion plans and opportunities and statements regarding our intended uses of the proceeds of the securities offered hereby. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “can,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “potential,” “predicts,” “should,” “will,” “would,” the negative of such terms or other comparable terminology. The statements we make regarding the following subject matters are forward-looking by their nature:

 

  plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other factors discussed in “Risk Factors” contained in this prospectus.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus reflect our current views about future events, are based on assumptions, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Many important factors could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from any future results or achievements expressed in or implied by our forward-looking statements, including the factors listed below. Many of the factors that will determine future events or achievements are beyond our ability to control or predict. Certain of these are important factors that could cause actual results or achievements to differ materially from the results or achievements reflected in our forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to:

 

  volatility in our revenues and results of operations;

 

  changing conditions in the financial markets;

 

  our ability to generate sufficient revenues to achieve and maintain profitability;

 

  the short term nature of our engagements;

 

  the accuracy of our estimates and valuations of inventory or assets in “guarantee” based engagements;

 

  competition in the asset management business;

 

  potential losses related to our auction or liquidation engagements;

 

  our dependence on communications, information and other systems and third parties;

 

  potential losses related to purchase transactions in our auction and liquidations business;

 

  the potential loss of financial institution clients;

 

  potential losses from or illiquidity of our proprietary investments;

 

  changing economic and market conditions;

 

  potential liability and harm to our reputation if we were to provide an inaccurate appraisal or valuation;

 

S-2

 

 

  failure to successfully compete in any of our segments;

 

  loss of key personnel;

 

  our ability to borrow under our credit facilities as necessary;

 

  failure to comply with the terms of our credit agreements;

 

  our ability to meet future capital requirements;

 

  our ability to realize the benefits of our completed acquisitions, including our ability to achieve anticipated opportunities and operating cost savings, and accretion to reported earnings estimated to result from completed acquisitions in the time frame expected by management or at all;

 

  our ability to realize the expected benefits of our acquisition of magicJack; and

 

  the diversion of management time on acquisition-related issues.

 

The forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus reflect our views and assumptions only as of the date of this prospectus. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, we assume no responsibility for updating any forward-looking statements nor do we intend to do so. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. The risks included in this section are not exhaustive. Additional factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements are set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10.

 

S-3

 

 

SALES AGREEMENT PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

 

This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before investing in the securities offered by this prospectus. You should read this summary together with the entire prospectus, including our financial statements, the notes to those financial statements and the other documents that are incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 of this prospectus for a discussion of the risks involved in investing in our securities.

 

Our Business

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc. (NASDAQ: RILY) and its subsidiaries provide collaborative financial services and solutions through several operating subsidiaries including:

 

B. Riley FBR, Inc. (“B. Riley FBR”) is a leading, full service investment bank providing financial advisory, corporate finance, research, securities lending and sales and trading services to corporate, institutional and high net worth individual clients.

 

B. Riley Wealth Management, Inc. provides comprehensive wealth management and brokerage services to individuals and families, corporations and non-profit organizations, including qualified retirement plans, trusts, foundations and endowments.

 

B. Riley Capital Management, LLC, a Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) registered investment advisor, which includes:

 

B. Riley Asset Management, an advisor to certain private funds and to institutional and high net worth investors.

 

Great American Capital Partners, LLC (“GACP”), the general partner of two private funds, GACP I, L.P. and GACP II, L.P., both direct lending funds that provide senior secured loans and second lien secured loan facilities to middle market public and private U.S. companies.

 

GlassRatner Advisory & Capital Group LLC (“GlassRatner”), a specialty financial advisory services firm that provides consulting services to shareholders, creditors and companies, including due diligence, fraud investigations, corporate litigation support, crisis management and bankruptcy services. We acquired GlassRatner on August 1, 2018. GlassRatner strengthens B. Riley’s diverse platform and complements the restructuring services provided by B. Riley FBR.

 

Great American Group, LLC, a leading provider of asset disposition and auction solutions to a wide range of retail and industrial clients.

 

Great American Group Advisory and Valuation Services, LLC, a leading provider of appraisal and valuation services for asset based lenders, private equity firms and corporate clients.

 

We also pursue a strategy of investing in or acquiring companies which we believe have attractive investment return characteristics. We acquired United Online, Inc. (“UOL”) on July 1, 2016 and magicJack VocalTec Ltd. (“magicJack”) on November 14, 2018 as part of our principal investment strategy.

 

UOL is a communications company that offers consumer subscription services and products, consisting of Internet access services and devices under the NetZero and Juno brands primarily sold in the United States.

 

magicJack is a Voice over IP (“VoIP”) cloud-based technology and services communications provider.

 

We are headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in major cities throughout the United States including New York, Chicago, Boston, Dallas, Memphis, Metro Washington D.C. and West Palm Beach.

 

S-4

 

 

For financial reporting purposes we classify our businesses into four operating segments: (i) Capital Markets, (ii) Auction and Liquidation, (iii) Valuation and Appraisal and (iv) Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack.

 

Capital Markets Segment.    Our Capital Markets segment provides a full array of investment banking, corporate finance, consulting, financial advisory, research, securities lending, wealth management and sales and trading services to corporate, institutional and high net worth clients. Our corporate finance and investment banking services include merger and acquisitions as well as restructuring advisory services to public and private companies, initial and secondary public offerings, and institutional private placements. In addition, we trade equity securities as a principal for our account, including investments in funds managed by our subsidiaries. Our Capital Markets segment also includes our asset management businesses that manage various private and public funds for institutional and individual investors.

 

Auction and Liquidation Segment.    Our Auction and Liquidation segment utilizes our significant industry experience, a scalable network of independent contractors and industry-specific advisors to tailor our services to the specific needs of a multitude of clients, logistical challenges and distressed circumstances. Furthermore, our scale and pool of resources allow us to offer our services across North American as well as parts of Europe, Asia and Australia. Our Auction and Liquidation segment operates through two main divisions, retail store liquidations and wholesale and industrial assets dispositions. Our wholesale and industrial assets dispositions division operates through limited liability companies that are controlled by us.

 

Valuation and Appraisal Segment.    Our Valuation and Appraisal segment provides valuation and appraisal services to financial institutions, lenders, private equity firms and other providers of capital. These services primarily include the valuation of assets (i) for purposes of determining and monitoring the value of collateral securing financial transactions and loan arrangements and (ii) in connection with potential business combinations. Our Valuation and Appraisal segment operates through limited liability companies that are majority owned by us.

 

Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack Segment.    Our Principal Investments — United Online and magicJack segment consists of businesses which have been acquired primarily for attractive investment return characteristics. Currently, this segment includes UOL, through which we provide consumer Internet access, and magicJack, through which we provide VoIP communication and related product and subscription services.

 

Our Corporate Information

 

We are a Delaware corporation. Our executive offices are located at 21255 Burbank Blvd, Suite 400, Woodland Hills, California 91367, and the telephone number at our principal executive office is (818) 884-3737. Our website addresses are http://www.brileyfin.com, https://brileyfbr.com, http://www.greatamerican.com, https://www.glassratner.com, http://www.unitedonline.net, http://www.magicjack.com and http://www.vocaltec.com. We have not incorporated by reference into this prospectus the information on our website, and you should not consider it to be a part of this document.

 

S-5

 

 

THE OFFERING

 

The following is a brief summary of some of the terms of the offering and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the more detailed information appearing elsewhere in this prospectus. For a more complete description of the terms of the Notes, see the “Description of the Notes” section in this prospectus.

 

Issuer B. Riley Financial, Inc.
   
Offered Securities

Up to $100,000,000 aggregate amount of our:

 

●         7.375% 2023 Notes;

 

●         6.875% 2023 Notes;

 

●         2024 Notes;

 

●         2026 Notes;

 

●         7.50% 2027 Notes;

 

●         7.25% 2027 Notes; and

 

●         Common Stock.

 

The 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes offered hereby are a further issuance of, form of a single series with and will have the same terms as the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes and Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively.

   
Manner of offering

“At the market offering” that may be made from time to time through the Agent, as sales agent, subject to our instruction as to amount and timing. The Agent is not required to sell any specific principal amount of the Notes, but the Agent will make all sales using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices on mutually agreed terms between the Agent and us. See “Plan of Distribution” on page S-37.

Notes

 

 
Maturity The 7.375% 2023 Notes will mature on May 31, 2023, the 6.875% 2023 Notes will mature on September 30, 2023, the 2024 Notes will mature on May 31, 2024, the 2026 Notes will mature on September 30, 2026, the 7.50% 2027 Notes will mature on May 31, 2027, and the 7.25% 2027 Notes will mature on December 31, 2027, each unless redeemed prior to maturity.
   
Interest Rate and Payment Dates 7.375% interest per annum on the principal amount of the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% interest per annum on the principal amount of the 6.875% 2023 Notes, 6.75% interest per annum on the principal amount of the 2024 Notes, 6.50% interest per annum on the principal amount of the 2026 Notes,, 7.50% interest per annum on the principal amount of the 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% interest per annum on the principal amount of the 7.25% 2027 Notes, will accrue from the most recent interest payment date immediately preceding the date of issuance of the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, except that Notes purchased after the record dates noted below, but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date (or if settlement of a purchase of Notes otherwise occurs after such record date but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date), such Notes will not begin to accrue interest until the interest payment date immediately following such record date. Interest will be paid quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year. The interest payable on each interest payment date will be paid only to holders of record of the Notes at the close of business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date. As a general matter, holders of the Notes will not be entitled to receive any payments of principal on the Notes prior to the stated maturity date. 

 

S-6

 

 

Guarantors None.
   
Ranking The Notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equal in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. The Notes will be effectively subordinated to all of our existing and future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The Notes will be structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness (including trade payables) of our subsidiaries.
   
  The indentures governing the Notes do not limit the amount of indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries may incur or whether any such indebtedness can be secured by our assets.

 

Optional Redemption We may redeem the 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes in whole or in part on or after May 31, 2020 and December 31, 2020, respectively, at our option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” We may redeem the 7.375% 2023 Notes in whole or in part at our option (i) on or after May 31, 2020 and prior to May 31, 2021, at a price equal to $25.75 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after May 31, 2021 and prior to May 31, 2022, at a price equal to $25.375 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after May 31, 2022 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding the date of redemption, as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” We may redeem the 6.875% 2023 Notes in whole or in part at our option (i) on or after September 30, 2020 and prior to September 30, 2021, at a price equal to $25.50 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after September 30, 2021 and prior to September 30, 2022, at a price equal to $25.25 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after September 30, 2022 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding the date of redemption, as described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” The Notes will be issued in denominations of $25 and in integral multiples thereof. We may redeem the 2024 Notes for cash in whole or in part at any time at our option (i) on or after May 31, 2021 and prior to May 31, 2022, at a price equal to $25.50 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after May 31, 2022 and prior to May 31, 2023, at a price equal to $25.25 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after May 31, 2023 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. We may redeem the 2026 Notes for cash in whole or in part at any time at our option (i) on or after September 30, 2022 and prior to September 30, 2023, at a price equal to $25.50 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after September 30, 2023 and prior to September 30, 2024, at a price equal to $25.25 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after September 30, 2024 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. See “Description of the Notes — Optional Redemption” for additional details.

 

S-7

 

 

Sinking Fund The Notes will not be subject to any sinking fund (i.e., no amounts will be set aside by us to ensure repayment of the Notes at maturity).
   
Use of Proceeds We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include funding future acquisitions and investments, repaying indebtedness, making capital expenditures and funding working capital. See “Use of Proceeds.”
   
Events of Default Events of default generally will include failure to pay principal, failure to pay interest, failure to observe or perform any other covenant or warranty in the Notes or in the indentures, and certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization. See “Description of the Notes — Events of Default.”
   
Certain Covenants The indentures that govern the Notes contains certain covenants, including, but not limited to, restrictions on our ability to merge or consolidate with or into any other entity. See “Description of the Notes — Covenants.”
   
No Financial Covenants The indentures relating to the Notes do not contain financial covenants.
   
Additional Notes We may create and issue additional notes ranking equally and ratably with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, in all respects, so that such additional notes will constitute and form a single series with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, as applicable, and will have the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise (except the price to public, the issue date and, if applicable, the initial interest payment date) as such Notes. We will not issue any such additional notes unless such issuance would constitute a “qualified reopening” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

Defeasance The Notes are subject to legal and covenant defeasance by us. See “Description of the Notes — Defeasance” for more information.

 

S-8

 

 

Listing The 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes, and 7.25% 2027 Notes, when issued, are or will be quoted on NASDAQ under the symbols “RILYH,” “RILYI,” “RILYO,” “RILYN,” “RILYZ” and “RILYG,” respectively.
   
Form and Denomination The Notes will be issued in book-entry form in minimum denominations of $25 and integral multiples in excess thereof. The Notes will be represented by a permanent global certificate deposited with the trustee as custodian for The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. Beneficial interests in any of the Notes will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its direct and indirect participants and any such interest may not be exchanged for certificated securities, except in limited circumstances.

 

Trustee

U.S. Bank National Association under the 2016 Indenture relating to the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. under the 2019 Indenture relating to the 2024 Notes and 2026 Notes.

   
Governing Law The Notes will be and the indentures governing the Notes are governed by the laws of the State of New York.
   

Common Stock

 

 
Ranking Our Common Stock ranks junior to any future issuances of Preferred Stock and the Notes and any future senior securities that we may establish and issue from time to time, with respect to the payments of distributions and amounts, and rights to payment upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up.
   

Dividends

 

Subject to preferences that may apply to any then outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available for distribution at the times and in the amounts, if any, that our Board of Directors may determine from time to time.

 

Liquidation

In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, subject to the rights of each series of our preferred stock, which may, from time to time come into existence, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets remaining after we pay our liabilities.

 

Voting Rights The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares voting are able to elect all of our directors.

 

Listing

 

Our Common Stock is listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILY.”

 

Transfer Agent

The transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing agent for our Common Stock is Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Company.

 

Risk Factors An investment in the Offered Securities involves significant risks. Please refer to “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-10 and other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before investing in the Offered Securities.

 

Conflicts of Interest B. Riley FBR is an affiliate of B. Riley Financial, Inc. and, as such, may be deemed to have a “conflict of interest” in this offering of Offered Securities within the meaning of Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) Rule 5121. Consequently, this offering of Offered Securities will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. B. Riley FBR may not make sales of Offered Securities in this offering to any of its discretionary accounts without the prior written approval of the account holder.

 

S-9

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in the Offered Securities involves significant risks, including the risks described below. Before purchasing the Offered Securities, you should carefully consider each of the following risk factors as well as the other information and risk factors contained in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference, including our consolidated financial statements and the related notes. Each of these risk factors, either alone or taken together, could adversely affect our business, operating results and financial condition, as well as adversely affect the value of an investment in the Offered Securities. The risks described below are not the only ones we face. This prospectus and the documents incorporated herein by reference also contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including the risks referenced below and described in the documents incorporated herein by reference, including (i) our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018, which is on file with the SEC and is incorporated herein by reference, (ii) our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and (iii) other documents we file from time to time with the SEC that are deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus. Additional risks of which we are not presently aware or that we currently believe are immaterial which may also impair our business operations and financial position. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or our future growth prospects could be materially and adversely affected by the materialization of any of these risks. As a result, you could lose some or all of any investment you may have made or may make in our Company.

 

Risks Related to this Offering

 

We may be able to incur substantially more debt, which could have important consequences to you.

 

We may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future. The terms of the indentures governing the Notes will not prohibit us from doing so. If we incur any additional indebtedness that ranks equally with the Notes, the holders of that debt will be entitled to share ratably with you in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization or dissolution. This may have the effect of reducing the amount of proceeds paid to you. Incurrence of additional debt would also further reduce the cash available to invest in operations, as a result of increased debt service obligations. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify. 

 

In November 2016 we completed an initial offering of 7.50% Senior Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Notes”) with an aggregate principal amount of $28,750,000. In May 2017, we completed an initial offering of 7.50% Senior Notes due 2027 with an aggregate principal amount of $60,375,000. In December 2017, we completed an initial offering of 7.25% Senior Notes due 2027 with an aggregate principal amount of $80,500,000. In May 2018, we completed an initial offering of 7.375% Senior Notes due 2023 with an aggregate principal amount of $100,050,000. In September 2018, we completed an initial offering of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023 with an aggregate principal amount of $100,050,000. In May 2019, we completed an initial offering of 6.75% Senior Notes due 2024 with an aggregate principal amount of $100,050,000. In September 2019, we completed an initial offering of 6.50% Senior Notes due 2026 with an aggregate principal amount of $115,000,000.

 

In June 2017, December 2017, June 2018 and December 2018, we entered into At Market Issuance Sales Agreement with B. Riley FBR to sell, pursuant to one or more of such agreements, additional 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes, 7.25% 2027 Notes, and 2021 Notes, under which such agreements, we sold an additional $16,749,575 in aggregate principal amount of 7.375% 2023 Notes, $5,203,975 in aggregate principal amount of 6.875% 2023 Notes, $49,653,100 in aggregate principal amount of 7.50% 2027 Notes, $31,928,700 in aggregate principal amount of 7.25% 2027 Notes and $23,404,350 in aggregate principal amount of 2021 Notes as of the date of this prospectus.

 

Our level of indebtedness could have important consequences to you, because:

 

  it could affect our ability to satisfy our financial obligations, including those relating to the Notes;

 

 

a substantial portion of our cash flows from operations would have to be dedicated to interest and principal payments and may not be available for operations, capital expenditures, expansion, acquisitions or general corporate or other purposes;

 

S-10

 

 

  it may impair our ability to obtain additional debt or equity financing in the future;

 

  it may limit our ability to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before maturity;

 

  it may limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in our business and industry; and

 

  it may make us more vulnerable to downturns in our business, our industry or the economy in general.

 

Our operations may not generate sufficient cash to enable us to service our debt. If we fail to make a payment on the Notes, we could be in default on the Notes, and this default could cause us to be in default on other indebtedness, to the extent outstanding. Conversely, a default under any other indebtedness, if not waived, could result in acceleration of the debt outstanding under the related agreement and entitle the holders thereof to bring suit for the enforcement thereof or exercise other remedies provided thereunder. In addition, such default or acceleration may result in an event of default and acceleration of other indebtedness of the Company, entitling the holders thereof to bring suit for the enforcement thereof or exercise other remedies provided thereunder. If a judgment is obtained by any such holders, such holders could seek to collect on such judgment from the assets of the Company. If that should occur, we may not be able to pay all such debt or to borrow sufficient funds to refinance it. Even if new financing were then available, it may not be on terms that are acceptable to us.

 

However, no event of default under the Notes would result from a default or acceleration of, or suit, other exercise of remedies or collection proceeding by holders of, our other outstanding debt, if any. As a result, all or substantially all of our assets may be used to satisfy claims of holders of our other outstanding debt, if any, without the holders of the Notes having any rights to such assets. The indentures governing the Notes will not restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness.

 

The Notes will be unsecured and therefore will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness that we currently have or that we may incur in the future.

 

The Notes will not be secured by any of our assets or any of the assets of our subsidiaries. As a result, the Notes will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries have currently outstanding or may incur in the future (or any indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which we subsequently grant security) to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The indentures governing the Notes do not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring additional secured (or unsecured) indebtedness in the future. In any liquidation, dissolution, bankruptcy or other similar proceeding, the holders of any of our existing or future secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of our subsidiaries may assert rights against the assets pledged to secure that indebtedness and may consequently receive payment from these assets before they may be used to pay other creditors, including the holders of the Notes. 

 

The Notes will be structurally subordinated to the indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries.

 

The Notes are obligations exclusively of B. Riley and not of any of our subsidiaries. None of our subsidiaries is a guarantor of the Notes, and the Notes are not required to be guaranteed by any subsidiaries we may acquire or create in the future. Therefore, in any bankruptcy, liquidation or similar proceeding, all claims of creditors (including trade creditors) of our subsidiaries will have priority over our equity interests in such subsidiaries (and therefore the claims of our creditors, including holders of the Notes) with respect to the assets of such subsidiaries. Even if we are recognized as a creditor of one or more of our subsidiaries, our claims would still be effectively subordinated to any security interests in the assets of any such subsidiary and to any indebtedness or other liabilities of any such subsidiary senior to our claims. Consequently, the Notes will be structurally subordinated to all indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of any of our subsidiaries and any subsidiaries that we may in the future acquire or establish as financing vehicles or otherwise. The indentures governing the Notes do not prohibit us or our subsidiaries from incurring additional indebtedness in the future. In addition, future debt and security agreements entered into by our subsidiaries may contain various restrictions, including restrictions on payments by our subsidiaries to us and the transfer by our subsidiaries of assets pledged as collateral.

 

S-11

 

 

The indentures under which the Notes will be issued contains limited protection for holders of the Notes.

 

The indentures under which the Notes will be issued offers limited protection to holders of the Notes. The terms of the indentures and the Notes do not restrict our or any of our subsidiaries’ ability to engage in, or otherwise be a party to, a variety of corporate transactions, circumstances or events that could have an adverse impact on your investment in the Notes. In particular, the terms of the indentures and the Notes will not place any restrictions on our or our subsidiaries’ ability to:

 

  issue debt securities or otherwise incur additional indebtedness or other obligations, including (1) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be equal in right of payment to the Notes, (2) any indebtedness or other obligations that would be secured and therefore rank effectively senior in right of payment to the Notes to the extent of the values of the assets securing such debt, (3) indebtedness of ours that is guaranteed by one or more of our subsidiaries and which therefore is structurally senior to the Notes and (4) securities, indebtedness or obligations issued or incurred by our subsidiaries that would be senior to our equity interests in our subsidiaries and therefore rank structurally senior to the Notes with respect to the assets of our subsidiaries;

 

  pay dividends on, or purchase or redeem or make any payments in respect of, capital stock or other securities subordinated in right of payment to the Notes;

 

  sell assets (other than certain limited restrictions on our ability to consolidate, merge or sell all or substantially all of our assets);

 

  enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

  create liens (including liens on the shares of our subsidiaries) or enter into sale and leaseback transactions;

 

  make investments; or

 

  create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to us from our subsidiaries.

 

In addition, the indentures do not include any protection against certain events, such as a change of control, a leveraged recapitalization or “going private” transaction (which may result in a significant increase of our indebtedness levels), restructuring or similar transactions. Furthermore, the terms of the indentures and the Notes do not protect holders of the Notes in the event that we experience changes (including significant adverse changes) in our financial condition, results of operations or credit ratings, as they do not require that we or our subsidiaries adhere to any financial tests or ratios or specified levels of net worth, revenues, income, cash flow, or liquidity. Also, an event of default or acceleration under our other indebtedness would not necessarily result in an Event of Default under the Notes. 

 

Our ability to recapitalize, incur additional debt and take a number of other actions that are not limited by the terms of the Notes may have important consequences for you as a holder of the Notes, including making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the Notes or negatively affecting the trading value of the Notes.

 

Other debt we issue or incur in the future could contain more protections for its holders than the indentures and the Notes, including additional covenants and events of default. The issuance or incurrence of any such debt with incremental protections could affect the market for and trading levels and prices of the Notes.

 

S-12

 

 

An increase in market interest rates could result in a decrease in the value of the Notes.

 

In general, as market interest rates rise, notes bearing interest at a fixed rate decline in value. Consequently, if you purchase the Notes, and the market interest rates subsequently increase, the market value of your Notes may decline. We cannot predict the future level of market interest rates.

 

An active trading market for the Notes may not develop, which could limit the market price of the Notes or your ability to sell them.

 

The 7.375% 2023 Notes (when issued) and Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYH,” the 6.875% 2023 Notes (when issued) and Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYI,” the 2024 Notes (when issued) and Initial 2024 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYO,” the 2026 Notes (when issued) and Initial 2026 Notes will be quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYN,” the 7.50% 2027 Notes (when issued) and Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYZ,” the 7.25% 2027 Notes (when issued) and Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYG,” and the 2021 Notes (when issued) and Initial 2021 Notes are quoted on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYL.” We cannot provide any assurances that an active trading market will develop for our senior notes or that our senior note holders will be able to sell their senior notes. If the senior notes are traded after their initial issuance, they may trade at a discount from their initial offering price depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar securities, our credit ratings, general economic conditions, our financial condition, performance and prospects and other factors. Accordingly, we cannot assure our senior note holders that a liquid trading market will develop for our senior notes, that our senior note holders will be able to sell our senior notes at a particular time or that the price our senior note holders receive when they sell will be favorable. To the extent an active trading market does not develop, the liquidity and trading price for our senior notes may be harmed. Accordingly, our senior note holders may be required to bear the financial risk of an investment in our senior notes for an indefinite period of time.

 

We may issue additional Notes.

 

Under the terms of the indentures governing the Notes, we may from time to time without notice to, or the consent of, the holders of the Notes, create and issue additional notes which will be equal in rank to the Notes. We will not issue any such additional notes unless such issuance would constitute a “qualified reopening” for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

 

The rating for the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, could at any time be revised downward or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency.

 

We have obtained a rating for the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes. Ratings only reflect the views of the issuing rating agency or agencies and such ratings could at any time be revised downward or withdrawn entirely at the discretion of the issuing rating agency. A rating is not a recommendation to purchase, sell or hold the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes. Ratings do not reflect market prices or suitability of a security for a particular investor and the rating of the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes may not reflect all risks related to us and our business, or the structure or market value of the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes. We may elect to issue other securities for which we may seek to obtain a rating in the future. If we issue other securities with a rating, such ratings, if they are lower than market expectations or are subsequently lowered or withdrawn, could adversely affect the market for or the market value of the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes. 

 

Our management team may invest or spend the proceeds of this offering in ways with which you may not agree or in ways which may not yield a significant return.

 

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering. We intend to use the net proceeds, if any, from this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include funding future acquisitions and investments, repaying indebtedness, making capital expenditures and funding working capital. However, we have not determined the specific allocation of the net proceeds among these potential uses. Our management will have considerable discretion in the application of the net proceeds, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. The net proceeds may be used for corporate purposes that do not increase our operating results or enhance the value of our common stock.

 

S-13

 

 

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

 

In order to raise additional capital, we may in the future offer additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock. We cannot assure you that we will be able to sell shares or other securities in any other offering at a price per share that is equal to or greater than the price per share paid by investors in this offering, and investors purchasing shares or other securities in the future could have rights superior to existing stockholders. The price per share at which we sell additional shares of our common stock or other securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock in future transactions may be higher or lower than the price per share in this offering. 

 

Our common stock price may fluctuate substantially, and your investment could suffer a decline in value.

 

The market price of our common stock may be volatile and could fluctuate substantially due to many factors, including, among other things:

 

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our results of operations;

 

  announcements of significant contracts and transactions by us or our competitors;

 

  sale of common stock or other securities in the future;

 

  the trading volume of our common stock;

 

  changes in our pricing policies or the pricing policies of our competitors; and

 

  general economic conditions.

 

In addition, the stock market in general, has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of those companies. These broad market factors may materially harm the market price of our common stock, regardless of our operating performance.

 

S-14

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We expect to use the net proceeds of this offering for general corporate purposes, which may include funding future acquisitions and investments, repaying indebtedness, making capital expenditures and funding working capital. Pending any specific application, we may initially invest the net proceeds in short-term marketable securities.

 

We have not determined the amounts we plan to spend on the areas listed above or the timing of these expenditures. As a result, our management will have broad discretion to allocate the net proceeds.

 

S-15

 

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES

 

The 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes are being issued under an Indenture dated as of November 2, 2016, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated November 2, 2016, the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 31, 2017, the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 13, 2017, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 17, 2018 and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 11, 2018, which we refer to collectively as the “2016 Indenture,” between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, trustee.

 

The 2024 Notes and the 2026 Notes are being issued under an Indenture dated as of May 7, 2019, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated May 7, 2019 and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 23, 2019, which we refer to collectively as the “2019 Indenture,” between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., trustee.

 

We use the term “indentures” to refer collectively to the 2016 Indenture and the 2019 Indenture. We use the term “trustee” to refer to U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, under the 2016 Indenture, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, under the 2019 Indenture, as applicable. Set forth below is a description of the specific terms of the Notes and the indentures. This description supplements (and to the extent inconsistent with, replaces) the description of the general terms and provisions of our debt securities set forth in the prospectus under the caption “Description of Debt Securities.” The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the indentures filed as an exhibit to the Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on September 23, 2019, May 7, 2019, September 11, 2018, May 17, 2018, December 13, 2017, May 31, 2017 and November 2, 2016.

 

General

 

The 7.375% 2023 Notes:

 

will be our general unsecured, senior obligations;

 

  will be initially limited to an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 (together with the 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, but excluding the Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes and Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes), with an initial outstanding aggregate principal amount of $0;

 

  will mature on May 31, 2023, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, and 100% of the aggregate principal amount will be paid at maturity;

 

 

will bear cash interest from the most recent interest payment date immediately preceding the date of issuance of the 2023 Notes at an annual rate of 7.375%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, except that 7.375% 2023 Notes purchased after the record dates noted below, but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date (or if settlement of a purchase of 7.375% 2023 Notes otherwise occurs after such record date but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date), such 7.375% 2023 Notes will not begin to accrue interest until the interest payment date immediately following such record date, and the interest payable on each interest payment date will be paid only to holders of record of the 7.375% 2023 Notes at the close of business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date;

 

  will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any time on and after May 31, 2020, at the price and on the terms described under “—Optional Redemption” below;

 

  will be issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof;

 

  will not have a sinking fund;

 

S-16

 

 

  are listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYH”; and

 

  will be represented by one or more registered 7.375% 2023 Notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by 7.375% 2023 Notes in definitive form.

 

The 6.875% 2023 Notes:

 

  will be our general unsecured, senior obligations;

 

  will be initially limited to an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 (together with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, but excluding the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes and Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes), with an initial outstanding aggregate principal amount of $0;

 

  will mature on September 30, 2023, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, and 100% of the aggregate principal amount will be paid at maturity;

 

  will bear cash interest from the most recent interest payment date immediately preceding the date of issuance of the 6.875% 2023 Notes at an annual rate of 6.875%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, except that 6.875% 2023 Notes purchased after the record dates noted below, but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date (or if settlement of a purchase of 6.875% 2023 Notes otherwise occurs after such record date but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date), such 6.875% 2023 Notes will not begin to accrue interest until the interest payment date immediately following such record date, and the interest payable on each interest payment date will be paid only to holders of record of the 6.875% 2023 Notes at the close of business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date;

 

  will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any time on and after September 30, 2020, at the price and on the terms described under “—Optional Redemption” below;

 

  will be issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof;

 

  will not have a sinking fund;

 

  are listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYI”; and

 

  will be represented by one or more registered 6.875% 2023 Notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by 6.875% 2023 Notes in definitive form.

 

The 2024 Notes:

 

will be our general unsecured, senior obligations;

 

  will be initially limited to an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 (together with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, but excluding the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes and Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes), with an initial outstanding aggregate principal amount of $0;

 

  will mature on May 31, 2024, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, and 100% of the aggregate principal amount will be paid at maturity;

 

S-17

 

 

 

will bear cash interest from the most recent interest payment date immediately preceding the date of issuance of the 2024 Notes at an annual rate of 6.75%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, except that 2024 Notes purchased after the record dates noted below, but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date (or if settlement of a purchase of 2024 Notes otherwise occurs after such record date but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date), such 2024 Notes will not begin to accrue interest until the interest payment date immediately following such record date, and the interest payable on each interest payment date will be paid only to holders of record of the 2024 Notes at the close of business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date;

 

  will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any time on and after May 31, 2021, at the price and on the terms described under “—Optional Redemption” below;

 

  will be issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof;

 

  will not have a sinking fund;

 

  are listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYO”; and

 

  will be represented by one or more registered 2024 Notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by 2024 Notes in definitive form.

 

The 2026 Notes:

 

will be our general unsecured, senior obligations;

 

  will be initially limited to an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 (together with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, but excluding the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes and Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes), with an initial outstanding aggregate principal amount of $0;

 

  will mature on September 30, 2026, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, and 100% of the aggregate principal amount will be paid at maturity;

 

 

will bear cash interest from the most recent interest payment date immediately preceding the date of issuance of the 2026 Notes at an annual rate of 6.50%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, except that 2026 Notes purchased after the record dates noted below, but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date (or if settlement of a purchase of 2026 Notes otherwise occurs after such record date but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date), such 2026 Notes will not begin to accrue interest until the interest payment date immediately following such record date, and the interest payable on each interest payment date will be paid only to holders of record of the 2026 Notes at the close of business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date;

 

  will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any time on and after September 30, 2022, at the price and on the terms described under “—Optional Redemption” below;

 

  will be issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof;

 

  will not have a sinking fund;

 

  will be listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYN”; and

 

  will be represented by one or more registered 2026 Notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by 2026 Notes in definitive form.

 

S-18

 

 

The 7.50% 2027 Notes:

 

  will be our general unsecured, senior obligations;
     
  will be initially limited to an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 (together with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, but excluding the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes and Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes), with an initial outstanding aggregate principal amount of $0;

 

  will mature on May 31, 2027, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, and 100% of the aggregate principal amount will be paid at maturity;

 

  will bear cash interest from the most recent interest payment date immediately preceding the date of issuance of the 7.50% 2027 Notes at an annual rate of 7.50%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, except that 7.50% 2027 Notes purchased after the record dates noted below, but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date (or if settlement of a purchase of 7.50% 2027 Notes otherwise occurs after such record date but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date), such 7.50% 2027 Notes will not begin to accrue interest until the interest payment date immediately following such record date, and the interest payable on each interest payment date will be paid only to holders of record of the 7.50% 2027 Notes at the close of business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date;

 

  will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any time on and after May 31, 2020, at the price and on the terms described under “—Optional Redemption” below;

 

  will be issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof;

 

  will not have a sinking fund;

 

  are listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYZ”; and

 

  will be represented by one or more registered 7.50% 2027 Notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by 7.50% 2027 Notes in definitive form.

 

The 7.25% 2027 Notes:

 

  will be our general unsecured, senior obligations;

 

  will be initially limited to an aggregate principal amount of $100,000,000 (together with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and 7.50% 2027 Notes, but excluding the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes and Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes), with an initial outstanding aggregate principal amount of $0;

 

  will mature on December 31, 2027, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased, and 100% of the aggregate principal amount will be paid at maturity;

 

  will bear cash interest from the most recent interest payment date immediately preceding the date of issuance of the 7.25% 2027 Notes at an annual rate of 7.25%, payable quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year, except that 7.25% 2027 Notes purchased after the record dates noted below, but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date (or if settlement of a purchase of 7.25% 2027 Notes otherwise occurs after such record date but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date), such 7.25% 2027 Notes will not begin to accrue interest until the interest payment date immediately following such record date, and the interest payable on each interest payment date will be paid only to holders of record of the 7.25% 2027 Notes at the close of business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date;

 

S-19

 

 

  will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part, at any time on and after December 31, 2020, at the price and on the terms described under “—Optional Redemption” below;

 

  will be issued in denominations of $25 and integral multiples of $25 in excess thereof;

 

  will not have a sinking fund;

 

  are listed on NASDAQ under the symbol “RILYG”; and

 

  will be represented by one or more registered 7.25% 2027 Notes in global form, but in certain limited circumstances may be represented by 7.25% 2027 Notes in definitive form.

 

The indentures do not limit the amount of indebtedness that we or our subsidiaries may issue. The indentures do not contain any financial covenants and do not restrict us from paying dividends or issuing or repurchasing our other securities. Other than restrictions described under “— Covenants — Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets” below, the indentures do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving us or in the event of a decline in our credit rating as the result of a takeover, recapitalization, highly leveraged transaction or similar restructuring involving us that could adversely affect such holders.

 

We may from time to time, without the consent of the existing holders, issue additional 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes having the same terms as to status, redemption or otherwise (except the price to public, the issue date and, if applicable, the initial interest payment date) that may constitute a single fungible series with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, offered by this prospectus; provided that if any such additional notes are not fungible with the Notes initially offered hereby for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such additional notes will have one or more separate CUSIP numbers.

 

Ranking

 

The Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company, and, upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, will rank (i) senior to the outstanding shares of our common stock, (ii) senior to any of our future subordinated debt, (iii) pari passu (or equally) with our future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, (iv) effectively subordinated to any existing or future secured indebtedness (including indebtedness that is initially unsecured to which we subsequently grant security), to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness and (v) structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness of our subsidiaries, financing vehicles or similar facilities.

 

Any borrowings under the Wells Fargo Credit Agreement are secured by the proceeds we receive for services rendered in connection with liquidation service contracts pursuant to which any outstanding loan or letters of credit are issued and the assets that are sold at liquidation related to such contracts and will be effectively senior to the Notes to the extent of the value of such proceeds and assets. As of September 30, 2018, we have no letters of credit outstanding under the Wells Fargo Credit Agreement.

 

Interest

 

Interest on the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes will accrue from the most recent interest payment date immediately preceding the date of issuance of the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, to, but excluding, the maturity date or earlier acceleration or redemption, except that Notes purchased after the record dates noted below, but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date (or if settlement of a purchase of Notes otherwise occurs after such record date but prior to the interest payment date immediately following such record date), such Notes will not begin to accrue interest until the interest payment date immediately following such record date. Interest will be paid quarterly in arrears on January 31, April 30, July 31 and October 31 of each year. The interest payable on each interest payment date will be paid only to holders of record of the Notes at the close of business on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year, as the case may be, immediately preceding the applicable interest payment date. As a general matter, holders of the Notes will not be entitled to receive any payments of principal on the Notes prior to the stated maturity date.

 

S-20

 

 

The amount of interest payable for any interest period, including interest payable for any partial interest period, will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. If an interest payment date falls on a non-business day, the applicable interest payment will be made on the next business day and no additional interest will accrue as a result of such delayed payment.

 

“Business day” means, for any place where the principal and interest on the Notes is payable, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day in which banking institutions in New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Optional Redemption

 

The 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time or from time to time on or after May 31, 2020 and December 31, 2020, respectively, at our option, upon notice not fewer than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption, at a redemption price equal to the principal amount plus any unpaid interest payable thereon accrued to, but excluding, the date fixed for redemption. 

 

The 7.375% 2023 Notes may be redeemed in whole or in part at any time at our option (i) on or after May 31, 2020 and prior to May 31, 2021, at a price equal to $25.75 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after May 31, 2021 and prior to May 31, 2022, at a price equal to $25.375 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after May 31, 2022 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption. In each case, redemption shall be upon notice not fewer than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption.

 

We may redeem the 6.875% 2023 Notes in whole or in part at our option (i) on or after September 30, 2020 and prior to September 30, 2021, at a price equal to $25.50 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after September 30, 2021 and prior to September 30, 2022, at a price equal to $25.25 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after September 30, 2022 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding the date of redemption. In each case, redemption shall be upon notice not fewer than 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption.

 

We may redeem the 2024 Notes for cash in whole or in part at any time at our option (i) on or after May 31, 2021 and prior to May 31, 2022, at a price equal to $25.50 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after May 31, 2022 and prior to May 31, 2023, at a price equal to $25.25 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after May 31, 2023 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

S-21

 

 

We may redeem the 2026 Notes for cash in whole or in part at any time at our option (i) on or after September 30, 2022 and prior to September 30, 2023, at a price equal to $25.50 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, (ii) on or after September 30, 2023 and prior to September 30, 2024, at a price equal to $25.25 per note, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption, and (iii) on or after September 30, 2024 and prior to maturity, at a price equal to 100% of their principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

 

If less than all of the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes or 7.25% 2027 Notes or are to be redeemed, the particular 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, to be redeemed will be selected not more than 45 days prior to the redemption date by the trustee from the outstanding 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes or 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, 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 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes or 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, will be in an authorized denomination (which will not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes or 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively. The trustee will promptly notify us in writing of the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes or 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, selected for redemption and, in the case of any 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes or 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

Unless we default on the payment of the redemption price, on and after the date of redemption, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption.

 

Events of Default

 

Holders of a particular series of Notes will have rights if an Event of Default occurs in respect of such series of Notes and is not cured, as described later in this subsection. The term “Event of Default” in respect of a series of Notes means any of the following:

 

  we do not pay interest on any Note within the same series when due, and such default is not cured within 30 days;

 

  we do not pay the principal of the Notes within the same series when due and payable;

 

  we breach any covenant or warranty in the indenture with respect to such series of Notes and such breach continues for 60 days after we receive a written notice of such breach from the trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the principal amount of the Notes within the same series; and

 

  certain specified events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur and remain undischarged or unstayed for a period of 90 days.

 

The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of either series of the Notes of any default, except in the payment of principal or interest, if the trustee in good faith determines the withholding of notice to be in the interest of the holders of such series of the Notes.

 

Each year, we will furnish to the trustee a written statement of certain of our officers certifying that to their knowledge we are in compliance with the indentures and the Notes, or else specifying any default.

 

Remedies if an Event of Default Occurs

 

If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes within the same series may declare the entire principal amount of the Notes within the same series, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to us and, if notice is given by the holders of the Notes within the same series, the trustee. This is called an “acceleration of maturity.” If the Event of Default occurs in relation to our filing for bankruptcy or certain other events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization occur, the principal amount of the Notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, will automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the part of the trustee or the holders, become immediately due and payable.

 

At any time after a declaration of acceleration of a particular series of Notes has been made by the trustee or the holders of such Notes and before any judgment or decree for payment of money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of a majority of the outstanding principal of such Notes, by written notice to us and the trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if (i) we have paid or deposited with the trustee all amounts due and owed with respect to such Notes (other than principal that has become due solely by reason of such acceleration) and certain other amounts, and (ii) any other Events of Default have been cured or waived. 

 

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At our election, the sole remedy with respect to an Event of Default due to our failure to comply with certain reporting requirements under the Trust Indenture Act or under “— Covenants — Reporting” below, for the first 180 calendar days after the occurrence of such Event of Default, consists exclusively of the right to receive additional interest on the Notes at an annual rate equal to (1) 0.25% for the first 90 calendar days after such default and (2) 0.50% for calendar days 91 through 180 after such default. On the 181st day after such Event of Default, if such violation is not cured or waived, the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes may declare the principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes to be due and payable immediately. If we choose to pay such additional interest, we must notify the trustee and the holders of the Notes by certificate of our election at any time on or before the close of business on the first business day following the Event of Default.

 

Before a holder of the Notes is allowed to bypass the trustee and bring a lawsuit or other formal legal action or take other steps to enforce such holder’s rights relating to the Notes, the following must occur:

 

  such holder must give the trustee written notice that the Event of Default has occurred and remains uncured;

 

  the holders of at least 25% of the outstanding principal of the same series of Notes must have made a written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as trustee;

 

  such holder or holders must have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to the trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

  the trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

 

  no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the trustee during such 60-day period by holders of a majority of the outstanding principal of the same series of Notes.

 

No delay or omission in exercising any right or remedy will be treated as a waiver of that right, remedy or Event of Default.

 

Book-entry and other indirect holders of the Notes should consult their banks or brokers for information on how to give notice or direction to or make a request of the trustee and how to declare or cancel an acceleration of maturity.

 

Waiver of Defaults

 

The holders of not less than a majority of the outstanding principal amount of the 7.375% 2023 Notes and the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, voting together, the 6.875% 2023 Notes and the Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, voting together, the 2024 Notes and the Initial 2024 Notes, voting together, the 2026 Notes and the Initial 2026 Notes, voting together, the 7.50% 2027 Notes and Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes, voting together, the 7.25% 2027 Notes and the Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes, voting together, may on behalf of the holders of all 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes or 7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, waive any past default with respect to such 7.375% 2023 Notes and Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes and Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes and Initial 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and Initial 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes or Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes or 7.25% 2027 Notes or Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes, other than (i) a default in the payment of principal or interest on such series of Notes, when such payments are due and payable (other than by acceleration as described above), or (ii) in respect of a covenant that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of each holder of such series of Notes.

 

Covenants

 

In addition to any other covenants described in the prospectus, as well as standard covenants relating to payment of principal and interest, maintaining an office where payments may be made or securities can be surrendered for payment, payment of taxes by us and related matters, the following covenants will apply to the Notes. To the extent of any conflict or inconsistency between a base indenture and the following covenants, the following covenants will govern. 

 

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Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

 

The indenture provides that we will not merge or consolidate with or into any other person (other than a merger of a wholly owned subsidiary into us), or sell, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all our property in any one transaction or series of related transactions unless:

 

  we are the surviving entity or the entity (if other than us) formed by such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition is made will be a corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

  the surviving entity (if other than us) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the trustee, executed and delivered to the trustee by such surviving entity, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all the Notes outstanding, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the indenture to be performed by us;

 

  immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing; and

 

  in the case of a merger where the surviving entity is other than us, we or such surviving entity will deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the trustee, an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that such transaction and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect thereto, comply with this covenant and that all conditions precedent in the indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

Reporting

 

If, at any time, we are not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the SEC, we agree to furnish to holders of the Notes and the trustee, for the period of time during which the Notes are outstanding, our audited annual consolidated financial statements, within 90 days of our fiscal year end, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, within 45 days of our fiscal quarter end (other than our fourth fiscal quarter). All such financial statements will be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with GAAP, as applicable.

 

Modification or Waiver

 

There are three types of changes we can make to the indentures and the Notes (in each case below, all references to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes as well as the Notes offered hereby):

 

Changes Not Requiring Approval

 

First, there are changes that we can make to the Notes without the specific approval of the holders of the Notes. This type is limited to clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect holders of the Notes in any material respect and include changes:

 

  to evidence the succession of another corporation, and the assumption by the successor corporation of our covenants, agreements and obligations under the indentures and the Notes;

 

  to add to our covenants such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the holders of the Notes, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default;

 

  to modify, eliminate or add to any of the provisions of the indentures to such extent as necessary to effect the qualification of the indentures under the Trust Indenture Act, and to add to the indentures such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the trust indenture act, excluding however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

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  to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the indentures or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with other provisions;

 

  to secure the Notes;

 

  to evidence and provide for the acceptance and appointment of a successor trustee and to add or change any provisions of the indentures as necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trust by more than one trustee; and

 

  to make provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indentures, so long such other provisions to do not materially affect the interest of any other holder of the Notes.

 

Changes Requiring Approval of Each Holder

 

We cannot make certain changes to the Notes without the specific approval of each holder of the same series of Notes. The following is a list of those types of changes:

 

  changing the stated maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Note;

 

  reducing the principal amount or rate of interest of any Note;

 

  changing the place of payment where any Note or any interest is payable;

 

  impairing the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the date on which it is due and payable;

 

  reducing the percentage in principal amount of holders of the Notes whose consent is needed to modify or amend the indentures; and

 

  reducing the percentage in principal amount of holders of the Notes whose consent is needed to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indentures or to waive certain defaults.

 

Changes Requiring Majority Approval

 

Any other change to the indentures and the Notes would require the following approval:

 

  if the change only affects a particular series of Notes, it must be approved by holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the applicable series of outstanding Notes; and

 

  if the change affects more than one series of debt securities issued under the applicable indenture, it must be approved by the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of each of the series of debt securities affected by the change.

 

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Consent from holders to any change to the indentures or the Notes must be given in writing.

 

Further Details Concerning Voting

 

The amount of Notes in a particular series deemed to be outstanding for the purpose of voting will include all such Notes in such series authenticated and delivered under the indenture applicable to such series of Notes as of the date of determination except:

 

  Notes cancelled by the trustee or delivered to the trustee for cancellation;

 

  Notes for which we have deposited with the trustee or paying agent or set aside in trust money for their payment or redemption and, if money has been set aside for the redemption of the Notes, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to the indenture to the satisfaction of the trustee;

 

  Notes held by the Company, its subsidiaries or any other entity which is an obligor under the Notes, unless such Notes have been pledged in good faith and the pledgee is not the Company, an affiliate of the Company or an obligor under the Notes;

 

  Notes for which have undergone full defeasance, as described below; and

 

  Notes which have been paid or exchanged for other Notes due to such Notes loss, destruction or mutilation, with the exception of any such Notes held by bona fide purchasers who have presented proof to the trustee that such Notes are valid obligations of the Company.

 

We will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of a particular series of Notes that are entitled to vote or take other action under the indenture, and the trustee will generally be entitled to set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the holders of such series of Notes that are entitled to join in the giving or making of any Notice of Default, any declaration of acceleration of maturity of such Notes, any request to institute proceedings or the reversal of such declaration. If we or the trustee set a record date for a vote or other action to be taken by the holders of such Notes, that vote or action can only be taken by persons who are holders of such Notes on the record date and, unless otherwise specified, such vote or action must take place on or prior to the 180th day after the record date. We may change the record date at our option, and we will provide written notice to the trustee and to each holder of a particular series of Notes of any such change of record date.

 

Defeasance

 

The following defeasance provisions will be applicable to the Notes. “Defeasance” means that, by irrevocably depositing with the trustee an amount of cash denominated in U.S. dollars and/or U.S. government obligations sufficient to pay all principal and interest, if any, on all or any series of the Notes when due and satisfying any additional conditions noted below, we will be deemed to have been discharged from our obligations under such Notes. In the event of a “covenant defeasance,” upon depositing such funds and satisfying similar conditions discussed below we would be released from certain covenants under the indenture relating to the specific Notes. The consequences to the holders of the Notes would be that, while they would no longer benefit from certain covenants under the indenture, and while the Notes could not be accelerated for any reason, the holders of the Notes nonetheless would be guaranteed to receive the principal and interest owed to them.

 

Covenant Defeasance

 

Under the indentures, we have the option to take the actions described below and be released from some of the restrictive covenants under the indentures under which any series of the Notes were issued. This is called “covenant defeasance.” In that event, holders of such Notes would lose the protection of those restrictive covenants but would gain the protection of having money and government securities set aside in trust to repay the Notes. In order to achieve covenant defeasance, the following must occur:

 

  we must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds for the benefit of the all holders of the applicable series of the Notes cash, U.S. government obligations or a combination of cash and U.S. government obligations sufficient to generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other applicable payments on such Notes on their various due dates;

 

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  we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion of our counsel stating that under U.S. federal income tax law, we may make the above deposit and covenant defeasance without causing holders to be taxed on the applicable series of the Notes differently than if those actions were not taken;

 

  we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the applicable series of the Notes, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of the deposit;

 

  no default or Event of Default with respect to the applicable series of the Notes has occurred and is continuing, and no defaults or Events of Defaults related to bankruptcy, insolvency or organization occurs during the 90 days following the deposit;

 

  the covenant defeasance must not cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

  the covenant defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreements or instruments to which we are a party;

 

  the covenant defeasance must not result in the trust arising from the deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust will be registered under the Investment Company Act or exempt from registration thereunder; and

 

  we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and a legal opinion from our counsel stating that all conditions precedent with respect to the covenant defeasance have been complied with.

 

Full Defeasance

 

If there is a change in U.S. federal income tax law, we can legally release ourselves from all payment and other obligations on any applicable series of the Notes if we take the following actions below:

 

  we must irrevocably deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds for the benefit of the all holders of the applicable series of the Notes cash, U.S. government obligations or a combination of cash and U.S. government obligations sufficient to generate enough cash to make interest, principal and any other applicable payments on the Notes on their various due dates;

 

  we must deliver to the trustee a legal opinion confirming that there has been a change to the current U.S. federal income tax law or an Internal Revenue Service ruling that allows us to make the above deposit without causing holders to be taxed on the applicable series of the Notes any differently than if we did not make the deposit;

 

  we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate stating that the applicable series of the Notes, if then listed on any securities exchange, will not be delisted as a result of the deposit;

 

  no default or Event of Default with respect to the applicable series of the Notes has occurred and is continuing and no defaults or Events of Defaults related to bankruptcy, insolvency or organization occurs during the 90 days following the deposit;

 

  the full defeasance must not cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

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  the full defeasance must not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreements or instruments to which we are a party;

 

  the full defeasance must not result in the trust arising from the deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust will be registered under the Investment Company Act or exempt from registration thereunder; and

 

  we must deliver to the trustee an officers’ certificate and a legal opinion from our counsel stating that all conditions precedent with respect to the full defeasance have been complied with.

 

In the event that the trustee is unable to apply the funds held in trust to the payment of obligations under the applicable series of the Notes by reason of a court order or governmental injunction or prohibition, then those of our obligations discharged under the full defeasance or covenant defeasance will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit of funds had occurred, until such time as the trustee is permitted to apply all funds held in trust under the procedure described above may be applied to the payment of obligations under such Notes. However, if we make any payment of principal or interest on the applicable series of the Notes to the holders, we will have the right to receive such payments from the trust in the place of the holders. 

 

Listing

 

The 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes are listed on NASDAQ under the symbols “RILYH,” “RILYI,” “RILYO,” “RILYN,” “RILYZ” and “RILYG,” respectively. The Notes trade “flat,” meaning that purchasers will not pay and sellers will not receive any accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes that is not included in the trading price.

 

Governing Law

 

The indentures and the Notes will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

 

Global Notes; Book-Entry Issuance

 

The Notes will be issued in the form of one or more global certificates, or “Global Notes,” registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, or “DTC”. DTC has informed us that its nominee will be Cede & Co. Accordingly, we expect Cede &Co. to be the initial registered holder of the Notes. No person that acquires a beneficial interest in the Notes will be entitled to receive a certificate representing that person’s interest in the Notes except as described herein. Unless and until definitive securities are issued under the limited circumstances described below, all references to actions by holders of the Notes will refer to actions taken by DTC upon instructions from its participants, and all references to payments and notices to holders will refer to payments and notices to DTC or Cede & Co., as the registered holder of these securities.

 

DTC has informed us that it is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC holds and provides asset servicing for over 3.5 million issues of U.S. and non-U.S. equity issues, corporate and municipal debt issues, and money market instruments from over 100 countries that DTC’s participants, or “Direct Participants,” deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates the post-trade settlement among Direct Participants of sales and other securities transactions in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry transfers and pledges between Direct Participants’ accounts. This eliminates the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants include both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, or “DTCC.”

 

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DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly, or “Indirect Participants.” DTC has an S&P rating of AA+. The DTC Rules applicable to its participants are on file with the SEC. More information about DTC can be found at www.dtcc.com.

 

Purchases of the Notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each Note, or the “Beneficial Owner,” is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase. Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the Notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in the Notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Notes is discontinued. 

 

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all Notes deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of the Notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts the Notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

 

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

 

Redemption notices will be sent to DTC. If less than all of the Notes are being redeemed, DTC’s practice is to determine by lot the amount of the interest of each Direct Participant in the Notes to be redeemed.

 

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the Notes unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s Procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to us as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

 

Redemption proceeds, distributions and interest payments on the Notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the applicable trustee or depositary on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with the Notes held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC nor its nominee, the applicable trustee or depositary, or us, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of redemption proceeds, distributions and interest payments to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of us or the applicable trustee or depositary. Disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

 

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that we believe to be reliable, but we take no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

 

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None of the Company, the trustee, any depositary, or any agent of any of them will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of DTC’s or any participant’s records relating to, or for payments made on account of, beneficial interests in a Global Note, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial interests.

 

Termination of a Global Note

 

If a Global Note is terminated for any reason, interest in it will be exchanged for certificates in non-book-entry form as certificated securities. After such exchange, the choice of whether to hold the certificated Notes directly or in street name will be up to the investor. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a Global Note transferred on termination to their own names, so that they will be holders of the Notes. See “— Form, Exchange and Transfer of Certificated Registered Securities.”

 

Payment and Paying Agents

 

We will pay interest to the person listed in the trustee’s records as the owner of the Notes at the close of business on the record date for the applicable interest payment date, even if that person no longer owns the Note on the interest payment date. Because we pay all the interest for an interest period to the holders on the record date, holders buying and selling the Notes must work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price. The most common manner is to adjust the sales price of the Notes to prorate interest fairly between buyer and seller based on their respective ownership periods within the particular interest period. 

 

Payments on Global Notes

 

We will make payments on the Notes so long as they are represented by Global Notes in accordance with the applicable policies of the depositary in effect from time to time. Under those policies, we will make payments directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interest in the Global Notes. An indirect holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants.

 

Payments on Certificated Securities

 

In the event the Notes become represented by certificates, we will make payments on the Notes as follows. We will pay interest that is due on an interest payment date by check mailed on the interest payment date to the holder of the Note at his or her address shown on the trustee’s records as of the close of business on the record date. We will make all payments of principal by check at the office of the trustee in the contiguous United States and/or at other offices that may be specified in the indenture or a notice to holders against surrender of the Note.

 

Payment When Offices Are Closed

 

If any payment is due on the Notes on a day that is not a business day, we will make the payment on the next day that is a business day. Payments made on the next business day in this situation will be treated under the indenture as if they were made on the original due date. Such payment will not result in a default under the Notes or the indenture, and no interest will accrue on the payment amount from the original due date to the next day that is a business day.

 

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on the Notes.

 

Form, Exchange and Transfer of Certificated Registered Securities

 

Notes in physical, certificated form will be issued and delivered to each person that DTC identifies as a beneficial owner of the related Notes only if:

 

  DTC notified us at any time that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the Global Notes;

 

  DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act; or

 

  an Event of Default with respect to such Global Note has occurred and is continuing.

 

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Holders may exchange their certificated securities for Notes of smaller denominations or combined into fewer Notes of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed and as long as the denomination is equal to or greater than $25.

 

Holders may exchange or transfer their certificated securities at the office of the trustee. We have appointed the trustee to act as our agent for registering the Notes in the name of holders transferring Notes. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts.

 

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of their certificated securities, but they may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the registration of transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if our transfer agent is satisfied with the holder’s proof of legal ownership.

 

If we redeem any of the Notes, we may block the transfer or exchange of those Notes selected for redemption during the period beginning 15 days before the day we mail the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to determine or fix the list of holders to prepare the mailing. We may also refuse to register transfer or exchanges of any certificated Notes selected for redemption, except that we will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any Note that will be partially redeemed.

 

About the Trustees

 

U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee under the 2016 Indenture governing the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes and will be the principal paying agent and registrar for the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes. U.S. Bank National Association may resign or be removed with respect to the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes provided that a successor trustee is appointed to act with respect to the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes.

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., is the trustee under the 2019 Indenture governing the 2024 Notes and the 2026 Notes and will be the principal paying agent and registrar for the 2024 Notes and the 2026 Notes. The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., may resign or be removed with respect to the 2024 Notes and the 2026 Notes provided that a successor trustee is appointed to act with respect to the 2024 Notes and the 2026 Notes.

 

DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, provides that we are authorized to issue 101,000,000 shares of capital stock. Our authorized capital stock is comprised of 100,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share.

 

The following description is a summary of the material terms of our capital stock and certain provisions of our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended. This description does not purport to be complete. For information on how you can obtain our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended, see “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

 

The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote for each share held of record on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders. Our stockholders do not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. Accordingly, holders of a majority of the shares voting are able to elect all of our directors. Subject to preferences that may apply to any then outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of outstanding shares of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available for distribution at the times and in the amounts, if any, that our Board of Directors may determine from time to time. In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, subject to the rights of each series of our preferred stock, which may, from time to time come into existence, holders of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in all of our assets remaining after we pay our liabilities. Holders of our common stock have no preemptive or other subscription or conversion rights. Our common stock is not redeemable and there are no sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.

 

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MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership, and disposition of the Notes that we are offering. The following discussion is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations. This summary is based upon the Code, regulations promulgated under the Code by the U.S. Treasury Department (including proposed and temporary regulations), rulings, current administrative interpretations and official pronouncements of the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”), and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. Such change could materially and adversely affect the tax consequences described below. No assurance can be given that the IRS would not assert, or that a court would not sustain, a position contrary to any of the tax consequences described below.

 

This summary is for general information only, and does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a particular holder in light of its investment or tax circumstances or to holders subject to special tax rules, such as partnerships (including entities and arrangements classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes), subchapter S corporations or other pass-through entities, banks, financial institutions, tax-exempt entities, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, real estate investment trusts, trusts and estates, dealers in stocks, securities or currencies, traders in securities that have elected to use the mark-to-market method of accounting for their securities, persons holding the Notes as part of an integrated transaction, including a “straddle,” “hedge,” “constructive sale,” or “conversion transaction,” U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency for tax purposes (as defined in Section 985 of the Code) is not the U.S. dollar, holders subject to Section 451(b) of the Code, and individuals subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code. This summary does not include any description of the tax laws of any state or local governments, or of any foreign government, that may be applicable to a particular holder.

 

This summary is directed solely to holders that, except as otherwise specifically noted, will purchase the Notes offered in this prospectus upon original issuance for the “issue price” (i.e., the first price at which a substantial amount of the Notes is sold for money to persons, other than to bond houses, brokers or similar persons or organizations acting in the capacity of the underwriters, placement agents or wholesalers) for cash and will hold such securities as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code, which generally means as property held for investment.

 

This summary is not a comprehensive description of all of the U.S. federal tax consequences that may be relevant with respect to the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Notes. We urge you to consult your own tax advisor regarding your particular circumstances and the U.S. federal income and estate tax consequences to you of acquiring, owning and disposing of these securities, as well as any tax consequences arising under the laws of any state, local, foreign, or other tax jurisdiction and the possible effects of changes in U.S. federal or other tax laws.

 

As used in this prospectus, the term “U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of Notes that is for U.S. federal income tax purposes:

 

  an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;

 

  a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia;

 

  an estate the income of which is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source;

 

  a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more “United States persons” have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or

 

  a trust in existence on August 20, 1996 that has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person.

 

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As used in this prospectus, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of the Notes (other than a partnership or other entity taxable as a partnership) that is not a U.S. Holder.

 

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds the Notes offered in this prospectus, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of a partner generally will depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership and accordingly, this summary does not apply to partnerships. A partner of a partnership holding the Notes should consult its own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences to the partner of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the Notes by the partnership.

 

Consequences to U.S. Holders

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to U.S. Holders of the Notes.

 

Payment of Interest. It is expected, and this discussion assumes, that the Notes will be issued with less than a de minimis amount of “original issue discount” for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Accordingly, interest on a Note generally will be included in the income of a U.S. Holder as ordinary interest income at the time it is accrued or is received in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will be ordinary income.

 

Qualified Reopening. We will not issue any additional 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes, or 7.25% 2027 Notes unless such additional notes would constitute a “qualified reopening” of the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes and Initial7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For U.S. federal income tax purposes, debt instruments issued in a qualified reopening are deemed to be part of the same issue as the original debt instruments. Under the treatment described in this paragraph, the additional 7.375% 2023 Notes, additional 6.875% 2023 Notes, additional 2024 Notes, additional 2026 Notes, additional 7.50% 2027 Notes and additional 7.25% 2027 Notes will have the same issue date, the same issue price and the same adjusted issue price as the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes and Initial7.25% 2027 Notes, respectively, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. The remainder of this discussion assumes the correctness of the treatment described in this paragraph.

 

Pre-issuance Accrued Interest. The aggregate purchase price of the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes, or 7.25% 2027 Notes issued pursuant to this offering may include interest that accrued prior to the date the notes are purchased, which is referred to herein as “pre-issuance accrued interest.” Pre-issuance accrued interest will be included in the accrued interest to be paid on the Notes on the first interest payment date after the issuance of the Notes offered hereby. We intend to take the position that a portion of the interest payment following the issuance of any Notes pursuant to this offering equal to the pre-issuance accrued interest for such Notes will be treated as a return of the pre-issuance accrued interest and not as an amount payable on the Notes. If this position is respected, our payment of such pre-issuance accrued interest will not be treated as taxable interest income to U.S. Holders of the Notes and the amount of the pre-issuance accrued interest will reduce such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Notes. Prospective purchasers of the Notes are urged to consult their tax advisors with respect to the tax treatment of pre-issuance accrued interest.

 

Bond Premium. In general, if a U.S. Holder purchases a Note for an amount (excluding any amount attributable to any pre-issuance accrued interest) in excess of the stated principal amount of the Note, the U.S. Holder will be treated as purchasing the Note with bond premium in an amount equal to such excess. A U.S. Holder may elect to amortize such bond premium over the remaining term of the Note on a constant yield method as an offset to interest when includible in income under the U.S. Holder’s regular method of tax accounting. In such case, the U.S. Holder’s tax basis in the Note will be reduced by the amortized bond premium. Any election to amortize bond premium shall apply to all debt instruments (other than debt instruments the interest on which is excludable from gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes) held by the U.S. Holder at the beginning of the first taxable year to which the election applies or thereafter acquired by the U.S. Holder, and is irrevocable without the consent of the IRS. If a U.S. Holder does not elect to amortize the bond premium, the bond premium will decrease the gain or increase the loss that would otherwise be recognized on a disposition of the Note. U.S. Holders should consult their tax advisors about the decision to amortize the bond premium and the effects of such an election, including the effect on other debt instruments held by the U.S. Holder.

 

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Sale, Exchange, or Retirement of Notes. Upon the sale, exchange, retirement, or other disposition of a Note, a U.S. Holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between the amount realized upon the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the Note. The amount realized by the U.S. Holder will include the amount of any cash and the fair market value of any other property received for the Note, but will exclude amounts attributable to accrued but unpaid interest which will be treated as described above under “Payments of Interest.” A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a Note will generally be the cost of the Note to such U.S. Holder (excluding any amounts paid for pre-issuance accrued interest that is not taxable when received), decreased by any amortized bond premium.

 

Gain or loss realized on the sale, exchange, retirement, or other disposition of a Note generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if the Note has been held for more than one year. Net long-term capital gain recognized by an individual U.S. Holder is generally taxed at preferential rates. The ability of U.S. Holders to deduct capital losses is subject to limitations under the Code. Prospective investors should consult with their own tax advisors concerning these tax law provisions.

 

Additional Medicare Tax on Unearned Income. Certain U.S. Holders, including individuals, estates and trusts, are subject to an additional 3.8% Medicare tax on unearned income. For individual U.S. Holders, the additional Medicare tax applies to the lesser of (i) “net investment income” or (ii) the excess of “modified adjusted gross income” over $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or $125,000 if married and filing separately). “Net investment income” generally equals the taxpayer’s gross investment income reduced by the deductions that are allocable to such income. Investment income generally includes passive income such as interest and capital gains. U.S. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the implications of the additional Medicare tax resulting from an investment in the Notes.

 

Taxation of Non-U.S. Holders

 

The following is a summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences that will apply to Non-U.S. Holders of a Note.

 

Payments of Interest. Except as discussed below, principal and interest payments that are received from us or our agent and that are not effectively connected with the conduct by the Non-U.S. Holder of a trade or business within the United States, or a permanent establishment maintained in the United States if certain tax treaties apply, generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax, except as provided below.

 

Interest may be subject to a 30% withholding tax (or less under an applicable treaty, if any) if:

 

  a Non-U.S. Holder actually or constructively owns 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of our stock entitled to vote;

 

  a Non-U.S. Holder is a “controlled foreign corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes that is related to us (directly or indirectly) through stock ownership;

 

  a Non-U.S. Holder is a bank extending credit pursuant to a loan agreement entered into in the ordinary course of its trade or business (as described in Section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code); or

 

  the Non-U.S. Holder does not satisfy the certification requirements described below.

 

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In the case of the Notes, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will satisfy the certification requirements if either: (a) the Non-U.S. Holder certifies to us or our agent, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a “United States person” (within the meaning of the Code) and provides its name and address (which certification may generally be made on an IRS Form W-8BEN, IRS Form W-8BEN-E or other applicable U.S. nonresident withholding tax certification form), or (b) a securities clearing organization, bank, or other financial institution that holds customer securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a “financial institution”) and holds the Note certifies to us under penalties of perjury that either it or another financial institution has received the required statement from the Non-U.S. Holder certifying that it is not a United States person and furnishes us with a copy of the statement.  

 

Except as discussed below, payments not meeting the requirements set forth above and thus subject to withholding of U.S. federal income tax may nevertheless be exempt from withholding (or subject to withholding at a reduced rate) if the Non-U.S. Holder provides us with a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E, or other applicable U.S. nonresident withholding tax certification form, claiming an exemption from, or reduction in, withholding under the benefit of a tax treaty, or IRS Form W-8ECI (or other applicable form) stating that interest paid on the Notes is not subject to withholding tax because it is effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States as discussed below. These forms may be required to be updated periodically. To claim benefits under an income tax treaty, a Non-U.S. Holder must obtain a taxpayer identification number and certify as to its eligibility under the appropriate treaty’s limitations on benefits article. In addition, special rules may apply to claims for treaty benefits made by Non-U.S. Holders that are entities rather than individuals. A Non-U.S. Holder that is eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax pursuant to an income tax treaty may obtain a refund of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for refund with the IRS.

 

Sale, Exchange, or Retirement of Note. Except as discussed below, a Non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax on any capital gain or market discount realized on the sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition of Notes, provided that: (a) the gain is not effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States, or a permanent establishment maintained in the United States if certain tax treaties apply, and (b) in the case of a Non-U.S. Holder that is an individual, the Non-U.S. Holder is not present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Note. An individual Non-U.S. Holder who is present in the United States for 183 days or more in the taxable year of sale, exchange or other disposition of a Note, and if certain other conditions are met, will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% on the gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of such Note.

 

Income Effectively Connected with a Trade or Business within the United States. If a Non-U.S. Holder of a Note is engaged in the conduct of a trade or business within the United States and if interest on the Note, or gain realized on the sale, exchange or other disposition of the Note, is effectively connected with the conduct of such trade or business (and, if certain tax treaties apply, is attributable to a permanent establishment maintained by the Non-U.S. Holder in the United States), the Non-U.S. Holder, although exempt from U.S. federal withholding tax (provided that the certification requirements discussed above are satisfied), will generally be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such interest or gain on a net income basis in the same manner as if it were a U.S. Holder. Non-U.S. Holders should read the material under the heading “Consequences to U.S. Holders,” for a description of the U.S. federal income tax consequences of acquiring, owning, and disposing of a Note. In addition, if such Non-U.S. Holder is a foreign corporation, it may also be subject to a branch profits tax equal to 30% (or such lower rate provided by an applicable U.S. income tax treaty) of all or a portion of its earnings and profits for the taxable year that are effectively connected with its conduct of a trade or business in the United States, subject to certain adjustments.

 

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

 

In general, in the case of a U.S. Holder, other than certain exempt recipients (including a corporation and certain other persons who, when required, demonstrate their exempt status), we and other payors are required to report to the IRS all payments of principal and interest on the Notes. In addition, we and other payors generally are required to report to the IRS any payment of proceeds from the sale of a Note before maturity. Additionally, backup withholding generally will apply to any payments if a U.S. Holder fails to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number and certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct, the U.S. Holder is notified by the IRS that it is subject to backup withholding, or the U.S. Holder does not certify that it is not subject to backup withholding. If applicable, backup withholding will be imposed at a rate of 24%.

 

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In the case of a Non-U.S. Holder, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply to payments made if the Non-U.S. Holder provides the required certification to the applicable withholding agent under penalties of perjury that it is not a United States person, or the Non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that the payor does not have actual knowledge that the holder is a United States person, or that the conditions of any exemption are not satisfied.

 

In addition, payments of the proceeds from the sale of a Note to or through a foreign office of a broker or the foreign office of a custodian, nominee, or other dealer acting on behalf of a holder generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, if the broker, custodian, nominee, or other dealer is a United States person, the government of the United States or the government of any state or political subdivision of any state, or any agency or instrumentality of any of these governmental units, a controlled foreign corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, a foreign partnership that is either engaged in a trade or business within the United States or whose United States partners in the aggregate hold more than 50% of the income or capital interest in the partnership, a foreign person 50% or more of whose gross income for a certain period is effectively connected with a trade or business within the United States, or a United States branch of a foreign bank or insurance company, information reporting (but not backup withholding) generally will be required with respect to payments made to a holder unless the broker, custodian, nominee, or other dealer has documentation of the holder’s foreign status and the broker, custodian, nominee, or other dealer has no actual knowledge or reason to know to the contrary.

 

Payment of the proceeds from a sale of a Note to or through the U.S. office of a broker is subject to information reporting and backup withholding, unless the holder certifies as to its non-United States person status or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.

 

Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against a holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability provided the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

 

Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act

 

Certain provisions of the Code, known as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), impose a 30% U.S. withholding tax on certain U.S. source payments, including interest (and OID), dividends, other fixed or determinable annual or periodical gain, profits, and income, and on the gross proceeds from a disposition of property of a type which can produce U.S. source interest or dividends (“Withholdable Payments”), if paid to a foreign financial institution (including amounts paid to a “foreign financial institution” on behalf of a holder), unless such institution enters into an agreement with the Treasury to collect and provide to the Treasury certain information (that is in addition to and significantly more onerous than, the requirement to deliver an applicable U.S. nonresident withholding tax certification form (e.g., IRS Form W-8BEN), as discussed above) regarding U.S. financial account holders, including certain account holders that are foreign entities with U.S. owners, with such institution or otherwise complies with FATCA. FATCA also generally imposes a withholding tax of 30% on Withholdable Payments made to a non-financial foreign entity unless such entity provides the withholding agent with a certification that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or a certification identifying the direct and indirect substantial U.S. owners of the entity. Under certain circumstances, a holder may be eligible for refunds or credits of such taxes.

 

These withholding and reporting requirements generally apply to U.S. source periodic payments (such as interest payments on the Notes) and, after December 31, 2018, to payments of gross proceeds from a sale, exchange, retirement or other disposition. If we determine withholding is appropriate with respect to the Notes, we will withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate, and we will not pay any additional amounts in respect of such withholding. Foreign financial institutions and non-financial foreign entities located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules. We will not be required to pay any additional amounts in respect of any payments to which FATCA withholding applies. Holders are urged to consult with their own tax advisors regarding the possible implications of FATCA on their investment in the Notes.

 

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PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

The Agent is acting as our sales agent in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to this prospectus. Upon written instructions from us, the Agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal sales and trading practices to sell, as our sales agent, the Offered Securities under the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Sales Agreement. We will instruct the Agent as to the series and amount of the Notes or shares of Common Stock to be sold by it. We may instruct the Agent not to sell the Offered Securities if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any instruction. We will instruct the Agent not to sell the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes or 7.25% 2027 Notes if the sales cannot be effected at or above prices that will allow the Notes to be treated as “fungible” with the Initial 7.375% 2023 Notes, Initial 6.875% 2023 Notes, Initial 2024 Notes, Initial 2026 Notes, Initial 7.50% 2027 Notes or Initial 7.25% 2027 Notes, as applicable, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We or the Agent may suspend the offering of Offered Securities upon proper notice and subject to other conditions.

 

Sales of the Offered Securities, if any, under this prospectus may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market,” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act. If any of the Notes are sold at prices above par, the effective yield on such Notes to the purchasers may be less than 7.375%, 6.875%, 6.75%, 6.50%, 7.50%, or 7.25%, as applicable.

 

The Agent will provide written confirmation of a sale to us no later than the opening of the trading day on the NASDAQ following each trading day in which the Offered Securities are sold under the Sales Agreement. Each confirmation will include the series and principal amount of Notes sold or number of shares in the case of Common Stock on the preceding day, the sales price of Offered Securities sold, the aggregate gross sales proceeds of such Offered Securities, the net proceeds to us and the compensation payable by us to the Agent in connection with the sales.

 

The Agent will receive a commission from us equal to2.0% of the gross sales price of any Offered Securities sold through the Agent under the Sales Agreement. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding compensation payable to the Agent under the terms of the Sales Agreement, will be approximately $65,000. This estimate includes the reimbursement by the Company of the reasonable fees and expenses of the Agent in connection with the transactions contemplated by the Sales Agreement.

 

Settlement for sales of the Offered Securities will occur on the second trading day following the date on which such sales are made, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and the Agent in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

We will report at least quarterly the series and principal amount of Notes or number of shares of Common Stock sold through the Agent under the Sales Agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to the Agent, if any.

 

In connection with the sale of the Offered Securities on our behalf, the Agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation of the Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Agent against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

The offering of the Offered Securities pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of the dollar amount of Offered Securities subject to the Sales Agreement or (ii) the termination of the Sales Agreement as permitted therein.

 

Other Relationships

 

The Agent and certain of its affiliates are full service financial institutions engaged in various activities, which may include securities trading, commercial and investment banking, financial advisory, investment management, investment research, principal investment, hedging, financing and brokerage activities. The Agent and certain of its affiliates have, from time to time, performed, and may in the future perform, various commercial and investment banking and financial advisory services for the Company and our affiliates, for which they received or may in the future receive customary fees and expenses.

 

In the ordinary course of its various business activities, the Agent and certain of its affiliates actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments for their own account and for the accounts of their customers, and such investment and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of the Company or our affiliates. The Agent and certain of its affiliates may also communicate independent investment recommendations, market color or trading ideas and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or instruments and may at any time hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

 

The principal business address of the Agent is 299 Park Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, New York 10171.

 

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

 

B. Riley FBR is an affiliate of B. Riley Financial, Inc. and, as such, will have a “conflict of interest” in this offering of Offered Securities within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121. Consequently, this offering of Notes will be conducted in compliance with the provisions of FINRA Rule 5121. B. Riley FBR will not be permitted to sell Notes in this offering to an account over which it exercises discretionary authority without the prior specific written approval of the account holder.

 

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EXPERTS

 

Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018, as well as the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2018, as stated in its report incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and such audited consolidated financial statements have been incorporated by reference into this prospectus in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon its authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

The consolidated financial statements of FBR & Co. and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2016 and 2015 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2016 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

The consolidated financial statements of magicJack VocalTec Ltd. as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017 and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017 incorporated by reference in this prospectus have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of BDO USA, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated herein by reference, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters will be passed upon for us by The NBD Group, Inc., Los Angeles, California, and for the Agent by Duane Morris LLP, New York, New York.

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

 

This prospectus are part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information that we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any documents filed by us under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of Notes by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the following documents or information filed with the SEC (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules):

 

  Our quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March 31, 2019 and June 30, 2019, filed with the SEC on May 1, 2019 and August 9, 2019, respectively;
     
  Our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, filed with the SEC on March 6, 2019 (including any portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on April 15, 2019 that are incorporated by reference into such Annual Report on Form 10-K); and
     
  Our current reports on Form 8-K/A filed with the SEC on June 28, 2017, March 21, 2018 and December 10, 2018, and our current reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 21, 2017, January 5, 2018, January 16, 2018, March 20, 2018, April 25, 2018, May 11, 2018, July 16, 2018, July 31, 2018, August 13, 2018, November 20, 2018, December 27, 2018, January 4, 2019, February 7, 2019, April 9, 2019, April 22, 2019, May 7, 2019, July 18, 2019 and September 23, 2019.

 

We will provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus are delivered, upon his or her written or oral request, a copy of any or all documents referred to above that have been or may be incorporated by reference into this prospectus, excluding exhibits to those documents unless they are specifically incorporated by reference into those documents. You may request those documents from us by contacting us at: B. Riley Financial, Inc., 21255 Burbank Blvd, Suite 400, Woodland Hills, California 91367, Attention: Investor Relations, telephone (818) 884-3737.

 

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Up to $100,000,000

 

 

 

 

 

7.375% Senior Notes due 2023

6.875% Senior Notes due 2023

6.75% Senior Notes due 2024

6.50% Senior Notes due 2026

7.50% Senior Notes due 2027

7.25% Senior Notes due 2027

Common Stock 

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS

 

B. Riley FBR

 

, 2019

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses Of Issuance And Distribution

 

The following table sets forth an estimate of the costs and expenses relating to the offering of the securities being registered, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, all of which shall be borne by the registrant. All of such fees and expenses, except for the SEC registration fee, are estimated:

 

 

    Amount to be paid*  
SEC Registration Fee   $    30,300  
FINRA Filing Fee       *
Legal Fees and Expenses       *
Accounting Fees and Expenses       *
Transfer Agent, Registrar and Trustee Fees     *
Printing and Engraving Fees       *
Miscellaneous     *
Total   $   *

 

* Fees and expenses (other than the SEC registration fee to be paid upon filing of this registration statement) will depend on the number and nature of the offerings of common stock, and cannot be estimated at this time. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in any applicable prospectus supplement.

 

Item 15. Indemnification Of Directors And Officers

 

Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the “DGCL”) provides, in general, that a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, such as us, may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (other than a derivative action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that such person 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 enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person’s conduct was unlawful. In the case of a derivative action, a Delaware corporation may indemnify any such person against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification will be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person will have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court in which such action was brought determines such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses.

 

Our Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, each as amended, provide that we will indemnify our directors, officers, employees and agents to the extent and in the manner permitted by the provisions of the DGCL, as amended from time to time, subject to any permissible expansion or limitation of such indemnification, as may be set forth in any stockholders’ or directors’ resolution or by contract.

 

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We also have director and officer indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors that provide, among other things, for the indemnification to the fullest extent permitted or required by Delaware law, provided that such indemnitee shall not be entitled to indemnification in connection with any proceedings or claims initiated or brought voluntarily by the indemnitee and not by way of defense, unless (i) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (ii) the proceeding was authorized by our Board of Directors, (iii) indemnification is provided by us, in our sole discretion, pursuant to powers vested in us under the DGCL, or (iv) the proceeding is brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under the indemnification agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under Section 145 of the DGCL. We are not required to indemnify the indemnitee for any amounts paid in settlement of a proceeding unless we consent to such settlement.

 

Any repeal or modification of these provisions approved by our stockholders shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of a director or officer existing as of the time of such repeal or modification.

 

We have purchased and intend to maintain insurance on our behalf and on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer against any loss arising from any claim asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in that capacity, subject to certain exclusions and limits of the amount of coverage.

 

Item 16. Exhibits

 

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

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number
  Description
1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement.**
1.2   At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated as of September 23, 2019, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and B. Riley FBR, Inc.*
2.1   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of May 4, 2016, by and among B. Riley Financial, Inc., Unify Merger Sub, Inc. and United Online, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 6, 2016).***
2.2   Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of March 15, 2017, and effective as of February 17, 2017, by and among FBR & Co., the registrant and BRC Merger Sub, LLC (incorporated by reference to Appendix A on S-4/A (File No. 333-216763) filed with the SEC on May 1, 2017).***
2.3   Merger Agreement, dated as of May 17, 2017, by and among B. Riley Financial, Inc., Foxhound Merger Sub, Inc., Wunderlich Investment Company, Inc. and the Stockholder Representative (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 18, 2017).***
2.4   Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated November 9, 2017, by and among B. Riley Financial, Inc., B. R. Acquisition Ltd. and magicJack VocalTec Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 9, 2017).***
2.5   Amendment No. 1, dated May 8, 2018, to the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated November 9, 2017, by and among B. Riley Financial, Inc., B.R. Acquisition Ltd. And magicJack VocalTec Ltd (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.2 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 20, 2018).***
2.6   Limited Waiver and Agreement, dated as of November 9, 2018, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and magicJack VocalTec Ltd. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.3 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 20, 2018).***
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, dated as of August 17, 2015 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on August 3, 2018).
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws, dated as of November 6, 2014 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.6 of the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC on November 6, 2014).
3.3   Amendment to the Amended and Restated Bylaws, dated as of April 3, 2019 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 9, 2019).
4.1   Form of Common Stock Certificate (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 30, 2015).
4.2   Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of warrant).**
4.3   Form of Unit Agreement (including form of unit certificate).**
4.4   Form of Certificate of Designation with respect to shares of Preferred Stock.**
4.5   Form of Deposit Agreement (including form of Depositary Receipt).**
4.6   Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities.*
4.7   Form of Senior Note.**
4.8   Form of Subordinated Note.**
4.9   Base Indenture, dated as of November 2, 2016, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the registrant with the SEC on November 2, 2016) (the “2016 Indenture”).
4.10   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 2, 2016, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including Form of 7.50% Senior Note due 2021) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on November 2, 2016).
4.11   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 31, 2017, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including Form of 7.50% Senior Note due 2027) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 31, 2017).

 

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4.12   Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 13, 2017, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including Form of 7.25% Senior Note due 2027) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on December 13, 2017).
4.13   Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 17, 2018, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including Form of 7.375% Senior Note due 2023) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 17, 2018).
4.14   Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 11, 2018, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee (including Form of 6.875% Senior Note due 2023) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 11, 2018).
4.15   Base Indenture, dated as of May 7, 2019, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by the registrant with the SEC on May 7, 2019) (the “2019 Indenture”).
4.16   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 7, 2019, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (including Form of 6.75% Senior Note due 2024) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on May 7, 2019).
4.17   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 23, 2019, by and between B. Riley Financial, Inc. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (including Form of 6.50% Senior Note due 2026) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 of the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 23, 2019).
5.1   Opinion of The NBD Group, Inc. regarding the legality of the securities being registered.*
23.1   Consent of Marcum LLP.*
23.2   Consent of BDO USA, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of FBR & Co.*
23.3   Consent of BDO USA, LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm of magicJack VocalTec Ltd.*
23.4   Consent of The NBD Group, Inc. (included in Exhibit 5.1).*
24   Powers of Attorney of directors and certain officers of the registrant (included on signature page).*
25.1   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. related to the 2019 Indenture for Senior Debt Securities.*
25.2   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. related to Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities.*
25.3   Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of U.S. Bank National Association related to the 2016 Indenture for Senior Debt Securities.*

 

* Filed herewith.

 

** To be filed by an amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated by reference herein.

 

*** Schedules omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The registrant agrees to furnish supplementally a copy of any omitted schedule to the SEC upon request.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

 

(a) The 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 to:

 

(i) include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

(ii) 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 Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (§230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and

 

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(iii) 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 Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

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

 

(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(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 or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

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

 

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

 

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(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.

 

(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(c) 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 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 Act 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.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Woodland Hills, State of California, on September 23, 2019.

 

  B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Phillip J. Ahn
  Name: Phillip J. Ahn
  Title: Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Operating Officer

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Bryant R. Riley and Phillip J. Ahn as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agent or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

 

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.

 

SIGNATURE   TITLE   DATE
         
/s/ Bryant R. Riley   Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board   September 23, 2019
Bryant R. Riley   (Principal Executive Officer)    
         
/s/ Phillip J. Ahn   Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer   September 23, 2019
Phillip J. Ahn   (Principal Financial Officer)    
         
/s/ Howard E. Weitzman   Chief Accounting Officer   September 23, 2019
Howard E. Weitzman   (Principal Accounting Officer)    
         
/s/ Thomas J. Kelleher   Co-Chief Executive Officer and Director   September 23, 2019
Thomas J. Kelleher        
         
/s/ Andrew Gumaer   Director   September 23, 2019
Andrew Gumaer        
         
/s/ Robert L. Antin   Director   September 23, 2019
Robert L. Antin        
         
/s/ Robert D’Agostino   Director   September 23, 2019
Robert D’Agostino        
         
/s/ Michael J. Sheldon   Director   September 23, 2019
Michael J. Sheldon        
         
/s/ Todd D. Sims   Director   September 23, 2019
Todd D. Sims        
         
/s/ Mimi Walters   Director   September 23, 2019

Mimi Walters

 

       
/s/ Mikel H. Williams   Director   September 23, 2019
Mikel H. Williams        

 

 

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Exhibit 1.2

 

 

B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

7.25% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027

7.50% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2027

7.375% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2023

6.875% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2023

6.75% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2024

6.50% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026

COMMON STOCK

 

At Market Issuance Sales Agreement

 

September 23, 2019

 

B. Riley FBR, Inc.

299 Park Avenue, 7th Floor

New York, New York 10171

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with B. Riley FBR, Inc. (the “Agent”) as follows:

 

1. Issuance and Sale of Securities. The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through the Agent (i) the Company’s 7.25% Senior Notes Due 2027 (the “December 2027 Notes”), 7.50% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “May 2027 Notes”), the Company’s 7.375% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “May 2023 Notes”) and the Company’s 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “September 2023 Notes” and together with the December 2027 Notes, the May 2027 Notes and the May 2023 Notes, the “U.S. Bank Notes”) to be issued under an indenture dated as of November 2, 2016 (the “U.S. Bank Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 2, 2016 (the “U.S. Bank First Supplemental Indenture”), the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 31, 2017 (the “U.S. Bank Second Supplemental Indenture”), the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 13, 2017 (the “U.S. Bank Third Supplemental Indenture”), the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 17, 2018 (the “U.S. Bank Fourth Supplemental Indenture”) and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 11, 2018 (together with the U.S. Bank Base Indenture, U.S. Bank First Supplemental Indenture, U.S. Bank Second Supplemental Indenture, U.S. Bank Third Supplemental Indenture and U.S. Bank Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the “U.S. Bank Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (“U.S. Bank”), from time to time during the term of this Agreement (the “U.S. Bank Placement Notes”), (ii) the Company’s 6.75% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “May 2024 Notes”) and the Company’s 6.50% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “September 2026 Notes” together with the May 2024 Notes, the “BNY Mellon Notes”; the U.S. Bank Notes and the BNY Mellon Notes together are the “Notes”) to be issued under an indenture dated as of May 7, 2019 (the “BNY Mellon Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 7, 2019 (the “BNY Mellon First Supplemental Indenture”) and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 23, 2019 (the “BNY Mellon Second Supplemental Indenture” and together with the BNY Mellon Base Indenture and the BNY Mellon First Supplemental Indenture, the “BNY Mellon Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon National Association, as trustee ( “BNY Mellon” and together with U.S. Bank, each a “Trustee” and together the “Trustees”) from time to time during the term of this Agreement (the “BNY Mellon Placement Notes” and together with the U.S. Bank Placement Notes, the “Placement Notes”) and (iii) shares of the Company’s common shares, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock” and together with the Placement Notes, the “Placement Securities”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company issue or sell through the Agent such number of Placement Securities that (a) exceeds the number or dollar amount of Placement Securities registered on the effective Registration Statement (as defined below) pursuant to which the offering is being made or (b) the aggregate principal amount of Placement Securities authorized to be issued by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) from time to time (the lesser of (a) or (b) the “Maximum Amount”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 on the number of Placement Securities issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of Placement Securities through the Agent will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue any Placement Securities.

 

 

 

 

The Placement Securities will be issued to Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to a blanket letter of representations (the “DTC Agreement”) to be dated on or prior to the date hereof between the Company and DTC. Each Indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).

 

The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Securities Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), a registration statement on Form S-3, including a prospectus, relating to the Placement Securities to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Exchange Act”). The Company will, if necessary, prepare a prospectus supplement to the prospectus included as part of such registration statement specifically relating to the Placement Securities (the “Prospectus Supplement”). The Company will furnish to the Agent, for use by the Agent, copies of the prospectus relating to the Placement Securities included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The prospectus specifically relating to the Placement Securities, including all documents incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference to the extent such information has not been superseded or modified in accordance with Rule 412 under the Securities Act (as qualified by Rule 430B(g) of the Securities Act), included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”).

 

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For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the most recent copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System, or if applicable, the Interactive Data Electronic Application system when used by the Commission (collectively, “EDGAR”).

 

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

 

3. Sale of Placement Securities by the Agent. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period specified in a Placement Notice, the Agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the NASDAQ Capital Market (the “Exchange”) and FINRA, to sell the Placement Securities up to the amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, such Placement Notice. the Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Securities hereunder setting forth the aggregate principal amount and series of Placement Securities sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by the Agent (as set forth in Section 5(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. Subject to the terms of a Placement Notice, the Agent may sell Placement Securities by any method permitted by law. “Trading Day” means any day on which Securities are purchased and sold on the Exchange.

 

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

 

5. Sale and Delivery to the Agent; Settlement.

 

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

 

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

 

c. Delivery of Placement Securities. On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent or the Trustee, as applicable, to, electronically transfer the Placement Securities being sold by crediting the Agent’s or its designee’s account (provided the Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee and such designee’s account information at least two Trading Days prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered Placement Securities in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, the Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, its transfer agent or the Trustee (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Placement Securities on a Settlement Date through no fault of the Agent, then in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 11(a) hereto, it will (i) hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or reasonable, documented expense (including reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company, its transfer agent or the Trustee (if applicable) and (ii) pay to the Agent (without duplication) any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

 

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d. Limitations on Offering Size. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Securities if, after giving effect to the sale of such Placement Securities, the aggregate number or principal amount of Placement Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the Maximum Amount. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Securities pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to the Agent in writing.

 

6. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus (including the Incorporated Documents), the Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with the Agent that as of the date of this Agreement and as of each Applicable Time (as defined in Section 25 below), unless such representation, warranty or agreement specifies a different date or time:

 

a. Registration Statement and Prospectus. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements for and comply with the conditions for the use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and has been declared effective under the Securities Act, however, this representation shall not be made by the Company as of the date of this Agreement. The Prospectus will name the Agent as the agent in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.” The Company has not received, and has no notice of, any order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, or threatening or instituting proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement and the offer and sale of Placement Securities as contemplated hereby meet the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act and comply in all material respects with said Rule. Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed, as applicable. Copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any such amendments or supplements and all documents incorporated by reference therein that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered, or are available through EDGAR, to the Agent and its counsel. The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of each Settlement Date and completion of the distribution of the Placement Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Placement Securities other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) to which the Agent has consented, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, or that is required by applicable law or the listing maintenance requirements of the Exchange. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from the Exchange to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of the Exchange. To the Company’s knowledge, it is in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements.

 

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b. No Misstatement or Omission. At each Settlement Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of such date, will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. The Registration Statement, when it became or becomes effective, did not, and will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto, on the date thereof and at each Applicable Time (defined below), did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such document or necessary to make the statements in such document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, any such document made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Company by the Agent specifically for use in the preparation thereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Agreement, the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 6(b) shall not be made by the Company as of the date of this Agreement.

 

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

 

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d. Ineligible Issuer. The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the Offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with this offering other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

e. Corporate Status. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation or other legal entity in good standing (or the foreign equivalent thereof) under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other legal entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification and has all power and authority (corporate or other) necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct the businesses in which each is engaged, except where the failure to so qualify or have such power or authority would not (i) have, singularly or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, assets, or business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (ii) impair in any material respect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate any transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Prospectus (any such effect as described in clauses (i) or (ii), a “Material Adverse Effect”). “Subsidiary” means any subsidiary of the Company as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

f.   The Company has the full right, power and authority to execute and deliver, and perform its obligations under, this Agreement, the Indentures, the Placement Securities and the DTC Agreement.

 

g. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

h. Each Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

i.   The DTC Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law).

 

j.   The Placement Securities have been duly authorized for sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee or the Company’s transfer agent, as applicable, pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and of the Indenture relating thereto, against payment of the purchase price therefor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law), and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture relating thereto.

 

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k. The Placement Notes and the Indentures conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and other than as contemplated in the Prospectus, none of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has issued any debt securities or entered into any agreement or arrangement relating to the issuance of any debt securities.

 

l.   All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and were issued in compliance in all material respects with United States federal and applicable state securities laws. All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and were issued in compliance in all material respects with United States federal and applicable state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of capital stock was issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company.

 

m. The membership interests, capital stock, partnership interests or other similar equity interests, as applicable, of each Subsidiary, have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and, except to the extent set forth in the Prospectus, are owned by the Company directly, free and clear of any claim, lien, encumbrance, security interest, restriction upon voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

 

n. None of (1) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the Indentures by the Company and (2) the issuance and sale of the Placement Securities by the Company (with or without notice or lapse of time or both) (x) conflicts with or results in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, constitutes a default under, gives rise to any right of termination or other right or the cancellation or acceleration of any right or obligation or loss of a benefit under or pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, (y) results in any violation of the provisions of the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or analogous governing instruments, as applicable) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or (z) results in any violation of provisions of any law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets; except, with respect to clauses (x) or (z), any contravention which would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

o. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency or self-regulatory authority is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indentures, the DTC Agreement and the Placement Securities, except as have been obtained or as may be required by (1) the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states, (2) the bylaws, rules and regulations of FINRA or the NASDAQ Capital Market or (3) any necessary qualification under the Trust Indenture Act, in connection with the offer and sale of the Placement Securities.

 

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p. Marcum LLP, who has audited certain financial statements of the Company and related schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). To the knowledge of the Company, except as pre-approved in accordance with the requirements set forth in Section 10A of the Exchange Act, the applicable independent registered public accounting firms above have not been engaged by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as applicable, to perform any “prohibited activities” (as defined in Section 10A of the Exchange Act).

 

q. BDO USA LLP, who has audited certain financial statements of FBR & Co. (“FBRCO”) and magicJack VocalTec Ltd., an Israeli corporation (“magicJack”), and related schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, was an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to FBRCO and magicJack as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

 

r.   The financial statements, together with the related notes and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and the results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries and other consolidated entities at the respective dates or for the respective periods therein specified. Such statements and related notes and schedules have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved except as may be set forth in the related notes included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. The financial statements, together with the related notes and schedules, included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act. No other financial statements or supporting schedules or exhibits are required by the Securities Act to be described, or included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. There is no pro forma or as adjusted financial information which is required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or a document incorporated by reference therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations which has not been included or incorporated as so required. The pro forma financial statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in to the Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly, in all material respects, the information contained therein, have been prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.

 

s. The financial statements of magicJack, together with the related notes and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement fairly present, in all material respects, the financial position and the results of operations and changes in financial position of magicJack and its consolidated Subsidiaries and other consolidated entities at the respective dates or for the respective periods therein specified. Such statements and related notes and schedules have been prepared in accordance with GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved except as may be set forth in the related notes included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus. Such financial statements, together with the related notes and schedules, included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

 

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t.   The Company and its Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations or any “variable interest entities” within the meaning of the Financial Accounting Standards Board’s Accounting Standards Codification Topic 810), which are not disclosed in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement.

 

u. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (i) there has not occurred any event or circumstance that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect and (ii) each of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one entity, has not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business, in each case, other than is set forth or contemplated therein.

 

v. There is no legal or governmental proceeding, action, suit or claim pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened, to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject, (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in the Prospectus or proceedings that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject or by which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is bound that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.

 

w. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or, after giving effect to the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will become an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

x. Except to the extent expressly set forth in the Prospectus as part of the offering contemplated hereby, neither the Company, its Subsidiaries nor any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ officers, directors or affiliates has bid for or purchased, for any account in which it or any of its affiliated purchasers has a beneficial interest, any Placement Securities, or attempted to induce any person to purchase any Placement Securities; and has not, and has not caused its affiliated purchasers to, make bids or purchase for the purpose of creating actual, or apparent, active trading in or of raising the price of the Placement Securities.

 

y. The Company and its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real and personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects of title except such as are described in the Prospectus or would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases except such as are described in the Prospectus or would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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z. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any Environmental Laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or is subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.

 

aa. Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess, or have the right to use, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights, except such as will not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

bb. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains a system of internal accounting and other controls (A) sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (B) which are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established. Except as described in the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (A) no material weakness or significant deficiencies in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated), (B) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting, and (C) no fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

cc.   No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company and any of its Subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders (or analogous interest holders), customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their affiliates, on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Prospectus or a document incorporated by reference therein and which is not so described.

 

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dd. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its directors, officers, agents, employees, affiliates or other person acting on their behalf is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that has violated or would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA. The Company and its Subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

ee. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times, in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

ff. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of this Offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

gg. No person or entity has the right to require registration of any securities of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under the Securities Act because of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement, except as set forth in therein.

 

hh. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or the Agent for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering or any other transaction contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

 

ii. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

 

jj. The Company is subject to, and in compliance in all material respects with, the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. As of the filing date of the Registration Statement and as of any update of the Registration Statement pursuant to Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (including the filing of any Annual Report on Form 10-K), the Company was eligible to file a “shelf” Registration Statement on Form S-3 with the Commission.

 

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kk. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or is implementing the provisions thereof that are currently in effect.

 

ll. The statistical and market-related data included in the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate, and such data agree with the sources from which they are derived.

 

mm. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary of the Company has received, or has any reason to believe that it will receive, any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

nn. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries have filed all material federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or have properly requested extensions thereof and have paid all material taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them except as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings.

 

oo. Except as set forth in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, or is an associated person (within the meaning of Article I, Section 1(ee) of the By-laws of FINRA) of, any member firm of FINRA.

 

pp. No approval of the stockholders of the Company under the rules and regulations of NASDAQ (including Rule 5635 of the NASDAQ Capital Rules) is required for the Company to issue and deliver the Placement Securities.

 

qq. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains insurance issued by nationally recognized insurers covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as the Company reasonably deems adequate. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

rr. The Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its respective directors, officers or affiliates has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any “reference security” (as defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the 1934 Act (“Regulation M”)), whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement Securities or otherwise, and has taken no action which would directly or indirectly violate Regulation M.

 

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ss. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the completion of distribution of the Placement Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Securities other than the Prospectus.

 

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

 

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

 

a. Registration Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a prospectus relating to any Placement Securities is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act) (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”) (i) the Company will notify the Agent promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference or amendments not related to any Placement, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus related to the Placement or for additional information related to the Placement, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Agent’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, upon the advice of the Company’s legal counsel, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Securities by the Agent (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the failure to make such filing shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities or a security convertible into the Placement Securities (other than an Incorporated Document) unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Agent within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Agent has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that (A) the failure of the Agent to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and (B) the Company has no obligation to provide the Agent any advance copy of such filing or to provide the Agent an opportunity to object to such filing if the filing does not name the Agent or does not relate to the transaction herein provided; and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to obtain such consent shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to the Agent at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or, in the case of any document to be incorporated therein by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed (the determination to file or not file any amendment or supplement with the Commission under this Section 7(a), based on the Company’s reasonable opinion or reasonable objections, shall be made exclusively by the Company).

 

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

 

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

 

d. Listing of Placement Securities. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Securities to be listed on the Exchange and to qualify the Placement Securities for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Agent reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or dealer in securities, file a general consent to service of process, or subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

h. Notice of Other Sales. Without the prior written consent of the Agent, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities (other than the Placement Securities offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for securities, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, securities during the period beginning on the date on which any Placement Notice is delivered to the Agent hereunder and ending on the third (3rd) Trading Day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Securities sold pursuant to such Placement Notice (or, if the Placement Notice has been terminated or suspended prior to the sale of all Placement Securities covered by a Placement Notice, the date of such suspension or termination); and will not directly or indirectly in any other “at the market” or continuous equity transaction offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities (other than the Placement Securities offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for securities, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, securities prior to the termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that such restrictions will not apply in connection with the Company’s issuance or sale of (i) securities, or securities convertible into or exercisable for securities, offered and sold in a privately negotiated transaction to vendors, customers, strategic partners or potential strategic partners or other investors conducted in a manner so as not to be integrated with the offering of Placement Securities hereby and (iv) securities in connection with any acquisition, strategic investment or other similar transaction (including any joint venture, strategic alliance or partnership).

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

l. Representation Dates; Certificate. Each time during the term of this Agreement that the Company:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(iv) files a current report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information “furnished” pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act;

 

(Each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a “Representation Date.”)

 

the Company shall furnish the Agent (but in the case of clause (iv) above only if the Agent reasonably determines that the information contained in such Form 8-K is material) with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l). The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) upon the delivery of the first Placement Notice hereunder and (ii) if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Securities following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Agent with a certificate under this Section 7(l), then before the Agent sells any Placement Securities, the Company shall provide the Agent with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l), dated the date of the Placement Notice.

 

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m. Legal Opinion. On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice given hereunder the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agent a written opinion and a negative assurance letter of The NBD Group, Inc. (“Company Counsel”), or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. Thereafter, within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable, and not more than once per calendar quarter, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agent a negative assurance letter of Company Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; provided, however, that, in lieu of such negative assurance for subsequent periodic filings under the Exchange Act, counsel may furnish the Agent with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that the Agent may rely on the negative assurance letter previously delivered under this Section 7(m) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the date of the Reliance Letter).

 

n. Comfort Letter. On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice given hereunder and within five (5) Trading Days after each subsequent Representation Date, other than pursuant to Section 7(l)(iii), the Company shall cause its independent accountants to furnish the Agent letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, which shall meet the requirements set forth in this Section 7(n). The Comfort Letter from the Company’s independent accountants shall be in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, (i) confirming that they are an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

 

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

 

p. Investment Company Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor the Subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

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q. No Offer to Sell. Other than an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus approved in advance by the Company and the Agent in its capacity as agent hereunder pursuant to Section 23, neither of the Agent nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Agent in its capacity as such) will make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405), required to be filed with the Commission, that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy Placement Securities hereunder.

 

r. Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting its assets and maintain internal accounting controls in a manner designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (iii) that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with management’s and the Company’s directors’ authorization, and (iv) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company will maintain disclosure controls and procedures that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

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

 

9. Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, filing, including any fees required by the Commission, and printing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment and supplement thereto and each Free Writing Prospectus, in such number as the Agent shall deem reasonably necessary, (ii) the printing and delivery to the Agent of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates, if any, for the Placement Securities to the Agent, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Securities to the Agent, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Company, (v) the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agent up to $25,000; (vi) the fees and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock, (vii) the filing fees incident to any review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Placement Securities, and (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Placement Securities on the Exchange.

 

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

 

a. Registration Statement Effective. The Registration Statement shall become effective and shall be available for the sale of all Placement Securities contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice.

 

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

 

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

 

d. Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that would cause a Material Adverse Effect, or a downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities) by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act (a “Rating Organization”), or a public announcement by any Rating Organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating of any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities), the effect of which, in the case of any such action by a Rating Organization described above, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent (without relieving the Company of any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

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

 

f. Agent Counsel Legal Opinion. Agent shall have received from Duane Morris LLP, counsel for the Agent, such opinion or opinions, on or before the date on which the delivery of the Company Counsel legal opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(m), with respect to such matters as the Agent may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

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

 

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

 

i. Secretary’s Certificate. On or prior to the first Representation Date, the Agent shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by its corporate Secretary, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel.

 

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

 

k. Other Materials. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(l), the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such appropriate further information, certificates and documents as the Agent may reasonably request and which are usually and customarily furnished by an issuer of securities in connection with a securities offering of the type contemplated hereby. All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof.

 

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

 

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m. Approval for Listing. The Placement Securities shall either have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Securities on the Exchange at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.

 

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

 

11. Indemnification and Contribution.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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(b) Indemnification by the Agent. the Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and officers, and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 11(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Agent and furnished to the Company in writing by the Agent expressly for use therein.

 

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

 

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

 

24

 

 

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

 

13. Termination.

 

a. the Agent may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (1) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that would have a Material Adverse Effect that, in the sole judgment of the Agent, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Placement Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Securities, (2) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Agent, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Placement Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Securities, (3) if trading in the Common Stock has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or if trading generally on the Exchange has been suspended or limited, or minimum prices for trading have been fixed on the Exchange, (4) if any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market shall have occurred and be continuing, (5) if a major disruption of securities settlements or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred and be continuing, or (6) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. Federal or New York authorities. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If the Agent elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 13(a), the Agent shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 14 (Notices).

 

25

 

 

b. The Company shall have the right, by giving five (5) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

c. The Agent shall have the right, by giving five (5) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

d. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 13, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Securities through the Agent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

e. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 13(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) shall remain in full force and effect. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not have any liability to the Agent for any discount, commission or other compensation with respect to any Placement Securities not otherwise sold by the Agent under this Agreement.

 

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

 

26

 

 

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

 

B. Riley FBR, Inc.

299 Park Avenue 

7th Floor

New York, New York 10171

Attention: Legal Department
  Email: atmdesk@brileyfbr.com

 

with a copy to:

 

Duane Morris LLP

1540 Broadway

New York, NY 10036-4086

Attention:

Telephone:

Email:
James T. Seery
(973) 424-2088
jtseery@duanemorris.com
Fax: (973) 556-1417

 

and if to the Company, shall be delivered to:

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc.

21255 Burbank Blvd Suite 400 

Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Attention: Chief Financial Officer 

Fax: (818) 746-9921

 

with a copy to:

 

The NBD Group, Inc. 

350 N. Glendale Avenue, Suite B522

Glendale, CA 91206 

Attn: Sara L. Terheggen

Email: st@nbdpro.com

 

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

 

27

 

 

15. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Agent and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 11 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither the Company nor the Agent may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

28

 

 

20. Use of Information. The Agent may not use any information gained in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including due diligence, to advise any party with respect to transactions not expressly approved by the Company.

 

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

 

22. Effect of Headings. The section, Schedule and Exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

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

 

29

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

c. the Agent has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

30

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank]

 

31

 

 

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

 

  Very truly yours,
     
  B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Phillip J. Ahn
    Name: Phillip J. Ahn
    Title: Chief Financial Officer & Chief
    Operating Officer
     
  ACCEPTED as of the date first-above written:
     
  B. RILEY FBR, INC.
     
  By: /s/ Patrice McNicoll
    Name: Patrice McNicoll
    Title: Co-Head of Investment Banking

 

32

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

 

 

FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE

 

 

 

 

From: B. Riley Financial, Inc.
To: B. Riley FBR, Inc.
Attention: [•]
Subject: At Market Issuance--Placement Notice

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement between B. Riley Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and B. Riley FBR, Inc. (“the Agent”), dated September 23, 2019, the Company hereby requests that the Agent sell up to [____] aggregate amount of the Company’s [7.25% Senior Notes due 2027] [and][or] [7.50% Senior Notes due 2027] [and][or] [7.375% Senior Notes due 2023] [and][or] [6.875% Senior Notes due 2023] [and][or] [6.75% Senior Notes due 2024], [and][or] [6.50% Senior Notes due 2026] [and][or] [Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share] at a minimum market price of $ per Placement Security, during the time period beginning [month, day, time] and ending [month, day, time].

 

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall not request the Agent to sell, and the Agent shall not sell, Placement Notes unless such Placement Notes are issued in a “qualified reopening” as provided for in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1275-2(k)(3).

 

33

 

 

SCHEDULE 2

 

 

 

 

Compensation

 

 

 

The Company shall pay to the Agent in cash, upon each sale of Placement Securities pursuant to this Agreement, an amount equal to 2.0% of the gross proceeds from each sale of Placement Securities.

 

34

 

 

SCHEDULE 3

 

 

 

 

Notice Parties

 

 

 

The Company

   
Bryant R. Riley brriley@brileyco.com
   
Phil Ahn pahn@greatamerican.com
   
Alan Forman aforman@brileyfin.com
   
Howard Weitzman hweitzman@greatamerican.com
   
B. Riley  
   
Patrice McNicoll pmcnicoll@brileyfbr.com
   
Ryan Loforte rloforte@brileyfbr.com
   
Keith Pompliano kpompliano@brileyfbr.com
   
Scott Ammaturo sammaturo@brileyfbr.com

 

with a copy to atmdesk@brileyfbr.com

 

35

 

 

EXHIBIT 7(l)

 


Form of Representation Date Certificate

 

___________, 20___

 

This Representation Date Certificate (this “Certificate”) is executed and delivered in connection with Section 7(l) of the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated September 23, 2019, and entered into between B. Riley Financial, Inc. (the “Company”) and B. Riley FBR, Inc. All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Agreement.

 

The Company hereby certifies as follows:

 

1. As of the date of this Certificate (i) the Registration Statement does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (iii) no event has occurred as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading for this paragraph 1 to be true.

 

2. Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Agreement were, when originally made, and are, as of the date of this Certificate, true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties made as of a specific date or time, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects as of the time specified).

 

3. Except as waived by the Agent in writing, each of the covenants required to be performed by the Company in the Agreement on or prior to the date of the Agreement, this Representation Date, and each such other date prior to the date hereof as set forth in the Agreement, has been duly, timely and fully performed in all material respects and each condition required to be complied with by the Company on or prior to the date of the Agreement, this Representation Date, and each such other date prior to the date hereof as set forth in the Agreement has been duly, timely and fully complied with in all material respects.

 

4. Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Prospectus, and except as described in the Prospectus, including Incorporated Documents, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

 

5. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof has been issued, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission).

 

6. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the qualification or registration of the Placement Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction are in effect and, to the Company’s knowledge, no proceeding for such purpose is pending before, or threatened by, any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission).

 

36

 

 

7. The NBD Group, Inc. and Duane Morris LLP are entitled to rely upon this Certificate in connection with the opinions given pursuant to the Agreement.

 

The undersigned has executed this Representation Date Certificate as of the date first written above.

 

  B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.
  By:
  Name:
  Title:

 

37

 

 

EXHIBIT 23

 

Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses

 

None.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

38

 

Exhibit 4.6

 

B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

 

and

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.,

as Trustee

 

INDENTURE

 

Dated as of ________, 20__

 

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

 

 

 

 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE

 

TIA
Section
        Indenture
Section
Section 310   (a)(1)     6.9
    (a)(2)     6.9
    (a)(3)     N/A
    (a)(4)     N/A
    (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)     1.1, 10.4
    (b)     N/A
    (c)(1)     1.2
    (c)(2)     1.2
    (c)(3)     N/A
    (d)     N/A
    (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)     N/A
    (b)     5.8
    (c)     1.4
Section 317   (a)(1)     5.3
    (a)(2)     5.4
    (b)     10.3
Section 318   (a)     1.7

 

N/A means Not Applicable

Note: This Cross-Reference Table shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of this Indenture.

 

2

 

 

Table of Contents

 

    Page
     
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION 6
Section 1.1 Definitions 6
Section 1.2 Compliance Certificates and Opinions 13
Section 1.3 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee 13
Section 1.4 Acts of Holders; Record Dates 13
Section 1.5 Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company 15
Section 1.6 Notice to Holders; Waiver 16
Section 1.7 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act 16
Section 1.8 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents 16
Section 1.9 Successors and Assigns 16
Section 1.10 Separability Clause 16
Section 1.11 Benefits of Indenture 16
Section 1.12 Governing Law 17
Section 1.13 Legal Holidays 17
Section 1.14 Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations 17
Section 1.15 Indenture May be Executed in Counterparts 17
Section 1.16 Force Majeure 17
ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS 18
Section 2.1 Forms Generally 18
Section 2.2 Form of Face of Security 18
Section 2.3 Form of Reverse of Security 19
Section 2.4 Form of Legend for Global Securities 22
Section 2.5 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication 22
Section 2.6 Form of Conversion Notice 22
ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES 23
Section 3.1 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series 23
Section 3.2 Denominations 26
Section 3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating 26
Section 3.4 Temporary Securities 27
Section 3.5 Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange 27
Section 3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities 29
Section 3.7 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved 29
Section 3.8 Persons Deemed Owners 30
Section 3.9 Cancellation 31
Section 3.10 Computation of Interest 31
ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE 31
Section 4.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture 31
Section 4.2 Application of Trust Money 32
ARTICLE V REMEDIES 32
Section 5.1 Events of Default 32
Section 5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment 33
Section 5.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee 34
Section 5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim 34
Section 5.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities 35
Section 5.6 Application of Money Collected 35
Section 5.7 Limitation on Suits 36
Section 5.8 Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and Interest and to Convert 36
Section 5.9 Restoration of Rights and Remedies 36

 

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Table of Contents

(continued)

 

    Page
     
Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative 36
Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver 37
Section 5.12 Control by Holders 37
Section 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults 37
Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs 38
Section 5.15 Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws 38
ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE 38
Section 6.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities 38
Section 6.2 Notice of Defaults 39
Section 6.3 Certain Rights of Trustee 39
Section 6.4 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities 41
Section 6.5 May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee under Other Indentures 41
Section 6.6 Money Held in Trust 41
Section 6.7 Compensation and Reimbursement 41
Section 6.8 Conflicting Interests 42
Section 6.9 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility 42
Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor 42
Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor 43
Section 6.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business 44
Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company 44
Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent 44
Section 6.15 FATCA 45
ARTICLE VII HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY 46
Section 7.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders 46
Section 7.2 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders 46
Section 7.3 Reports by Trustee 46
Section 7.4 Reports by Company 46
ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE 47
Section 8.1 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms 47
Section 8.2 Successor Substituted 48
ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES 48
Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders 48
Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders 49
Section 9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures 49
Section 9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures 50
Section 9.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act 50
Section 9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures 50
Section 9.7 Subordination Unimpaired 50
ARTICLE X COVENANTS 50
Section 10.1 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest 50
Section 10.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency 50
Section 10.3 Money for Securities Payments to be Held in Trust 51
Section 10.4 Statement by Officers as to Default 51
Section 10.5 Existence 52
Section 10.6 Maintenance of Properties 52
ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES 52
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article 52

 

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Table of Contents

(continued)

 

    Page
     
Section 11.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee 52
Section 11.3 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed 52
Section 11.4 Notice of Redemption 53
Section 11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price 53
Section 11.6 Securities Payable on Redemption Date 54
Section 11.7 Securities Redeemed in Part 54
ARTICLE XII SINKING FUNDS 54
Section 12.1 Applicability of Article 54
Section 12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities 54
Section 12.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund 55
ARTICLE XIII DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE 55
Section 13.1 Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 55
Section 13.2 Defeasance and Discharge 55
Section 13.3 Covenant Defeasance 56
Section 13.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance 56
Section 13.5 Deposited Money, U.S. Government Obligations and Foreign Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions 57
Section 13.6 Reinstatement 58
ARTICLE XIV CONVERSION OF SECURITIES 58
Section 14.1 Applicability of Article 58
Section 14.2 Exercise of Conversion Privilege 58
Section 14.3 No Fractional Shares 59
Section 14.4 Adjustment of Conversion Price or Conversion Rate 59
Section 14.5 Notice of Certain Corporate Actions 60
Section 14.6 Reservation of Shares of Common Stock 60
Section 14.7 Payment of Certain Taxes upon Conversion 60
Section 14.8 Nonassessability 61
Section 14.9 Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets 61
Section 14.10 Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion 61
Section 14.11 Repayment of Certain Funds upon Conversion 62
ARTICLE XV SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES 62
Section 15.1 Agreement of Subordination 62
Section 15.2 Payments to Holders 62
Section 15.3 Subrogation of Securities 64
Section 15.4 Authorization to Effect Subordination 65
Section 15.5 Notice to Trustee 65
Section 15.6 Trustee’s Relation to Senior Debt 66
Section 15.7 No Impairment of Subordination 66
Section 15.8 Certain Conversions/Exchanges Deemed Payment 66
Section 15.9 Article Applicable to Paying Agents 66
Section 15.10 Senior Debt Entitled to Rely 66
Section 15.11 Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent 67
Section 15.12 Trust Monies Not Subordinated 67

 

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INDENTURE, dated as of , 20 , between B. Riley Financial, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Company”), having its principal executive office at 21255 Burbank Boulevard, Suite 400, Woodland Hills, California 91367 and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (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.

 

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

 

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

 

ARTICLE I

 

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 I have the meanings assigned to them in this Article I 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, 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 as are generally accepted at the date of such computation;

 

  (4) 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;

 

  (5) any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture.

 

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

 

“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.

 

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

 

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

 

“Business Day” means, for any place where the principal and interest on the Notes is payable, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day in which banking institutions in New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, 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 Section 14.9, 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; provided, further, that if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes resulting from all such reclassifications.

 

“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 Officer.

 

“Constituent Person” has the meaning specified in Section 14.9.

 

“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 which at any particular time its corporate trust business in Chicago, Illinois shall be principally administered, which office as of the date of this instrument is located at 2 North LaSalle Street, 7th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602, Attention: Corporate Trust Division - Corporate Finance Unit except that with respect to presentation of Notes for payment or for registration of transfer, conversion or exchange, such term shall mean the office or agency of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate agency business shall be conducted, which office at the date of this instrument is located at 240 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10286; Attention: Corporate Trust Division - Corporate Finance Unit, or, in the case of any of such offices or agency, such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Company.

 

“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.

 

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“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.

 

“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 timely 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 a Security that evidences all or part of the Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 2.4 (or such legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities).

 

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“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 after Maturity, means interest payable after 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.

 

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“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-electing Share” has the meaning specified in Section 14.9.

 

“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 the Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by the principal financial officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. One of the officers 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, and who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

“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 other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in 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 other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor.

 

10

 

 

“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, 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.

 

“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.

 

“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 assigned to the Corporate Trust Division - Corporate Finance Unit (or any successor division or unit) of the Trustee located at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and for the purposes of Section 6.1(c)(2) and Section 6.2 shall also include any other officer of the Trustee to whom any corporate trust matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“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.

 

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“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 to the Company 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 force at the date as of which this instrument 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.

 

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

 

Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant 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.

 

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.

 

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 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 all 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.

 

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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, provided that the Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice, declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. 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.

 

The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of acceleration referred to in Section 5.2, (iii) any request to institute proceedings referred to in Section 5.7(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in Section 5.12, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, 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 Trustee 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 Trustee, at the Company’s expense, shall cause notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 1.6.

 

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With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party hereto which sets such record dates 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 other party hereto 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 party hereto which set such record date 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.

 

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 or sent by facsimile, electronic transmission or first-class mail, postage-prepaid at the address set forth below:

 

  The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
  2 North LaSalle Street, 7th Floor
  Chicago, IL 60602
  Attention: Corporate Trust Division – Corporate Finance Unit   
  Facsimile:    
  E-mail:    
   
(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 sent, to the Company either by facsimile, electronic transmission or first-class mail, postage prepaid at the address set forth below:

 

  B. Riley Financial, Inc.  
  21255 Burbank Blvd, Suite 400  
  Woodland Hills, California 91367  
  Attention:    
  Facsimile:    
  E-mail:    

 

The Company or the Trustee may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

 

Notices given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, will be deemed given five calendar days after mailing, except in the case of notices or communications given to the Trustee, which shall be effective only upon actual receipt by the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office.

 

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Section 1.6 Notice to Holders; Waiver.

 

Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders (including any notice of redemption), such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing (including facsimile or other electronic transmission) and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder entitled thereto, at his last address as it appears in the Security Register or if given to the applicable Depositary (or its designee) according to the applicable procedures of such Depositary. If such notice or communication is mailed (or delivered by electronic transmission in accordance with the applicable procedures of the Depositary) in the manner provided above within the time prescribed herein, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it. In any case where notice to Holders is given, neither the failure to send such notice, nor any defect in any notice so sent, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. 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.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or any Security, where this Indenture or any Security provides for notice of any event (including any notice of redemption or purchase) to a Holder of a Global Security (whether by mail or otherwise), such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary pursuant to the standing instructions from the Depositary.

 

Notices given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, will be deemed given five calendar days after mailing.

 

Section 1.7 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Section 318(c) of the Trust Indenture Act such imposed duties shall control. If any provision of the Indenture 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 the Indenture, such provision of the Trust Indenture Act shall control. If any provision of the Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act that may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to apply to the Indenture as such provision of the Trust Indenture Act is so modified or excluded, as the case may be.

 

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 Separability 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.

 

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Section 1.12 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Submission to Jurisdiction.

 

This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable. Each of the Company and the Trustee, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance thereof, irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all rights to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities, or the transactions contemplated thereby.

 

The Company irrevocably consents and submits, for itself and in respect of any of its assets or property, to the nonexclusive jurisdiction of any court of the State of New York or any United States Federal court sitting, in each case, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States of America, and any appellate court from any thereof in any suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in connection with this Indenture or the Securities, and waives any immunity from the jurisdiction of such courts. The Company irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to any such suit, action or proceeding that may be brought in such courts whether on the grounds of venue, residence or domicile or on the ground that any such suit, action or proceeding has been brought in an inconvenient forum. The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it lawfully may do so, that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company, and waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection to the enforcement by any competent court in the Company’s jurisdiction of organization of judgments validly obtained in any such court in New York on the basis of such suit, action or proceeding.

 

Section 1.13 Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue on the amount then payable for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity, 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. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile, PDF or other electronic transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture and signature pages for all purposes.

 

Section 1.16 Force Majeure.

 

In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its reasonable control, including without limitation strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services.

 

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ARTICLE II

 

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 2.1 Forms Generally.

 

The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or 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 or engraved on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

Section 2.2 Form of Face of Security.

 

[INSERT ANY LEGEND REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND THE REGULATIONS THEREUNDER.]

 

B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

 

 

 

NO __________ $ __________
  CUSIP: __________

 

B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of Delaware (herein called the “Company,” which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to , or registered assigns, the principal sum of dollars on [if the Security is to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — , and to pay interest thereon from or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on and in each year, commencing , at the rate of % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [if applicable, insert — , provided that any principal and premium, and any such installment of interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the or (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture].

 

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[If the Security is not to bear interest prior to Maturity, insert — The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall bear interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue principal or premium shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on overdue principal or premium which is not paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate of % per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest on interest shall be legally enforceable), from the date of such demand until the amount so demanded is paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue interest shall be payable on demand.] Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [if applicable, insert — any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in , in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts [if applicable, insert —; provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register].

 

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

 

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

Dated: _______________   B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.
       
    By:  
       
    Title:  
ATTEST:      
       

  

 

Section 2.3 Form of Reverse of Security.

 

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the “Securities”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of , 200 (herein called the “Indenture,” which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such instrument), between the Company and , as Trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, the holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [if applicable, insert — , limited in aggregate principal amount to $ ].

 

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than [if applicable, insert — 30] days’ notice by mail, [if applicable, insert — (1) on in any year commencing with the year and ending with the year through operation of the sinking fund for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after , 20 ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [if applicable, insert — on or before , %, and if redeemed] during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,

 

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Year     Redemption
Price
    Year     Redemption
Price
 
                             
                             
                             

 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption [if applicable, insert — (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If applicable, insert — The Securities of this series are subject to redemption upon not less than [if applicable, insert — 30] days’ notice by mail, (1) on in any year commencing with the year and ending with the year through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below, and (2) at any time [if applicable, insert — on or after ], as a whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed during the 12-month period beginning of the years indicated,

 

Year     Redemption
Price For
Redemption
Through
Operation of the
Sinking Fund
    Year     Redemption
Price For
Redemption
Otherwise Than
Through
Operation of the
Sinking Fund
 
                             
                             
                             

 

and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to % of the principal amount, together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If applicable, insert — Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may not, prior to , redeem any Securities of this series as contemplated by [if applicable, insert — clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application, directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of less than % per annum.]

 

[If applicable, insert — The sinking fund for this series provides for the redemption on , in each year beginning with the year and ending with the year of [if applicable, insert — not less than $ (“mandatory sinking fund”) and not more than] $ aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if applicable, insert — mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be made [if applicable, insert —, in the inverse order in which they become due].]

 

[If the Security is subject to redemption of any kind, insert — In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

 

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[If applicable, insert — The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or] [certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.]

 

[If the Security is convertible into other securities of the Company, specify the conversion features.] The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent and in the manner provided in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt of the Company, and this Security is issued subject to such provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

[If the Security is not an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

 

[If the Security is an Original Issue Discount Security, insert — If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to — insert formula for determining the amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), all of the Company’s obligations in respect of the payment of the principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series shall terminate.]

 

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of more than 50% in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

 

As provided in and subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this Security shall not have the right to institute any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or for any other remedy thereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of this series at the time Outstanding shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default as Trustee and offered the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in principal amount of Securities of this series at the time Outstanding a direction inconsistent with such request, and shall have failed to institute any such proceeding, for 60 days after receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity. The foregoing shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Holder of this Security for the enforcement of any payment of principal hereof or any premium or interest hereon on or after the respective due dates expressed herein.

 

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

 

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or its attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

 

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The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $ and any integral multiple thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

 

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

 

Prior to due presentment of this 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 this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

Section 2.4 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 2.5 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.

 

  The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,
  as Trustee
     
  By:  
    Authorized Officer

 

Section 2.6 Form of Conversion Notice.

 

Conversion notices shall be in substantially the following form: To B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.:

 

The undersigned owner of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the option to convert this Security, or portion hereof (which is $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) below designated, into shares of Common Stock of the Company in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this Security, and directs that the shares issuable and deliverable upon the conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares and any Securities representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been indicated below. If this Notice is being delivered on a date after the close of business on a Regular Record Date and prior to the opening of business on the related Interest Payment Date (unless this Security or the portion thereof being converted has been called for redemption on a Redemption Date during the period beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day), this Notice is accompanied by payment, in funds acceptable to the Company, of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date of the principal of this Security to be converted. If shares are to be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect hereto. Any amount required to be paid by the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Security.

 

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Principal Amount to be Converted

($2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, if less than all)

 

U.S. $____

 

Dated: _________

 

  Signature(s) must be guaranteed by an eligible guarantor institution (banks, stock brokers, savings and loan associations and credit unions with membership in an approved signature guarantee medallion program) pursuant to Securities and Exchange Commission Rule 17Ad-15.
   
  Signature Guaranty

 

Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock and Security if to be issued otherwise than to the registered Holder.

 

     
(Name)   Social Security or Other Taxpayer Identification Number
     
(Address)    
     
Please print Name and Address    
(including zip code)    

 

[The above conversion notice is to be modified, as appropriate, for conversion into other securities or property of the Company.]

 

ARTICLE III

 

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, subject to Section 3.3, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,

 

(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 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 $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess 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 (and premium, if any) and/or interest on the Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or any Holder, in a currency or currencies (including composite currencies) other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions, upon which, such election may be made; 

 

(13) 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);

 

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(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 into shares of Common Stock of the Company or other securities or property;

 

(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 2.4 and any circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Form of 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 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 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 provisions regarding the circumstances under which collateral may be released or substituted;

 

(22) if applicable, the terms of any guaranties for the Securities and any circumstances under which there may be additional obligors on the Securities;

 

(23) any addition to or change in or modification to the subordinated 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,” will apply to Securities of the series; and

 

(24) any other terms of the series (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 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.

 

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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 $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

 

Section 3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

 

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

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities 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 copy of such Board Resolution, the Officers’ Certificate setting forth the terms of the series and an Opinion of Counsel, 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 legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.

 

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

 

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

 

Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

 

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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.

 

Neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any defect in the 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 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.

 

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, the Security Registrar 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 such Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing.

 

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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 sending 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 transmission, 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.

 

The Trustee shall have no responsibility, obligation or duty to:

 

(1) any beneficial owner of a Global Security, any member or participant in the Depositary or any other Person with respect to (A) the accuracy of the records of the Depositary or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities, (B) the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depositary) of any notice (including any notice of redemption or purchase) or the payment of any amount or delivery of any Securities (or other security or property) under or with respect to such Securities, or (C) the selection of the particular Securities or portions thereof to be redeemed or refunded in the event of a partial redemption or refunding of the Securities; or

 

(2) monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among the Depositary, its agent members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture with respect to transfers between Holders, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof. Neither the Trustee nor any of its agents shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.

 

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(3) All notices and communications to be given by any beneficial owner of a Security and all payments to be made to any beneficial owner of a Security in respect of the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered owner or owners of the Securities (which shall be the Depositary or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of the beneficial owners of any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depositary subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depositary. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depositary with respect to its members, participants and beneficial owners.

 

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 mailed, 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).

 

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(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.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 14.2, in the case of any Security (or any part thereof) which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security the principal of (or premium, if any, on) which shall become due and payable, whether at Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise prior to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date notwithstanding such conversion and such interest (whether or not punctually paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or any one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the immediately preceding sentence or in Section 14.2, in the case of any Security (or any part thereof) which is converted, interest whose Stated Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security (or such part thereof) shall not be payable.

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Global Security, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or the Trustee from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by any Depositary (or its nominee), as a Holder, with respect to such Global Security or shall impair, as between such Depositary and owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security, the operation of customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of such Depositary (or its nominee) as Holder of such Global Security.

 

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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 3.9, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. Subject to the record retention requirements of the Act and the Trustee’s procedures, all canceled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as directed by a Company Order.

 

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 IV

 

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

 

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(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, all money and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 and all money received by the Trustee in respect of U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 13.2 or Section 13.3, 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 Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with or received by the Trustee as contemplated by Section 4.1, Section 13.2 or Section 13.3.

 

ARTICLE V

 

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):

 

(1) 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

 

(2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any Security of that series at its Maturity; 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 60 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

 

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(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.

 

Section 5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

 

(a) If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.1) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof), together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, of all of the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (5) or (6) of Section 5.1 with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount (or, if any of the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder of any Security of that series.

 

(b) 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 provided in this Article V, 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.

 

Upon receipt by the Trustee of any declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment thereof, with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, the Trustee shall establish a record date for determining Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall have become effective by virtue of the requisite percentage having been obtained prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such declaration of acceleration, or rescission and annulment, as the case may be, shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new declaration of acceleration, or rescission or annulment thereof, as the case may be, that is identical to a declaration of acceleration, or rescission or annulment thereof, which has been canceled pursuant to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provision of this Section 5.2.

 

Section 5.3 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if

 

(1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

 

(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof; or

 

(3) default is made in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of a Security; 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 the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series 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 the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal (and premium, if any) or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

 

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(i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such judicial proceeding, and

 

(ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same.

 

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.

 

Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize, consent to, 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.

 

The Trustee shall be entitled to participate as a member of any official committee of creditors in the matters it deems advisable.

 

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 or property collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article V or, after an Event of Default, any money or other property distributable in respect of the Company’s obligations under this Indenture 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 or property on account of principal (or premium, if any) 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 (including any predecessor trustee) under Section 6.7;

 

SECOND: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of (and 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 premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and

 

THIRD: To the Company.

 

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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 indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee 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.

 

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.

 

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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, nor subject the Trustee to a risk of personal liability in respect of which the trustee has not received indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses, liabilities and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action; and

 

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

 

Prior to taking any such action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification and/or security satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all fees, losses, liabilities and expenses (including attorney’s fees and expenses) caused by or that might be caused by taking or not taking such action.

 

Upon receipt by the Trustee of any such direction with respect to Securities of a series all or part of which is represented by a Global Security, the Trustee may establish a record date for determining Holders of outstanding Securities of such series entitled to join in such direction, which record date shall be at the close of business on the day the Trustee receives such direction. The Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and only such Persons, shall be entitled to join in such direction, whether or not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided, that unless such majority in principal amount shall have been obtained prior to the day which is 90 days after such record date, such direction shall automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no further effect. Nothing in this paragraph shall prevent a Holder, or a proxy of a Holder, from giving, after expiration of such 90-day period, a new direction identical to a direction which has been canceled pursuant to the provisions to the preceding sentence, in which event a new record date shall be established pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.12.

 

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.

 

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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.

 

Each party to this Indenture agrees, and each Holder of any Security by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.14 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Company, to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date).

 

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 VI

 

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.1. Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

 

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default,

 

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(2) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which by any provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy or mathematical calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated therein).

 

(b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.

 

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own grossly negligent action, its own grossly negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that,

 

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(1) this subsection shall not be construed to limit the effect of subsections (a) and (d) of this Section 6.1;

 

(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was grossly negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and

 

(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the direction, determined as provided in Section 5.12, of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

  (d) 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 grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity and/or security against such risk or liability is not assured to it.

 

(e) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section 6.1.

 

Section 6.2. Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee shall send to all Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Holders of Securities of such series. For the purpose of this Section 6.2, the term “default” means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

Section 6.3. Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1:

 

the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, 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;

 

any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, or as otherwise expressly provided herein, and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;

 

before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officer’s Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officer’s Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

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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 (including, without limitation, instituting, conducting or defending any litigation), unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee security and/or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

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 at the sole cost of the Company and shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation;

 

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;

 

the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder (including Security Registrar and Paying Agent), and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;

 

the Trustee is not required to give any bond or surety with respect to the performance of its duties or the exercise of its powers under this Indenture;

 

in no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;

 

the Trustee may request that the Company deliver an certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions with respect to any series of Securities pursuant to this Indenture, which certificate may be signed by any person authorized to sign an Officer’s Certificate, including any person specified as so authorized in any such certificate previously delivered and not superseded;

 

the Trustee shall not be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations under this Indenture arising out of or caused, directly or indirectly, by circumstances beyond its reasonable control, including, without limitation, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunction of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; and acts of civil or military authorities and governmental action;

 

the Trustee shall have no responsibility for any information in any offering document or other disclosure material distributed with respect to any series of Securities, and the Trustee shall have no responsibility for compliance with any state or federal securities laws in connection with the Securities, other than the filing of any documents required to be filed by an indenture trustee pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act or otherwise required in the Indenture;

 

the permissive rights of the Trustee to do things enumerated in this Indenture shall not be construed as duties; and

 

the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default unless written notice of such default or Event of Default from the Company or any Holder is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

 

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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 the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof. The Trustee shall have no responsibility for filing any financing or continuation statement in any public office at any time or otherwise to perfect or maintain the perfection of any security interest or lien granted to it hereunder or to record this Indenture.

 

Section 6.5. May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security Registrar or any other agent of the Company or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 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.

 

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 in writing.

 

Section 6.7. Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company agrees:

 

(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and for its services hereunder as Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar and in all other capacities in which it is serving hereunder as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

 (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable out-of-pocket 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 and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its gross negligence or willful misconduct; and

 

(3) to indemnify the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, directors, employees and officers for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, damage, claim, liability or out-of-pocket expense (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel and taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured or determined by the income of the Trustee, any predecessor Trustee or their respective agents, directors, employees and officers)) incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on its or their part (as determined by a competent court of appropriate jurisdiction in a final, non-appealable judgment), arising out of or in connection with this Indenture, the Securities, the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the reasonable costs and out-of-pocket expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of the Trustee’s powers or duties hereunder, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section.

 

The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnification pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall be entitled to participate in, and to the extent that it shall wish, to assume the defense of such claim, with counsel satisfactory to the Trustee (and the Trustee shall cooperate in the defense thereof). The Trustee may employ separate counsel at the expense of the Company. Any settlement which affects the Trustee may not be entered into without the consent of the Trustee. After the Company has assumed the defense of any indemnified party hereunder, no such indemnified party may settle or compromise any suit or action without the consent of the Company (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed).

 

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As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 6.7, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on particular Securities.

 

In addition to, but without prejudice to its other rights under this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs out-of-pocket expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) and Section 5.1(6), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law.

 

The provisions of this Section 6.7 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture and the termination of this Indenture for any reason.

 

Section 6.8. Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

 

The Trustee shall comply with the terms of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 6.9. Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be eligible to act as such pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act and which shall 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 exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.9, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.9, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article VI.

 

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 VI 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, at the expense of the Company, 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;

 

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(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, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 5.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months may, on its own behalf and on behalf of 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, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least six months may, on its own behalf and on behalf of all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. 

 

The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series by sending written notice of such event 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.

 

Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.10, the Company’s obligations under Section 6.7 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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.

 

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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 paragraph (a) and (b) of this Section 6.11, 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 VI.

 

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

 

Any Person into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article VI, 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.

 

Section 6.13. Preferential Collection of Claims.

 

The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship listed in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent indicated therein.

 

Section 6.14. Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Trustee may, and upon request of the Company, shall, 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 exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.6. Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. 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 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 6.14, 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 6.14, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section 6.14.

 

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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 6.14, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

 

An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and the Company, and the Trustee shall terminate any such agency promptly upon request by the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.14, the Trustee may and, upon request of the Company, shall appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall send written notice in the manner provided in Section 1.6 of such appointment 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 6.14.

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 6.14.

 

If an appointment of an Authenticating Agent 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 alternate 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.

 

 

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.,

   as Trustee

   
  By  
  as Authenticating Agent
   
  By  
  Authorized Signatory

 

Section 6.15. FATCA.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to make a deduction or withholding from any payment which it makes under this Indenture for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties or charges if and to the extent so required by any applicable law and any current or future regulations or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof or any law implementing an intergovernmental approach thereto or by virtue of the relevant holder failing to satisfy any certification or other requirements in respect of the Securities, in which event the Trustee shall make such payment after such withholding or deduction has been made and shall account to the relevant authorities for the amount so withheld or deducted and shall have no obligation to gross up any payment hereunder or pay any additional amount as a result of such withholding tax.

 

The Company hereby covenants with the Trustee that it will provide the Trustee with sufficient information so as to enable the Trustee to determine whether or not the Trustee is obliged, in respect of any payments to be made by it pursuant to this Indenture, to make any withholding or deduction pursuant to an agreement described in Section 1471(b) of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) or otherwise imposed pursuant to Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code and any regulations, or agreements thereunder or official interpretations thereof or any intergovernmental agreement between the United States and another jurisdiction facilitating the implementation thereof (or any law implementing such an intergovernmental agreement). 

 

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ARTICLE VII

 

HOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

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

 

If the Trustee is not the Security Registrar, the Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a) semi-annually (at intervals of not more than six months), not later than 15 days after each Regular Record Date (or, if there is no Regular Record Date relating to a series, semi-annually on dates set forth in the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture with respect to such series), a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders as of such date, and

 

(b) 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.

 

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.

 

Holders of any series may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders of that series or any other series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that series or any other series. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 7.3 Reports by Trustee.

 

Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, commencing the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall, to the extent that any of the events described in Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act occurred within the previous twelve months, but not otherwise, send to each Holder a brief report dated as of such date that complies with Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. The Trustee also shall comply with Sections 313(a), 313(b), 313(c) and 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

A copy of each report at the time of transmission to Holders shall be sent to the Company and filed with the Commission and each securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities of that series are listed.

 

The Company shall notify the Trustee if the Securities of any series become listed on any securities exchange or of any delisting thereof and the Trustee shall comply with Section 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 7.4 Reports by Company.

 

The Company shall:

 

(1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with, and to the extent required by, rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

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(2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(3) transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

In each case that the Company electronically delivers materials to the Trustee or files documents pursuant to the Commission’s “EDGAR” system (or any successor electronic filing system), such delivery or filing shall be deemed to be “filed” with the Trustee for purposes of this Section 7.4, provided, however, that the Trustee shall have no responsibility whatsoever to determine if such filing has occurred. 

 

Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) and (a)(2) of this Section 7.4 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or 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 an Officer’s Certificate).

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

 

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

 

The Company shall not merge or consolidate with or into any other Person (other than a merger of a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company into the Company) or sell, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of the Company or its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be any such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition) in one transaction or series of related transactions unless:

 

(1) the Company shall be the surviving Person (the “Surviving Person”) or the Surviving Person (if other than the Company) formed by such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition is made shall be a corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

(2) the Surviving Person (if other than the Company) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such Surviving Person, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all the Notes Outstanding, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Company;

 

(3) immediately before and immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

 

(4) in the case of a merger where the Surviving Person is other than the Company, the Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect thereto comply with this Section 8.1 and that all conditions precedent in this Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.

 

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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 IX

 

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.

 

Without the written consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee (at the direction of the Company) at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto to undertake clarifications and certain other changes that would not adversely affect Holders in any material respect, including changes:

 

(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company herein and in the Securities;

 

(2) to add to the covenants of the Company such new covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions for the protection of the Holders of all or any series of Securities;

 

(3) to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions pursuant to Section 9.1(2) an Event of Default;

 

(4) to modify, eliminate or add to any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as necessary to effect the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, and to add to this Indenture such other provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(5) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provisions herein or in any supplemental indenture;

 

(6) to secure the Securities;

 

(7) 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(b);

 

(8) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1, including any subordination provisions; or

 

(9) to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture, provided such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.

 

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Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series so 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 (at the direction of the Company) 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 the Securities of such series or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture.

 

Without the written consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Securities affected thereby, a supplemental indenture under this Section 9.2 shall not (with respect to any Outstanding Security held by a non-consenting Holder): 

 

(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 change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium or the 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);

 

(2) 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

 

(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section 9.2 or Section 5.13, except to increase the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required under any such Section 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(b) and 9.1(7).

 

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 9.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of Holders of Securities entitled to consent pursuant to this Section 9.2. Such record date shall be the later of (i) thirty days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or (ii) the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 7.1. Any vote or action pursuant to this Section 9.2 can only be taken by Persons who are Holders on such record date and, unless otherwise specified, such vote or action must take place on or prior to the 180th day after such record date. The Company may change the record date at its option, and the Company will provide written notice to the Trustee and to each Holder of any such change of record date.

 

Section 9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.5 hereof) and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such supplemental indenture is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to then customary exceptions. 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 or liabilities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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Section 9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article IX or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and complies with the provisions hereof (including Section 9.5 hereof). 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 or liabilities under this Indenture or otherwise.

 

Section 9.5 Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

 

Section 9.6 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article IX 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 such Securities may be 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 X

 

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.

 

An installment of principal or interest shall be considered paid on the date it is due if the Trustee or Paying Agent holds on that date money designated for and sufficient to pay such installment and is not prohibited from paying such money to the Holders pursuant to the terms of this Indenture or otherwise.

 

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 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.

 

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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.

 

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 (or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series) 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 money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or 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 the 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. Corporate Existence.

 

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

 

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Section 10.5 [Reserved].

 

Section 10.6 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 Officer’s Certificate signed by the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer 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 applicable to the Company and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which he or she may have knowledge. If any default or Event of Default under Section 5.1 has occurred and is continuing, within 10 Business Days after its becoming aware of such occurrence the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying such event and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

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. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of less than all the Securities of like tenor of any series, the Company shall, at least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company, notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. Any such notice may be cancelled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being sent to any Holder and shall thereby be void and of no effect. In the case of any redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officer’s Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction.

 

Section 11.3 Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.

 

If less than all the Securities of like tenor of any series are to be redeemed, the particular securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee not more than 45 days prior to the redemption date, from the Outstanding Securities of like tenor of such series not previously called for redemption, by lot or, in the Trustee’s discretion, on a pro-rata basis, subject to the redemption procedures of the applicable depositary, and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for such Securities.

 

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.

 

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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 sent not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, in accordance with Section 1.6; provided, that such notice of redemption may be furnished, in the Company’s discretion, more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date if the notice is issued in connection with a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series or a defeasance of the Securities pursuant to Articles IV or XIII hereof.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date,

 

(2) the Redemption Price (or the method of calculating or determining the Redemption Price),

 

(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of like tenor of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,

 

(4) in case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such Security will receive, without charge, a new Security or Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount thereof remaining unredeemed,

 

(5) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price 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 CUSIP number and/or similar numbers of such Securities, if any (or any other numbers used by a Depositary to identify such Securities),

 

(7) the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price,

 

(8) if applicable, the conversion price or 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, and

 

(9) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case. 

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request made at least five days prior to the date the notice of redemption is to be given (unless a shorter time period shall be acceptable to the Trustee), by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

No later than 11:00 a.m. New York time on the 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, the Company shall 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 on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date; provided, however, that to the extent any such money is received by the Trustee or a Paying Agent from the Company after 11:00 a.m. New York time, on the due date, such money will be deemed deposited within one Business Day of receipt thereof.

 

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If any Security called for redemption is converted, 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) 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 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 XII

 

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.

 

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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 XIII

 

DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

 

Section 13.1 Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

Unless pursuant to Section 3.1 provision is made for either or both of (a) defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 13.2 to not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series or (b) covenant defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 13.3 to not be applicable with respect to the Securities of such series, then the provisions of such Sections 13.2 and 13.3, together with the other provisions of this Article XIII, shall be applicable to the Securities of such series, and the Company may at its option by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, at any time, with respect to the Securities of such series, elect to have either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 be applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII.

 

Section 13.2 Defeasance and Discharge.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option set forth in Section 13.1 applicable to this Section 13.2, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “defeasance”). For this purpose, such defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series 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 and request of the Company, shall execute instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (A) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series 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 premium, if any) and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 10.2 and 10.3, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, and immunities of the Trustee under Sections 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.9, 4.2, 6.7 and Section 10.3(e), and otherwise the duty of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued on registration of transfer or exchange and (D) this Article XIII. Subject to compliance with this Article XIII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 13.2 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 13.3 with respect to the Securities of such series.

 

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Section 13.3 Covenant Defeasance.

 

Upon the Company’s exercise of the option set forth in Section 13.1 applicable to this Section 13.3, the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 7.4 and 10.4 and clause (2) of the first paragraph of Section 8.1 and any other covenants to be applicable to the Securities of a series as specified pursuant to Section 3.1 unless specified otherwise pursuant to such Section (and the failure to comply with any such provisions shall not constitute a default or Event of Default under Section 5.1), and the occurrence of any event described in Section 5.1(4) and (7) and any other Events of Default to be applicable to the Securities of a series as specified pursuant to Section 3.1 unless specified otherwise pursuant to such Section shall not constitute a default or Event of Default hereunder, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “covenant defeasance”). For this purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series, 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 Section with respect to it, 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.

 

Section 13.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 to the Outstanding Securities of such series:

 

(a) the Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee satisfying the requirements of Section 6.9 who shall agree to comply with the provisions of this Article XIII applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, for the benefit of the holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) 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 the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination thereof, sufficient, without reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, investment bank or appraisal firm, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, (i) the principal of (and premium, if any) on and each installment of principal of (premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be (the Company being required to specify whether the Outstanding Securities of such series are being defeased to maturity or to a particular redemption date), of such principal or installment of principal or interest and (ii) any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to the Outstanding Securities of such series on the day on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and of such Securities. For this purpose, “U.S. Government Obligations” means securities that are (x) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (y) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such U.S. Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depository receipt; provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository receipt;

 

(b) no Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a default resulting from borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any lien securing such borrowing);

 

(c) no defaults or Events of Default related to bankruptcy, insolvency or organization occurs during the 90 days following the deposit;

 

(d) such defeasance or covenant defeasance must not result in the trust arising from the deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), unless such trust will be registered under the Investment Company Act or exempt from registration thereunder;

 

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(e) such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound (other than a default resulting from borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any lien securing such borrowing);

  

(f) such defeasance or covenant defeasance must not cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act;

 

(g) such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities of such series then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Exchange Act to be delisted;

 

(h) in the case of an election under Section 13.2, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (y) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;

 

(i) in the case of an election under Section 13.3, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred;

 

(j) such defeasance or covenant defeasance shall be effected in compliance with any additional terms, conditions or limitations which may be imposed on the Company in connection therewith pursuant to Section 3.1; and

 

(k) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for relating to either the defeasance under Section 13.2 or the covenant defeasance under Section 13.3, as the case may be, 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.

 

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In the event that the Trustee is unable to apply the funds held in trust to the payment of obligations under the Securities by reason of a court order or governmental injunction or prohibition, then those of the Company’s obligations discharged under the defeasance or covenant defeasance will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit of funds had occurred, until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all funds held in trust under the procedure described above to the payment of obligations under the Securities. However, if the Company makes any payment of principal or interest the Holders, the Company will have the right to receive such payments from the trust in the place of the Holders.

 

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 XIV

 

CONVERSION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 14.1 Applicability of Article.

 

The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are convertible into shares of Common Stock of the Company, and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon the conversion of such Securities, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for the Securities of such series.

 

Section 14.2 Exercise of Conversion Privilege.

 

In order to exercise a conversion privilege, the Holder of a Security of a series with such a privilege shall surrender such Security to the Company at the office or agency maintained for that purpose pursuant to Section 10.2, accompanied by a duly executed conversion notice to the Company substantially in the form set forth in Section 2.6 stating that the Holder elects to convert such Security or a specified portion thereof. Such notice shall also state, if different from the name and address of such Holder, the name or names (with address) in which the certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock, which shall be issuable on such conversion, shall be issued. Securities surrendered for conversion shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by or accompanied by instruments of transfer in forms satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder or its attorney duly authorized in writing; and Securities so surrendered for conversion (in whole or in part) during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date to the opening of business on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (excluding Securities or portions thereof called for redemption during the period beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day) shall also be accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of such Security then being converted, and such interest shall be payable to such Holder notwithstanding the conversion of such Security, subject to the provisions of Section 3.7 relating to the payment of Defaulted Interest by the Company. As promptly as practicable after the receipt of such notice and of any payment required pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 3.3, set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers’ Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of such series of Security, and the surrender of such Security in accordance with such reasonable regulations as the Company may prescribe, the Company shall issue and shall deliver, at the office or agency at which such Security is surrendered, to such Holder or on its written order, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of such Security (or specified portion thereof), in accordance with the provisions of such Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture, and cash as provided therein in respect of any fractional share of such Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such conversion. Such conversion shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business on the date on which such notice and such payment, if required, shall have been received in proper order for conversion by the Company and such Security shall have been surrendered as aforesaid (unless such Holder shall have so surrendered such Security and shall have instructed the Company to effect the conversion on a particular date following such surrender and such Holder shall be entitled to convert such Security on such date, in which case such conversion shall be deemed to be effected immediately prior to the close of business on such date) and at such time the rights of the Holder of such Security as such Security Holder shall cease and the person or persons in whose name or names any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be issuable upon such conversion shall be deemed to have become the Holder or Holders of record of the shares represented thereby. Except as set forth above and subject to the final paragraph of Section 3.7, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any conversion on account of any interest accrued on the Securities (or any part thereof) surrendered for conversion or on account of any dividends on the Common Stock of the Company issued upon such conversion.

 

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In the case of any Security which is converted in part only, upon such conversion the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted portion of such Security.

 

Section 14.3 No Fractional Shares.

 

No fractional share of Common Stock of the Company shall be issued upon conversions of Securities of any series. If more than one Security shall be surrendered for conversion at one time by the same Holder, the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so surrendered. If, except for the provisions of this Section 14.3, any Holder of a Security or Securities would be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock of the Company upon the conversion of such Security or Securities, or specified portions thereof, the Company shall pay to such Holder an amount in cash equal to the current market value of such fractional share computed, (i) if such Common Stock is listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the last reported sale price regular way on such exchange or market on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion upon which such a sale shall have been effected, or (ii) if such Common Stock is not at the time so listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the average of the bid and asked prices of such Common Stock in the over-the-counter market, on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion, as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or similar organization if the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated is no longer reporting such information, or if not so available, the fair market price as determined by the Board of Directors. For purposes of this Section, “trading day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday other than any day on which the Common Stock is not traded on the principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock is then traded or quoted.

 

Section 14.4 Adjustment of Conversion Price or Conversion Rate.

 

The conversion price or conversion rate, as the case may be, of Securities of any series that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company shall be adjusted for any stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, combinations or similar transactions in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series.

 

Whenever the conversion price or conversion rate, as the case may be, is adjusted, the Company shall compute the adjusted conversion price or conversion rate, as the case may be, in accordance with terms of the applicable Board Resolution or supplemental indenture and shall prepare an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the adjusted conversion price or conversion rate, as the case may be, and showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based, and such certificate shall forthwith be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion of Securities pursuant to Section 10.2 and, if different, with the Trustee. The Company shall forthwith cause a notice setting forth the adjusted conversion price or conversion rate, as the case may be, to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series at its address appearing on the Security Register and to any conversion agent other than the Trustee.

 

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Section 14.5 Notice of Certain Corporate Actions.

 

In case:

 

(1) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on its Common Stock payable otherwise than in cash out of its retained earnings (other than a dividend for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required) that would require an adjustment pursuant to Section 14.4; or

 

(2) the Company shall authorize the granting to all or substantially all of the holders of its Common Stock of rights, options or warrants to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any other rights (other than any such grant for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required); or

 

(3) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, or of any consolidation, merger or share exchange to which the Company is a party and for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required), or of the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

 

(4) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Company;

 

then the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee, and shall cause to be mailed to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the Security Register, at least 20 days (or 10 days in any case specified in clause (1) or (2) above) prior to the applicable record date hereinafter specified, a notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants, or, if a record is not to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants are to be determined, or (ii) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up. If at any time the Trustee shall not be the conversion agent, a copy of such notice shall also forthwith be filed by the Company with the Trustee.

 

Section 14.6 Reservation of Shares of Common Stock.

 

The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the purpose of effecting the conversion of Securities, the full number of shares of Common Stock of the Company then issuable upon the conversion of all outstanding Securities of any series that has conversion rights.

 

Section 14.7 Payment of Certain Taxes upon Conversion.

 

Except as provided in the next sentence, the Company will pay any and all taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of its Common Stock on conversion of Securities pursuant hereto. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of its Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Security or Securities to be converted, and no such issue or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue has paid to the Company the amount of any such tax, or has established, to the satisfaction of the Company, that such tax has been paid.

 

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Section 14.8 Nonassessability.

 

The Company covenants that all shares of its Common Stock that may be issued upon conversion of Securities will upon issue in accordance with the terms hereof be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable. 

 

Section 14.9 Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets.

 

In case of any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person, any merger of another Person with or into the Company (other than a merger which does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or cancellation of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company) or any conveyance, sale, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such merger or which acquires such assets, as the case may be, shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that the Holder of each Security of a series then Outstanding that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company shall have the right thereafter (which right shall be the exclusive conversion right thereafter available to said Holder), during the period such Security shall be convertible, to convert such Security only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the Company into which such Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease, assuming such holder of Common Stock of the Company (i) is not a Person with which the Company consolidated or merged with or into or which merged into or with the Company or to which such conveyance, sale, transfer or lease was made, as the case may be (a “Constituent Person”), or an Affiliate of a Constituent Person and (ii) failed to exercise his rights of election, if any, as to the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease (provided that if the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer, or lease is not the same for each share of Common Stock of the Company held immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by others than a Constituent Person or an Affiliate thereof and in respect of which such rights of election shall not have been exercised (“Non-electing Share”), then for the purpose of this Section 14.9 the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by the holders of each Non-electing Share shall be deemed to be the kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the Non-electing Shares). Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article or in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of such adjustments. The above provisions of this Section 14.9 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers, conveyances, sales, transfers or leases. Notice of the execution of such a supplemental indenture shall be given by the Company to the Holder of each Security of a series that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company as provided in Section 1.6 promptly upon such execution.

 

Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent, if any, shall be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions contained in any such supplemental indenture relating either to the kind or amount of shares of stock or other securities or property or cash receivable by Holders of Securities of a series convertible into Common Stock of the Company upon the conversion of their Securities after any such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, sale or lease or to any such adjustment, but may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel with respect thereto, which the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Trustee upon request.

 

Section 14.10 Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion.

 

Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall at any time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities of any series that is convertible into Common Stock of the Company to determine whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the conversion price or conversion rate, as the case may be, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, whether herein or in any supplemental indenture, any resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or more officers of the Company provided to be employed in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or of any securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion of any Securities and neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent makes any representation with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of Section 6.1, neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any shares of its Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company contained in this Article 14 or in the applicable supplemental indenture, resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or more duly authorized officers of the Company.

 

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Section 14.11 Repayment of Certain Funds upon Conversion.

 

Any funds which at any time shall have been deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other paying agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on any of the Securities (including, but not limited to, funds deposited for the sinking fund referred to in Article 12 hereof and funds deposited pursuant to Article 13 hereof) and which shall not be required for such purposes because of the conversion of such Securities as provided in this Article 14 shall after such conversion be repaid to the Company by the Trustee upon the Company’s written request.

 

ARTICLE XV

 

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 or elsewhere in this Article 15 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.

 

65

 

 

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 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 pursuant to Section 14.3), 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.

 

66

 

 

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.

 

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank.]

 

67

 

 

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

 

  B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:
     
  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
   
  By:  
    Name:
    Title:

 

68

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

theNBDgroup.

A Professional Corporation

Los Angeles and Palo Alto https://nbdpro.co/

 

September 23, 2019

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc.

21255 Burbank Blvd., Suite 400
Woodland Hills, California 91367

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) is filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”), including a base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), which provides that it will be supplemented by one or more prospectus supplements (each such prospectus supplement, together with the Base Prospectus, a “Prospectus”), for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) the issuance and sale by the Company of up to $250,000,000 aggregate offering price of (a) shares of common stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Common Stock”), (b) shares of preferred stock, par value $0.0001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), (c) warrants to purchase any of the securities described above (the “Warrants”), (d) senior and subordinated debt securities (the “Debt Securities”), (e) depositary shares, each representing a fractional interest in a share of a series of Preferred Stock (the “Depositary Shares”), and (f) units of securities of the Company (the “Units”) composed of any combination of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Warrants, Debt Securities and Depositary Shares (the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, the Warrants, the Debt Securities, the Depositary Shares and the Units are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities”).

 

We have also acted as special counsel to the Company in connection with the issuance and sale, from time to time, by the Company of its 7.375% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “7.375% 2023 Notes”), 6.875% Senior Notes due 2023 (the “6.875% 2023 Notes”), 6.75% Senior Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Notes”), 6.50% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “2026 Notes”), 7.50% Senior Notes due 2027 (the “7.50% 2027 Notes”) and 7.25% Senior Notes Due 2027 (the “7.25% 2027 Notes,” and, together with the 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 2024 Notes, 2026 Notes and 7.50% 2027 Notes, the “Notes”) and Common Stock (together with the Notes, the “Sales Agreement Shares”), pursuant to the terms of an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement, dated as of the date hereof (the “Sales Agreement”), by and among the Company and B. Riley FBR, Inc. (the “Agent”) having an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000 pursuant to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the related prospectus for the sale of the Sales Agreement Shares included in the Registration Statement (the Base Prospectus and such prospectus, collectively, the “Sales Agreement Prospectus”), and the Sales Agreement.

 

The 7.375% 2023 Notes, 6.875% 2023 Notes, 7.50% 2027 Notes and 7.25% 2027 Notes have been and are issued pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Indenture entered into by and between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “U.S. Bank Trustee”), dated as of November 2, 2016 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 2, 2016 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 31, 2017 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of December 13, 2017 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 17, 2018 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”) and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 11, 2018 (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, First Supplemental Indenture, Second Supplemental Indenture, Third Supplemental Indenture and Fourth Supplemental Indenture, the “2016 Indenture”). The 2024 Notes and 2026 Notes have been and are issued pursuant to the terms and conditions of an Indenture entered into by and between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “BNYM Trustee”), dated as of May 7, 2019 (the “BNYM Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of May 7, 2019 (the “BNYM First Supplemental Indenture”) and the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of September 23, 2019 (the “BNYM Second Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the BNYM Base Indenture and BNYM First Supplemental Indenture, the “2019 Indenture” and, together with the U.S. Bank Indenture, the “Indentures”). The Depositary Shares will be issued pursuant to a deposit agreement to be entered into among the Company, a depositary to be named therein, and the holders from time to time of such Depositary Shares (each, a “Deposit Agreement”). The Units will be issued pursuant to one or more unit agreements or other agreements to be entered into between the Company and certain third parties (each, a “Unit Agreement”). The Warrants will be issued pursuant to one or more warrant agreements to be entered into between the Company and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent (each, a “Warrant Agreement”).

 

 

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc.

Page 2

 

We have examined instruments, documents, certificates and records that we have deemed relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinions hereinafter expressed. In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have, without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, (ii) all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, complete originals, (iii) all documents filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that have not been executed will conform to the forms thereof, (iv) all signatures on all documents that we reviewed are genuine, (v) all natural persons executing documents had and have the legal capacity to do so, (vi) all statements in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company that we reviewed were and are accurate and (vii) all representations made by the Company as to matters of fact in the documents that we reviewed were and are accurate.

 

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional assumptions and qualifications set forth below, we advise you that, in our opinion:

 

1. When the necessary corporate action on the part of the Company has been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such shares of Common Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Common Stock are issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor (in excess of par value thereof) or upon conversion or exercise of any security offered under the Registration Statement (the “Offered Security”), in accordance with the terms of such Offered Security or the instrument governing such Offered Security providing for such conversion or exercise as approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (“Board of Directors”), for the consideration approved by such Board of Directors (which consideration is not less than the par value of the Common Stock), such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully-paid and non-assessable;

 

2. Upon designation of the relative rights, preferences and limitations of any series of Preferred Stock by the Board of Directors and the proper filing with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware of a Certificate of Designation relating to such series of Preferred Stock, all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company will have been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of such series of Preferred Stock proposed to be sold by the Company, and when such shares of Preferred Stock are issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor (in excess of par value thereof), such shares of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;

 

3. When the Warrant Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Warrants has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Warrant Agent and the Company; the specific terms of the Warrants have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Warrant Agreement; and such Warrants have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Warrant Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability;

 

4. Assuming the Indentures and any supplemental indenture to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the U.S. Bank Trustee or the BNYM Trustee, as applicable, and the Company; the specific terms of a particular series of Debt Securities have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the applicable Indenture; and such Debt Securities have been duly authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered in accordance with the applicable Indenture and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, provided that we express no opinion as to (w) the enforceability of any waiver of rights under any usury or stay law, (x) the effect of fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer or similar provision of applicable law on the conclusions expressed above, (y) the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision of either Indenture or any applicable supplemental indenture that requires or relates to adjustments to the conversion rate at a rate or in an amount that a court would determine in the circumstances under applicable law to be commercially unreasonable or a penalty or forfeiture, or (z) the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision that permits holders to collect any portion of stated principal amount upon acceleration of the Debt Securities to the extent determined to constitute unearned interest;

 

 

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc.

Page 3

 

5. When the necessary corporate action on the part of the Company has been taken to authorize the issuance and sale of Depositary Shares, the due execution and delivery of receipts evidencing such Depositary Shares in accordance with the Deposit Agreement relating thereto, and the due authorization and issuance of the Preferred Stock underlying such Depositary Shares and the deposit thereof in accordance with the Deposit Agreement, such Depositary Shares, when sold in exchange for the consideration set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to such Depositary Shares, will be duly authorized and legally issued and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights specified in such Depositary Shares and in such Deposit Agreement;

 

6. When the Unit Agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any Units has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Unit Agent and the Company; the specific terms of the Units have been duly authorized and established in accordance with the Unit Agreement; and such Units have been duly authorized, executed, issued and delivered in accordance with the Unit Agreement and the applicable underwriting or other agreement against payment therefor, such Units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability; and

 

7. The Sales Agreement Shares to be sold by the Company have been duly authorized and, assuming the terms of any sale of the Sales Agreement Shares pursuant to the Sales Agreement are approved by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, when issued and delivered by the Company and paid for pursuant to the Sales Agreement, the Sales Agreement Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

 

In connection with the opinions expressed above, we have assumed that, at or prior to the time of the delivery of any such security, (i) the Board of Directors shall have duly established the terms of such security and duly authorized the issuance and sale of such security and such authorization shall not have been modified or rescinded; (ii) the Company shall remain, validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware; (iii) the Registration Statement shall have been declared effective and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated or rescinded; (iv) the Indentures, the Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreement, the Depositary Share Agreement, and the Unit Agreement are each valid, binding and enforceable agreements of each party thereto (other than as expressly covered above in respect of the Company); and (v) there shall not have occurred any change in law affecting the validity or enforceability of such security. We have also assumed that (i) the terms of any security whose terms are established subsequent to the date hereof and the issuance, execution, delivery and performance by the Company of any such security (a) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and (b) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or public policy or regulation or any judgment, injunction, order or decree or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company and (ii) any Warrant Agreement, Depositary Share Agreement and Unit Agreement will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

 

We are members of the Bar of the State of California and the foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement referred to above and further consent to the reference to our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectuses, which are a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

Sincerely,

 

/s/ The NBD Group, Inc

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.1

 

 

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s Consent

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of B. Riley Financial, Inc. on Form S-3 of our report dated March 5, 2019, with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of B. Riley Financial, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 and 2017 and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2018 and our report dated March 5, 2019 with respect to our audit of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of B. Riley Financial, Inc. as of December 31, 2018 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of B. Riley Financial, Inc. for the year ended December 31, 2018. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in such Prospectus.

 

/s/ Marcum llp

 

Marcum llp

New York, NY

September 23, 2019

 

 

 

Exhibit 23.2

 

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

B. Riley Financial, Inc.

Woodland Hills, California

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of B. Riley Financial, Inc. of our report dated March 13, 2017, relating to the consolidated financial statements of FBR & Co. appearing in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

We also consent to the reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

 

McLean, Virginia

September 23, 2019 

Exhibit 23.3

  

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

  

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus constituting a part of this Registration Statement of B. Riley Financial, Inc. of our reports dated March 16, 2018, relating to the consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting of magicJack VocalTec Ltd. and Subsidiaries appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 of magicJack VocalTec Ltd. and Subsidiaries.

 

We also consent to reference to us under the caption “Experts” in the Prospectus.

  

/s/ BDO USA, LLP

 

West Palm Beach, Florida

September 23, 2019

 

 

Exhibit 25.1

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM T-1

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ☐

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

N/A   95-3571558
(State of incorporation
if not a U.S. national bank)
  (I.R.S. employer
identification no.)
     

400 South Hope Street, Suite 500

Los Angeles, California

  90071
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

Legal Department
The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY  10286
(212) 635-1270
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

 

B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in charter)

 

Delaware   27-0223495
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
     
21255 Burbank Blvd, Suite 400
Woodland Hills, California
  91367

(Address of principal executive offices)

  (Zip code)

 

 

 

Senior Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

General information.

 

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name   Address

Comptroller of the Currency –
United States Department of
the Treasury

  Washington, D.C. 20219
     
Federal Reserve Bank   San Francisco, California 94105
     
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation   Washington, D.C. 20429

 

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Yes.

 

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

 

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

 

None.

 

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

 

  Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

1.   A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10)
     
2.   A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).
     
3.   A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers.  (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).
     
4.   A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.  (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).
     
5.   Not applicable.
     
6.   The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.  (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).
     
7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
     
8.   Not applicable.
     
9.   Not applicable.

 

1

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Houston, and State of Texas, on the 23rd day of September, 2019.

 

  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
  TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
     
  By: /s/ Julie Hoffman-Ramos
  Name: Julie Hoffman-Ramos
  Title: Vice President

 

2

 

 

EXHIBIT 7

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90071

 

At the close of business June 30, 2019, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

    Dollar amounts  
    in thousands  
ASSETS      
       
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:      
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin     5,028  
Interest-bearing balances     196,605  
Securities:        
Held-to-maturity securities     0  
Available-for-sale securities     196,169  
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading     NR  
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:        
Federal funds sold     0  
Securities purchased under agreements to resell     0  
Loans and lease financing receivables:        
Loans and leases held for sale     0  
Loans and leases, held for investment     0  
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses     0  
Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance     0  
Trading assets     0  
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)     25,391  
Other real estate owned     0  
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies     0  
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures     0  
         
Intangible assets     857,436  
Other assets     101,896  
Total assets   $ 1,382,525  

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES      
       
Deposits:      
In domestic offices     4,050  
Noninterest-bearing     4,050  
Interest-bearing     0  
Not applicable        
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:        
Federal funds purchased     0  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase     0  
Trading liabilities     0  
Other borrowed money:        
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)     20,252  
Not applicable        
Not applicable        
Subordinated notes and debentures     0  
Other liabilities     223,324  
Total liabilities     247,626  
Not applicable        
         
EQUITY CAPITAL        
         
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus     0  
Common stock     1,000  
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)     323,797  
Not available        
Retained earnings     809,778  
Accumulated other comprehensive income     324  
Other equity capital components     0  
Not available        
Total bank equity capital     1,134,899  
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries     0  
Total equity capital     1,134,899  
Total liabilities and equity capital     1,382,525  

 

I, Matthew J. McNulty, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

 

  Matthew J. McNulty ) CFO

 

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

 

  Antonio I. Portuondo, President )  
  Michael P. Scott, Managing Director ) Directors (Trustees)
  Kevin P. Caffrey, Managing Director )  

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 25.2

 

 

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM T-1

 

STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

 

CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ☐

 

 

 

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
(Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

 

N /A   95-3571558
(State of incorporation   (I.R.S. employer
if not a U.S. national bank)   identification no.)
     
400 South Hope Street, Suite 500  
Los Angeles, California   90071
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

Legal Department


The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.
240 Greenwich Street
New York, NY  10286
(212) 635-1270
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

 

 

B. RILEY FINANCIAL, INC.

(Exact name of obligor as specified in charter)

 

Delaware   27-0223495
(State or other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)   Identification No.)
     
21255 Burbank Blvd, Suite 400  
Woodland Hills, California   91367
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

 

 

Subordinated Debt Securities

(Title of the indenture securities)


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1. General information.

 

Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

 

(a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

 

Name Address

Comptroller of the Currency –
United States Department of
the Treasury

Washington, D.C. 20219
   
Federal Reserve Bank San Francisco, California 94105
   
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Washington, D.C. 20429

 

(b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

 

Yes.

 

Item 2. Affiliations with Obligor.

 

If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such affiliation.

 

None.

 

Item 16. List of Exhibits.

 

Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit hereto, pursuant to Rule 7a-29 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the “Act”) and 17 C.F.R. 229.10(d).

 

1.   A copy of the articles of association of The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.  (Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10)
     
2.   A copy of certificate of authority of the trustee to commence business. (Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 333-121948).
     
3.   A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate trust powers.  (Exhibit 3 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).
     
4.   A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.  (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).
     
5.   Not applicable.
     
6.   The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.  (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Act in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-135006-10).
     
7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
     
8.   Not applicable.
     
9.   Not applicable.

 

1

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the trustee, The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., a banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Houston, and State of Texas, on the 23rd day of September, 2019.

 

  THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON
  TRUST COMPANY, N.A.
     
  By: /s/ Julie Hoffman-Ramos
  Name: Julie Hoffman-Ramos
  Title: Vice President

 

2

 

 

EXHIBIT 7

 

Consolidated Report of Condition of

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON TRUST COMPANY, N.A.

of 400 South Hope Street, Suite 500, Los Angeles, CA 90071

 

At the close of business June 30, 2019, published in accordance with Federal regulatory authority instructions.

 

    Dollar amounts  
    in thousands  
ASSETS      
       
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:        
Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin     5,028  
Interest-bearing balances     196,605  
Securities:        
Held-to-maturity securities     0  
Available-for-sale securities     196,169  
Equity securities with readily determinable fair values not held for trading     NR  
Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to resell:        
Federal funds sold     0  
Securities purchased under agreements to resell     0  
Loans and lease financing receivables:        
Loans and leases held for sale     0  
Loans and leases, held for investment     0  
LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses     0  
Loans and leases held for investment, net of allowance     0  
Trading assets     0  
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)     25,391  
Other real estate owned     0  
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies     0  
Direct and indirect investments in real estate ventures     0  
         
Intangible assets     857,436  
Other assets     101,896  
Total assets   $ 1,382,525  

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES      
       
Deposits:      
In domestic offices     4,050  
Noninterest-bearing     4,050  
Interest-bearing     0  
Not applicable        
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase:        
Federal funds purchased     0  
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase     0  
Trading liabilities     0  
Other borrowed money:        
(includes mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases)     20,252  

Not applicable

       
Not applicable
    0  
Subordinated notes and debentures      
Other liabilities     223,324  
Total liabilities     247,626  
Not applicable        
         
EQUITY CAPITAL        
         
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus     0  
Common stock     1,000  
Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)     323,797  
Not available        
Retained earnings     809,778  
Accumulated other comprehensive income     324  
Other equity capital components     0  
Not available        
Total bank equity capital     1,134,899  
Noncontrolling (minority) interests in consolidated subsidiaries     0  
Total equity capital     1,134,899  
Total liabilities and equity capital     1,382,525  

 

I, Matthew J. McNulty, CFO of the above-named bank do hereby declare that the Reports of Condition and Income (including the supporting schedules) for this report date have been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

 

  Matthew J. McNulty ) CFO

 

We, the undersigned directors (trustees), attest to the correctness of the Report of Condition (including the supporting schedules) for this report date and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true and correct.

 

  Antonio I. Portuondo, President )  
  Michael P. Scott, Managing Director ) Directors (Trustees)
  Kevin P. Caffrey, Managing Director )  

 

 

 

Exhibit 25.3

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM T-1

 

Statement of Eligibility Under

The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of a

Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee

 

Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of

a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) ☐

 

 

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

31-0841368

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

 

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

 

55402

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Paula Oswald

U.S. Bank National Association

633 West Fifth Street, 24th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071

(213) 615-6043

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

B. Riley Financial, Inc.

(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

 

Delaware   27-0223495
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

 

21255 Burbank Blvd, Suite 400

Woodland Hills, California

 

 

91367

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Debt Securities

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORM T-1

 

Item 1. GENERAL INFORMATION. Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

 

a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

 

b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2. AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an  affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.

None

 

Items 3-15 Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee's knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

 

Item 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

 

1. A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee.*
   
2. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.
   
3. A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 3.
   
4. A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.**
   
5. A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.
   
6. The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.
   
7. Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2019 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.

 

* Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to Amendment No. 2 to registration statement on S-4, Registration Number 333-128217 filed on November 15, 2005.

 

** Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to registration statement on form S-3ASR, Registration Number 333-199863 filed on November 5, 2014.

 

2

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Los Angeles, State of California on the 23rd Day of September, 2019.

 

  By: /s/ Paula Oswald
    Paula Oswald
    Vice President

 

3

 

 

Exhibit 2

  

4

 

 

Exhibit 3

 

 

 

5

 

 

Exhibit 6

 

CONSENT

 

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

 

Dated: September 23, 2019

 

  By: /s/ Paula Oswald
    Paula Oswald
    Vice President

 

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Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

As of 6/30/2019

 

($000’s)

 

    6/30/2019  
Assets      
Cash and Balances Due From Depository Institutions   $ 16,768,518  
Securities     114,813,521  
Federal Funds     3,737,619  
Loans & Lease Financing Receivables     291,749,748  
Fixed Assets     5,722,368  
Intangible Assets     12,794,810  
Other Assets     27,551,585  
Total Assets   $ 473,138,169  
         
Liabilities        
Deposits   $ 364,531,324  
Fed Funds     1,527,877  
Treasury Demand Notes     0  
Trading Liabilities     639,668  
Other Borrowed Money     37,212,247  
Acceptances     0  
Subordinated Notes and Debentures     3,800,000  
Other Liabilities     15,595,326  
Total Liabilities   $ 423,306,442  
         
Equity        
Common and Preferred Stock     18,200  
Surplus     14,266,915  
Undivided Profits     34,749,861  
Minority Interest in Subsidiaries     796,751  
Total Equity Capital   $ 49,831,727  
         
Total Liabilities and Equity Capital   $ 473,138,169  

 

 

7