As Filed With the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 18, 2022
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
British Virgin Islands | Not Applicable |
(State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer Identification |
incorporation or organization) | Number) |
Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre
168-200 Connaught Road Central
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
+852-2810-7205
(Address and telephone number of Registrant's principal executive offices)
Puglisi & Associates
850 Library Avenue, Suite 204
Newark, Delaware 19711
(302) 738-6680
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
Leland S. Benton
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20004
(202) 739-3000
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this registration statement, as determined by market conditions.
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 to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933.
Emerging Growth Company ☐
If an emerging growth company that prepares its financial statements in accordance with U. S. GAAP, indicate by check mark if the registration 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 the Securities Act. ☐
* The term “new or revised financial accounting standard” refers to any update issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board to its Accounting Standards Codification after April 5, 2012.
The registrant hereby amends this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS
Subject to Completion, dated November 18, 2022
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
$92,674,000
Common Shares, Preferred Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, and Units
China Natural Resources, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our,” or the “Company”) may offer and sell from time to time any combination of our common shares, no par value (“common shares”), preferred shares, no par value (“preferred shares”), debt securities, and warrants, either individually or in units up to an aggregate initial offering price of $92,674,000. We may also offer common shares upon conversion of preferred shares, common shares or preferred shares upon conversion of debt securities, or common shares, preferred shares or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants. Our common shares, no par value, are listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”) under the symbol “CHNR.”
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to the securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the securities we are offering and the specific manner in which we will offer the securities. The net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale will also be included in the applicable prospectus supplement. The prospectus supplement may add to, update or change the information in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully before you invest in our securities. This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may offer and sell the securities directly to or through one or more underwriters, dealers, agents, or directly to purchasers, or through any 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.
The amount of securities that we may sell under this prospectus during any 12-month period is limited by General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3 to one-third of the aggregate market value of our outstanding voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates (our “Public Float”). The aggregate market value of our Public Float as of November 16, 2022, was $5,765,610.71 (calculated by multiplying the 13,408,397 shares in our Public Float by the $0.43 market price of our common shares on such date). During the period of 12 calendar months immediately prior to and including the date of this prospectus, we did not offer any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5.
We are not a Chinese operating company but a British Virgin Islands (“BVI”) holding company with operations conducted by our subsidiaries established in the People’s Republic of China (for purposes of this prospectus only, and excluding Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macao, “China” or the “PRC”), and which owns equity interests, directly or indirectly, of the operating subsidiaries. We are subject to legal and operational risks associated with being based in the PRC and Hong Kong and having all of our operations in the PRC, discussed in greater detail below. The Chinese government may intervene in or influence the operation of PRC subsidiaries and exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of their business or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas by and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our common shares. Further, rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, and any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas by and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
The PRC government has recently initiated a series of regulatory actions and public statements on the regulation of business operations in China, including cracking down on illegal activities in the securities market, enhancing supervision over China-based companies listed overseas, adopting new measures to extend the scope of cybersecurity reviews, and expanding efforts in anti-monopoly enforcement. There have not yet been comparable developments in Hong Kong, but such developments may occur. Since these statements and regulatory actions by the PRC government are relatively newly published and official guidance and related implementation rules have not been issued, it is highly uncertain what potential impacts such modified or new laws and regulations will have on our daily business operations, ability to accept foreign investments, or maintain our listing on the Nasdaq or list on another U.S. or foreign exchange, although they have had no impacts to date. The Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress or other PRC regulatory authorities may in the future promulgate laws, regulations or implementing rules that require our company or any of our subsidiaries to obtain regulatory approval from Chinese authorities before offering securities in the U.S. Any future Chinese, U.S., BVI or other laws, rules and regulations that place restrictions on capital raising or other activities by companies with extensive operations in China could adversely affect our business and results of operations. See “Risk Factors – Risks Relating to Our PRC Operations and Doing Business in the PRC” beginning on page 9 for a detailed description of various risks related to doing business in China and other information that should be considered before making a decision to purchase any of our securities.
The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) has yet to determine that it may inspect our auditor in relation to its audit work to its satisfaction, and our common shares will be prohibited from trading in the United States under the Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act (“HFCAA”) in 2024 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or fully investigate auditors located in China, or in 2023 if proposed changes to the HFCAA are enacted. We have been identified by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) in its “conclusive list of issuers identified under the HFCAA,” indicating that we are among those companies formally subject to the delisting provisions of the HFCAA. While the PCAOB, the China Securities Regulatory Commission (“CSRC”) and PRC Ministry of Finance entered into a Statement of Protocol on August 26, 2022, designed to allow the PCAOB to fully investigate auditors located in China, it remains unclear whether the PCAOB will determine that it is able to do so.
Transfers of Cash and Assets Between Our Company and Our Subsidiaries
Cash and asset transfers through the Company and our subsidiaries are primarily attributed to shareholder loans from us to our subsidiaries. Under PRC laws and regulations, we are subject to various restrictions on intercompany fund transfers and foreign exchange controls. Our subsidiaries receive substantially all revenue in Renminbi (“RMB”), and the PRC government could prevent the RMB maintained in the PRC or Hong Kong from leaving, impose controls on its conversion into foreign currencies, restrict deployment of the RMB into the business of our subsidiaries and restrict the ability to pay dividends. We cannot assure you that the PRC government will not intervene in or impose restrictions on our ability to make intercompany cash transfers.
All cash or asset transfers between us and our subsidiaries during the three years ended December 31, 2021, are set forth in the table below. There were no cash or asset transfers between us and our subsidiaries during the six months ended June 30, 2022. The purpose of the outbound transfers, in the form of shareholder loans, was to pay off the subsidiaries’ expenses. The purpose of the inbound transfers, in the form of loan repayments, was to centralize the treasury function of the Company and our subsidiaries. There are no fixed repayment terms and no tax implication for these transfers. We did not make any capital contributions to, or receive any dividends from, our subsidiaries during in these periods. PRC laws and regulations may restrict our ability to make dividends and distributions to investors, including U.S. investors. For more information, see “Risk Factors – Risks Relating to Our PRC Operations and Doing Business in the PRC – Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends and making other payments to us,” on page 11.
Year ended December 31, | Six Months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Transferor | Transferee | HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | US$ | HK$ | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
Outbound Transfers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China Natural Resources, Inc. | Feishang Mining | — | — | 50,000 | 6,410 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
China Coal | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 1,026 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Yongfu | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 1,026 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Dayun | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 1,026 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 24,000 | 24,000 | 74,000 | 9,488 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Inbound Transfers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Mining | China Natural Resources, Inc. | — | 150,000 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
China Coal | — | 30,000 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Yongfu | — | 50,000 | 30,000 | 3,846 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Dayun | — | 50,000 | 30,000 | 3,846 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | — | 280,000 | 60,000 | 7,692 | — | — |
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of this prospectus and in the documents that we file with the SEC that are incorporated into this prospectus by reference, and the risks we describe in any accompanying supplement, for factors you should consider before buying our securities.
Neither the SEC 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 ____________________.
In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, “CHNR,” the “Company,” “we,” “us,” and “our” are references to China Natural Resources, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries.
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form F-3 that we filed with the SEC utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under the shelf registration process, subject to certain limitations depending on the market value of our Public Float, we may issue and sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, for cash, in one or more offerings with a maximum offering price of up to $92,674,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. A prospectus supplement may include a discussion of risks or other special considerations applicable to us or the securities being offered. A 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 any related prospectus supplement, you must rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. Please carefully read both this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement in their entirety together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
We have not authorized anyone to provide you with information different from that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, and we take no responsibility for any information that others may give you. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, nor is it a solicitation of any offer to buy, these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front cover of those documents, or that information contained in any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or any sale of a security. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT ON FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION
This prospectus contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “possible,” “potential,” “continue,” “strategy,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends,” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places in this prospectus and include, without limitation, statements regarding the belief and current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers with respect to the Company’s policies regarding its business development, investments, dispositions, financings, conflicts of interest and trends affecting the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statement as a result of various factors. Among the risks and uncertainties that could cause our actual results to differ from our forward-looking statements are:
· | uncertainties regarding governmental, economic and political circumstances in the PRC; |
· | the impact on the Company’s financial position, growth potential and business of an investment in the wastewater treatment sector of the PRC generally and in Precise Space-Time Technology Limited (“PST Technology”) and Shanghai Onway Environmental Development Co., Limited (“Shanghai Onway”) specifically; |
· | the experience, supply chain and customer relationships and market insights of the PST Technology team; |
· | uncertainties regarding our ability to successfully operate and compete within the wastewater treatment industry in the PRC; |
· | the growth potential of the wastewater treatment and environmental protection industries in the PRC; |
· | our ability to successfully integrate the operations of PST Technology and realize the expected benefits of its acquisition; |
· | possible downturns in the PRC wastewater treatment industry or other sectors that the Company may invest in; |
· | uncertainties related to the Company’s ability to identify potential partners or acquisition targets as it considers strategic alternatives, including in the healthcare and other non-natural resources sectors; |
· | uncertainties associated with metal price volatility; |
· | uncertainties concerning the viability of mining and estimates of reserves at the Company’s Wulatehouqi Moruogu Tong Mine (the “Moruogu Tong Mine”) in Inner Mongolia; |
· | uncertainties regarding our ability to acquire a mining permit and to extract mineral reserves located in the Moruogu Tong Mine in an economically feasible manner; |
· | uncertainties related to our ability to fund operations and capital expenditures; |
· | uncertainties related to geopolitical events and conflicts, such as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine; |
· | uncertainties regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on domestic PRC and global economic conditions, demand for the mineral reserves that we may locate or extract, our workforce, whether due to illness or restrictions on movement, and on the price of our securities; |
· | uncertainties related to possible future increases in operating expenses; |
· | the fluctuations of interest rates and foreign exchange rates; |
· | the results of the next assessment by the Staff of the Nasdaq Listing Qualifications department of the Company’s compliance with the Nasdaq Listing Rules; |
· | uncertainties related to the political situation between the PRC and the United States, the ability of the PCAOB to inspect auditors located in the PRC, the implementation by the SEC of more stringent disclosure and/or other requirements for companies located in the PRC, potential negative impacts on companies with operations in the PRC that are listed on exchanges in the United States, and increasing regulation by PRC government agencies of companies located in the PRC but listed elsewhere; and |
· | other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the SEC, including without limitation the information set forth in “Item 3. Key Information – 3.D. Risk Factors” in our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021 (the “2021 Annual Report”). |
2 |
We are not a Chinese operating company but a BVI holding company with operations conducted by our subsidiaries established in the PRC, and which owns the equity interests, directly or indirectly, of our operating subsidiaries. See “Organizational Structure” on page 4 for further information regarding our subsidiaries’ names, places of incorporation, and equity ownership. We are subject to legal and operational risks associated with being based in the PRC and Hong Kong and having all of our operations in the PRC, discussed in greater detail below. The Chinese government may intervene in or influence the operation of our PRC subsidiaries and exercise significant oversight and discretion over the conduct of their business or may exert more control over offerings conducted overseas by and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers, which could result in a material change in our operations and/or the value of our common shares or other securities. Further, rules and regulations in China can change quickly with little advance notice, and any actions by the Chinese government to exert more oversight and control over offerings that are conducted overseas by and/or foreign investment in China-based issuers could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 9 of this prospectus and in the documents that we file with the SEC that are incorporated into this prospectus by reference, and the risks we describe in any accompanying supplement, for factors you should consider before buying our securities.
Business Overview
The Company operates in two reportable operating segments: wastewater treatment and exploration and mining. During 2021, the Company entered the rural wastewater treatment industry in the PRC by indirectly acquiring a 51% equity interest in its operating subsidiary Shanghai Onway. Additionally, the Company is engaged in metal exploration and mining activities in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region of the PRC, including exploring for lead, silver and other nonferrous metals.
Shanghai Onway is a PRC company principally engaged in the development of rural wastewater treatment technologies, the provision of equipment and materials for rural wastewater treatment, undertaking engineering, procurement and construction (“EPC”) and public-private partnership projects in relation to rural wastewater treatment, and the provision of consulting and professional technical services. Shanghai Onway has a team of well-regarded experts with deep industry experience in the field of wastewater treatment and carries out its rural wastewater treatment business using proprietary wastewater treatment technologies. With Shanghai Onway’s core biological filtration technology, a series of optimized and integrated processes are formed to provide advanced and practicable solutions to decentralized rural wastewater treatment and resource recycling in the PRC.
The Company’s subsidiary Bayannaoer City Feishang Mining Company Limited (“Bayannaoer Mining”) holds an exploration permit issued by the Land and Resources Department of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region covering the Moruogu Tong Mine, located in Wulatehouqi, Bayannaoer City, Inner Mongolia. Based upon preliminary geologic surveys, it is believed that the Moruogu Tong Mine contains lead and silver, with the prospect that further surveying and exploration may indicate the presence of other ores such as copper. In 2019 and 2020, Bayannaoer Mining was involved in the trade of copper ore in the PRC. We ceased trading copper ore in the second half of 2020, due to volatile fluctuations in the price of copper.
The Company is also actively exploring business opportunities in the healthcare and other non-natural resource sectors.
3 |
Organizational Structure
Below is a chart of our organizational structure as of the date of this prospectus: All current operations are conducted by Bayannaoer Mining and Shanghai Onway, and its subsidiaries Zhejiang Xinyu Environmental Technology Co., Limited and Shaoguan Angrui Environmental Technology Development Co., Limited.
Regulatory Risks Relating to Our Operations in China
Although they have had no impacts on our business to date, recent statements and regulatory actions by the Chinese government, such as those related to data security or anti-monopoly concerns, could have a significant impact on our ability to conduct our business, accept foreign investments, or maintain our listing on Nasdaq or list on another U.S. or foreign exchange. There have not been comparable developments in Hong Kong yet, but such developments may occur.
For example, on June 10, 2021, the Standing Committee of the PRC National People’s Congress promulgated the PRC Data Security Law, which took effect in September 2021. The PRC Data Security Law imposes data security and privacy obligations on entities and individuals carrying out data activities (e.g., collection, storage, usage, reorganization, transmission, provision, disclosure and deletion) and introduces a data classification and hierarchical protection system based on the importance of data in economic and social development, and the degree of harm it will cause to national security, public interests, or legitimate rights and interests of individuals or organizations when such data is tampered with, destroyed, leaked, illegally acquired or used. The PRC Data Security Law also provides for a national security review procedure for data activities that may affect national security and imposes export restrictions on certain data and information. We believe that our business is not in an industry related to national security, but we cannot preclude the possibility that PRC government authorities may publish explanations contrary to our understanding or broaden the scope of such reviews in the future, in which case our future activities may be closely scrutinized or prohibited. Moreover, given the PRC authorities have significant discretion in interpreting and applying their laws, rules and regulations, if we undertake a transaction in the PRC that involves data security or an industry that the PRC government is focusing on, we could be subject to review by the CSRC, Cyberspace Administration of China (“CAC”) or other applicable governmental agency. Such review could be time consuming, could cause us to incur significant costs in responding to such agencies and/or rectifying any potential issues noted by such agencies or completely abandon a potential transaction.
4 |
Further, on July 6, 2021, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council jointly issued the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and supervision of overseas listings by China-based companies and proposed to take effective measures, such as promoting the construction of regulatory systems. On December 24, 2021, the State Council issued a draft of the Provisions of the State Council on the Administration of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Draft Provisions”) and the CSRC issued a draft of the Administrative Measures for the Filing of Overseas Securities Offering and Listing by Domestic Companies (the “Draft Administrative Measures”) for public comment. The Draft Provisions and the Draft Administrative Measures propose to establish a new filing-based regime to regulate overseas offerings of stock, depository receipts, convertible corporate bonds, or other equity securities, and overseas listing of these securities for trading, by PRC companies.
If it is determined in the future that approval from or filing with the CSRC or other regulatory authorities or other procedures are required for our offshore offerings and/or listings, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain such approval or complete such filing procedures and any such approval or filing could be rescinded or rejected. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining such approval or completing such filing procedures for our offshore offerings, including by our inadvertent conclusion that such approval or filing was not required when in fact it was, or a rescission of any such approval or filing if obtained by us, could subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities. These regulatory authorities may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from our offshore offerings into China or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, and prospects, as well as the trading price of our listed securities. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our offshore offerings before settlement and delivery of the securities offered. Additionally, the PRC government has issued a series of anti-monopoly laws and regulations since 2021, paying more attention to corporate compliance, which have not impacted our business to date but may in the future.
We believe that these regulations currently have and will have little impact on us, but we cannot guarantee that regulators will agree with us or that these regulations will not affect our business operations in the future.
Transfers of Cash and Assets Between Our Company and Our Subsidiaries
Cash and asset transfers through the Company and our subsidiaries are primarily attributed to shareholder loans from us to our subsidiaries. Under PRC laws and regulations, we are subject to various restrictions on intercompany fund transfers and foreign exchange controls. To the extent our cash is in the PRC or a PRC entity, the funds may not be available for the distribution of dividends to our investors, including our U.S. investors, or for other use outside of the PRC, due to the interventions in or the imposition of restrictions and limitations by the PRC government on our ability to transfer cash. The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of mainland China. Our PRC subsidiaries receive substantially all revenue in RMB. Our PRC subsidiaries may pay dividends, if any, only out of their accumulated after-tax profits determined in accordance with Chinese accounting standards and regulations, only after satisfaction of relevant statutory conditions and procedures, and would be subject to the PRC dividend withholding tax at a tax rate of 10% for any dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries from their earnings derived after January 1, 2008, to our Hong Kong subsidiaries, or a reduced rate of 5% if certain conditions are met. If the PRC foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy foreign currency demands, we may not be able to pay dividends in foreign currencies to our shareholders, including U.S. shareholders. PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies and governmental control of currency conversion may delay or prevent us from using our funds to make loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect the liquidity of our PRC subsidiaries and our ability to fund and expand our business in the PRC and cause the value of our securities to significantly decline or become worthless. We cannot assure you that the PRC government will not intervene in or impose restrictions on our ability to make intercompany cash transfers or dividends to investors, including U.S. investors.
5 |
All cash or asset transfers between us and our subsidiaries during the three years ended December 31, 2021, are set forth in the table below. There were no cash or asset transfers between us and our subsidiaries during the six months ended June 30, 2022. The purpose of the outbound transfers, in the form of shareholder loans, was to pay off the subsidiaries’ expenses. The purpose of the inbound transfers, in the form of loan repayments, was to centralize the treasury function of the Company and our subsidiaries. There are no fixed repayment terms and no tax implication for these transfers. We did not make any capital contributions to, or receive any dividends from, our subsidiaries during these periods.
Year ended December 31, | Six Months ended June 30, | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2021 | 2022 | 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Transferor | Transferee | HK$ | HK$ | HK$ | US$ | HK$ | US$ | |||||||||||||||||||
Outbound Transfers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
China Natural Resources, Inc. | Feishang Mining | — | — | 50,000 | 6,410 | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
China Coal | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 1,026 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Yongfu | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 1,026 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Dayun | 8,000 | 8,000 | 8,000 | 1,026 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | 24,000 | 24,000 | 74,000 | 9,488 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Inbound Transfers | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Mining | China Natural Resources, Inc. | — | 150,000 | — | — | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||
China Coal | — | 30,000 | — | — | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Yongfu | — | 50,000 | 30,000 | 3,846 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Feishang Dayun | — | 50,000 | 30,000 | 3,846 | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||
Total | — | 280,000 | 60,000 | 7,692 | — | — |
Permits and Approvals
Our PRC subsidiaries mainly carry out rural wastewater treatment and metal exploration activities in the PRC, which are subject to a series of PRC laws and regulations. In order to carry out such business, licenses, permits, and approvals are required from different PRC authorities, including an exploration permit with regards to our metal exploration activity, received from the Land and Resources Department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, construction permits in relation to our EPC activities, and business licenses from local industry and commercial bureaus as required upon company registration. As of the date of this prospectus, as far as we are aware and in the judgment of management, we have obtained all necessary licenses, permits and approvals to operate our business in the PRC, and we have not been denied any requisite approvals or permits. If we or our PRC subsidiaries fail to maintain or renew such licenses, permits and approvals in a timely manner in the future, our business may be materially affected.
As of the date of this prospectus, we do not believe that we need to apply for the cybersecurity review required by the CAC, and we have received all requisite permissions or approvals in connection with our offshore offerings under PRC law. For more information regarding licensing, approval and permit requirements of the CSRC, CAC, or other PRC governmental agencies, see the risk factors titled “Failure to comply with PRC regulations and other legal obligations concerning data protection and cybersecurity may materially and adversely affect our business, as we routinely collect, store and use data during the conduct of our business” and “The approval of or filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.”
Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act
The PCAOB has yet to determine that it may inspect our auditor in relation to its audit work to its satisfaction, and our common shares will be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in 2024 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or fully investigate auditors located in China, or in 2023 if proposed changes to the HFCAA are enacted. We have been identified by the SEC in its “conclusive list of issuers identified under the HFCAA,” indicating that we are among those companies formally subject to the delisting provisions of the HFCAA. While the PCAOB, the CSRC and PRC Ministry of Finance entered into a Statement of Protocol on August 26, 2022, designed to allow the PCAOB to fully investigate auditors located in China, it remains unclear whether the PCAOB will determine that it is able to do so.
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Share Information
Our common shares are listed on Nasdaq under the symbol “CHNR.” A description of the securities we are authorized to issue is contained elsewhere in this prospectus.
Exchange Rates
The Company’s reporting currency is RMB. Translations of amounts from RMB to U.S. Dollars are for the convenience of the reader. Translations from RMB to U.S. Dollars or from U.S. Dollars to RMB have been made at the single rate of exchange (the “RMB Exchange Rate”) as quoted by www.ofx.com on June 30, 2022, which was US$1.00 = RMB6.6995. Translations from Hong Kong dollars to U.S. Dollars have been made at the official pegged exchange rate of US$1.00 = HK$7.80 as of June 30, 2022. The RMB is not freely convertible into foreign currencies and no representation is made that the RMB or U.S. Dollar amounts referred to herein could have been or could be converted into U.S. Dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at the RMB Exchange Rate or at all.
All foreign exchange transactions take place either through the Bank of China or other banks authorized to buy and sell foreign currencies at the exchange rates quoted by the People’s Bank of China, the PRC’s central bank. No representation is made that the RMB or U.S. Dollar amounts referred to herein could have been or could be converted into U.S. Dollars or RMB, as the case may be, at the RMB Exchange Rate or at all.
Risk Factor Summary
Investing in our Company involves significant risks. You should carefully consider all of the information in this prospectus before making an investment in our Company. Below please find a summary of the risks and challenges we face organized under relevant headings. These risks are discussed more fully in the section titled “Item 3. Key Information – Item 3.D. Risk Factors” in our 2021 Annual Report, which is incorporated in this prospectus by reference.
Risks Relating to Our PRC Operations and Doing Business in the PRC
· | Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material and adverse effect on our business and operations. |
· | Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us. |
· | PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain. Any changes in such laws and regulations may have a material and adverse effect on our business. |
· | PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our ability to fund and expand our business. |
· | Inflation in the PRC, or a slowing PRC economy, could negatively affect our profitability and growth. |
· | Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends and making other payments to us. |
· | Governmental control of currency conversion may affect payment of any dividends or foreign currency denominated obligations, and it may adversely affect the value of your investment. |
· | The fluctuation of the RMB may materially and adversely affect your investment. |
· | The PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”) regulations regarding offshore financing activities by PRC residents have undergone changes which may increase the administrative burden we face and create regulatory uncertainties that could adversely affect us, and a failure by our shareholders who are PRC residents to make any required applications and filings pursuant to such regulations may prevent us from being able to distribute profits and could expose us and our PRC resident shareholders to liability under PRC law. |
· | The PCAOB has yet to determine that it can inspect our auditor in relation to its audit work performed for our financial statements to its satisfaction, and the inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor may affect our investors’ ability to benefit from such inspections. |
· | Our common shares will be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in 2024 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or fully investigate auditors located in China, or 2023 if proposed changes to the HFCAA are enacted. The delisting of our common shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment. |
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· | Proceedings instituted by the SEC against Chinese affiliates of the “Big Four” accounting firms, including our independent registered public accounting firm, could result in a determination that our financial statements are not in compliance with the SEC’s requirements. |
· | It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China. |
· | If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, it could harm our business and competitive position. |
· | PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions conducted by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China. |
· | We and our PRC subsidiaries are required to maintain a series of licenses, permits and approvals from PRC authorities to operate our business in the PRC, and failure to maintain or renew such licenses, permits or approvals in a timely manner could materially affect our business. |
· | The approval of or filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing. |
· | Failure to comply with PRC regulations and other legal obligations concerning data protection and cybersecurity may materially and adversely affect our business, as we routinely collect, store and use data during the conduct of our business. |
· | We may be classified as a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes; such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders. |
· | Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock incentive plans may subject the PRC plan participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions. |
· | Failure to make adequate contributions to various mandatory social security plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties. |
· | Enforcement of stricter labor laws and regulations may increase our labor costs. |
· | If the chops of our PRC subsidiaries are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised. |
Risks Relating to Our Securities
· | If we fail to regain compliance with the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, we would face possible delisting, which would result in a limited public market for our common shares and make obtaining future debt or equity financing more difficult for us. |
Principal Executive Office
Our principal executive office is located at Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Our telephone number at this address is +852-2810-7205. Our principal website is www.chnr.net. Information contained on our website is not part of this prospectus.
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An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk and should be considered speculative. You should carefully consider the following risks set out below and other information before investing in our securities. If any event arising from these risks occurs, our business, prospects, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows could be adversely affected, the trading price of our securities could decline and all or part of your investment may be lost.
Risks Relating to Our PRC Operations and Doing Business in the PRC
Changes in China’s economic, political or social conditions or government policies could have a material and adverse effect on our business and operations.
All of our business operations are conducted in China. Accordingly, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects are affected by economic, political and social conditions in China generally and by continued economic growth in China as a whole.
China’s economy differs from the economies of most developed countries in many respects, including the extent of government involvement, level of development, growth rate, control of foreign exchange and allocation of resources. In recent decades, the Chinese government has implemented a series of reform measures, including, among others, the utilization of market forces for economic reform and the establishment of improved corporate governance in business enterprises. However, a considerable portion of productive assets in China is still owned by the government. In addition, the Chinese government also plays a significant role in regulating industry development and has extensive influence over China’s economic growth through allocating resources, foreign exchange control and setting monetary and fiscal policy.
The growth of China’s economy has been uneven, both geographically and among various sectors of the economy, and the growth of the Chinese economy has slowed down in recent years for various reasons, including due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some of the government measures may benefit the overall Chinese economy but may have a negative effect on us. For example, our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by government control over capital investments or changes in tax regulations. Any stimulus measures designed to boost the Chinese economy may contribute to higher inflation, which could adversely affect our results of operations and financial condition. For example, certain operating costs and expenses, such as employee compensation and office operating expenses, may increase as a result of higher inflation.
Uncertainties with respect to the PRC legal system could adversely affect us.
We conduct our business through our subsidiaries in China. Our operations in China are governed by PRC laws and regulations. Our subsidiaries are generally subject to laws and regulations applicable to foreign investments in China. The PRC legal system is based on written statutes. Prior court decisions may be cited for reference but have limited precedential value.
PRC laws and regulations have significantly enhanced the protections afforded to various forms of foreign investments in China over the past several decades. However, China has not developed a fully integrated legal system and recently enacted laws and regulations may not sufficiently cover all aspects of economic activities in China. In particular, because these laws and regulations are relatively new, and because of the limited volume of published decisions and their nonbinding nature, the interpretation and enforcement of these laws and regulations involve uncertainties.
Furthermore, the PRC legal system is based in part on government policies and internal rules, some of which are not published on a timely basis or at all. As a result, we may not be aware of our potential violation of these policies and rules. In addition, any administrative and court proceedings in China may be protracted and result in substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention.
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The PRC government has significant oversight over the conduct of our business, and it has recently indicated an intent to exert more oversight over offerings that are conducted overseas and foreign investment in China-based issuers. Any such action could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors and cause the value of such securities to significantly decline or be worthless.
PRC laws and regulations governing our current business operations are sometimes vague and uncertain. Any changes in such laws and regulations may have a material and adverse effect on our business.
There are substantial uncertainties regarding the interpretation and application of PRC laws and regulations, including, but not limited to, the laws and regulations governing our business, or the enforcement and performance of our arrangements with customers in the event of the imposition of statutory liens, death, bankruptcy and criminal proceedings. We and our current subsidiaries are, and any future subsidiaries will be, considered foreign persons or foreign-invested enterprises under PRC laws, and as a result, we are and will be required to comply with PRC laws and regulations applicable to foreign persons or foreign-invested enterprises. These laws and regulations are sometimes vague and may be subject to future changes, and their official interpretation and enforcement may involve substantial uncertainty. Exploration and mining operations and wastewater treatment operations in the PRC are subject to environmental laws and regulations, and the imposition of more stringent environmental regulations may affect our ability to comply with, or our costs to comply with, such regulations. Such changes, if implemented, may adversely affect our business operations and may reduce our profitability. The effectiveness of newly enacted laws, regulations or amendments may be delayed, resulting in detrimental reliance by foreign investors. New laws and regulations that affect existing and proposed future businesses may also be applied retroactively. We cannot predict what effect the interpretation of existing or new PRC laws or regulations may have on our businesses.
PRC regulation of loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies may delay or prevent us from making loans or additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries, which could materially and adversely affect our ability to fund and expand our business.
We are an offshore holding company conducting our operations in China. We may make loans to our PRC subsidiaries, or we may make additional capital contributions to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China. Any loans to our wholly foreign-owned subsidiaries in China, which are treated as foreign-invested enterprises under PRC law, are subject to PRC regulations and foreign exchange loan registration requirements. In addition, a foreign-invested PRC enterprise has limitations upon its uses of capital, including restrictions on such capital being: (i) directly or indirectly used for payments beyond the business scope of the enterprise or payments prohibited by relevant laws and regulations; (ii) used for the granting of loans to non-affiliated enterprises, except where expressly permitted in the foreign-invested PRC enterprise’s business license; and (iii) used for paying expenses related to the purchase of real estate that is not for self-use, except for foreign-invested real estate enterprises. We may also decide to finance our PRC subsidiaries by means of capital contributions, in which case the PRC subsidiary is required to register the details of the capital contribution with the local branch of the State Administration for Market Regulation (“SAMR”) and submit a report on the capital contribution via the online enterprise registration system to the Ministry of Commerce.
In light of the various requirements imposed by PRC regulations on loans to and direct investment in PRC entities by offshore holding companies, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the necessary government registrations or obtain the necessary government approvals or filings on a timely basis, if at all, with respect to future loans or capital contributions by us to our PRC operating subsidiaries. If we fail to complete such registrations or obtain such approvals, our ability to fund our PRC operations may be negatively affected, which could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and our ability to fund and expand our business.
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Inflation in the PRC, or a slowing PRC economy, could negatively affect our profitability and growth.
While the PRC economy has experienced rapid growth, such growth has been uneven among various sectors of the economy and in different geographical areas of the country. Rapid economic growth can lead to growth in the money supply and rising inflation. If prices for our products and services rise at a rate that is insufficient to compensate for the rise in the costs of supplies and services, it may have an adverse effect on our profitability. In order to control inflation in the past, the PRC government has imposed controls on bank credit, limits on loans for fixed assets and restrictions on bank lending. Such an austere policy can lead to a slowing of economic growth, and recent statistics have, indeed, suggested that China’s high annual economic growth has slowed down. In addition, the global outbreak of COVID-19 and the efforts to contain it have negatively impacted economic development in the PRC and around the world. Despite targeted fiscal and monetary stabilizing policies implemented by the PRC government, the PRC economy has experienced a significant slowdown since the outbreak of COVID-19. As a result, domestic and global economic conditions may improve, and the markets we intend to serve may grow, at a lower-than-expected rate or even experience a downturn, adversely affecting our future profitability and growth.
Our PRC subsidiaries are subject to restrictions on paying dividends and making other payments to us.
We are a holding company incorporated in the BVI. Under BVI law, we may only pay dividends to investors, including U.S. investors, from surplus (the excess, if any, at the time of the determination of the total assets of our company over the sum of our liabilities, as shown in our books of account, plus our capital), and we must be solvent before and after the dividend payment in the sense that we will be able to satisfy our liabilities as they become due in the ordinary course of business, and the realizable value of assets of our company will not be less than the sum of our total liabilities, other than deferred taxes as shown in our books of account, and our capital. As a result of our holding company structure, dividends and other distributions to our shareholders, including U.S. investors, will depend primarily upon dividend payments from our subsidiaries. However, PRC regulations currently permit the payment of dividends only out of accumulated profits, as determined in accordance with PRC accounting standards and regulations. Our subsidiaries in China are also required to set aside a portion of their after-tax profits as certain reserve funds according to PRC accounting standards and regulations. The PRC government also imposes controls on the conversion of RMB into foreign currencies and the remittance of currency out of China. We may experience difficulties in completing the administrative procedures necessary to obtain and remit foreign currency. Furthermore, if our subsidiaries in China incur further debt in the future, debt covenants may restrict their ability to pay dividends or make other payments. If we or our subsidiaries are unable to receive dividends from our operating companies, Bayannaoer Mining and Shanghai Onway, due to contractual or other limitations on the payment of dividends, we may be unable to pay dividends or make other distributions on our common shares.
Governmental control of currency conversion may affect payment of any dividends or foreign currency denominated obligations, and it may adversely affect the value of your investment.
The PRC government imposes controls on the convertibility of RMB into foreign currencies and, in certain cases, the remittance of currency out of the PRC. Shortages in the availability of foreign currency may restrict our ability to remit sufficient foreign currency to pay dividends, or otherwise satisfy foreign currency denominated obligations. Under existing PRC foreign exchange regulations, the RMB is currently convertible under the “current account,” which includes dividends, trade and service-related foreign exchange transactions, but not under the “capital account,” which includes foreign direct investment and loans, including loans we may secure from our onshore subsidiaries. Currently, our PRC subsidiaries may purchase foreign currency for settlement of “current account transactions,” including payment of dividends to us, without prior approval from SAFE by complying with certain procedural requirements. However, approval from appropriate governmental authorities is required where RMB is to be converted into foreign currency and remitted out of the PRC to pay capital expenses such as the repayment of bank loans denominated in foreign currencies.
The PRC government may also at its discretion restrict access to foreign currencies for current account transactions in the future. If the foreign exchange control system prevents us from obtaining sufficient foreign currency to satisfy our currency demands, we may not be able to pay certain of our expenses as they come due, or pay dividends or make other distributions to investors, including U.S. investors.
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The fluctuation of the RMB may materially and adversely affect your investment.
The exchange rate of the RMB against the U.S. Dollar and other currencies may fluctuate and is affected by, among other things, changes in the PRC’s political and economic conditions. As most of our operating expenses are denominated in RMB, any significant revaluation of the RMB may materially and adversely affect our cash flows and financial condition. Additionally, if we convert our RMB into U.S. Dollars, to pay dividends on our common shares or for other business purposes, depreciation of the RMB against the U.S. Dollar would negatively affect the amount of U.S. Dollars we convert our RMB into. Conversely, to the extent that we need to convert U.S. Dollars we receive from an offering of our securities or otherwise into RMB for our operations, the appreciation of the RMB against the U.S. Dollar could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and result in a charge to our income statement and a reduction in the value of these U.S. Dollar denominated assets.
In 2021, the U.S. Dollar depreciated against the RMB by 2.55% over the course of the year. Since the beginning of 2022 to October 31, 2022, the U.S. Dollar appreciated against the RMB by 14.95%.
PRC SAFE regulations regarding offshore financing activities by PRC residents have undergone changes which may increase the administrative burden we face and create regulatory uncertainties that could adversely affect us, and a failure by our shareholders who are PRC residents to make any required applications and filings pursuant to such regulations may prevent us from being able to distribute profits and could expose us and our PRC resident shareholders to liability under PRC law.
In July 2014, SAFE promulgated the Circular on Relevant Issues Concerning Foreign Exchange Control on Domestic Residents’ Offshore Investment and Financing and Roundtrip Investment Through Special Purpose Vehicles (“SAFE Circular 37”). SAFE Circular 37 requires PRC residents (including PRC individuals and PRC corporate entities as well as foreign individuals that are deemed PRC residents for foreign exchange administration purposes) to register with SAFE or its local branches in connection with their direct or indirect offshore investment activities. SAFE Circular 37 further requires an amendment to a SAFE registration in the event of any changes with respect to the basic information of the offshore special purpose vehicle, such as a change in the PRC shareholders, the names of such special purpose vehicle, and the operation term of such special purpose vehicle, or any significant changes with respect to the offshore special purpose vehicle, such as an increase or decrease of capital, a share transfer or exchange, or mergers or divisions. SAFE Circular 37 is applicable to our shareholders who are PRC residents and may be applicable to any offshore acquisitions that we make in the future. If our shareholders who are PRC residents fail to make the required SAFE registration or to update a previously filed registration, our PRC subsidiaries may be prohibited from distributing their profits or the proceeds from any capital reduction, share transfer or liquidation to us, and we accordingly would be unable to distribute to our investors, including U.S. investors, and we may also be prohibited from making additional capital contributions to our PRC subsidiaries.
In February 2015, SAFE promulgated a Notice on Further Simplifying and Improving Foreign Exchange Administration Policy on Direct Investment (“SAFE Notice 13”), effective June 2015. Under SAFE Notice 13, applications for foreign exchange registration of inbound foreign direct investments and outbound overseas direct investments, including those required under SAFE Circular 37, shall be filed with qualified banks instead of SAFE. The qualified banks directly examine the applications and accept registrations under the supervision of SAFE. To date, no registration has been filed with SAFE regarding us, and accordingly, SAFE may prohibit distributions from our PRC subsidiaries, which would prevent us from paying dividends, including to our U.S. investors, and may adversely affect our financial condition and potentially expose us to liability under PRC law.
The PCAOB has yet to determine that it can inspect our auditor in relation to its audit work performed for our financial statements to its satisfaction, and any inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections over our auditor may affect our investors’ ability to benefit from such inspections.
Our auditor, the independent registered public accounting firm that issues the audit report included in our annual reports, as an auditor of companies that are traded publicly in the United States and a firm registered with the PCAOB, is subject to laws in the United States pursuant to which the PCAOB conducts regular inspections to assess its compliance with applicable professional standards. Since our auditor is located in China, a jurisdiction where the PCAOB has been unable to conduct inspections without the approval of the Chinese authorities, our auditor is not currently inspected by the PCAOB. As a result, the benefits of such PCAOB inspections to our investors and us are affected. Any inability of the PCAOB to conduct inspections of auditors in China makes it more difficult to evaluate the effectiveness of our independent registered public accounting firm’s audit procedures or quality control procedures as compared to auditors outside of China that are subject to the PCAOB inspections, which could cause investors and potential investors in our securities to lose confidence in our audit procedures, reported financial information, and the quality of our financial statements.
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Our common shares will be prohibited from trading in the United States under the HFCAA in 2024 if the PCAOB is unable to inspect or fully investigate auditors located in China, or 2023 if proposed changes to the HFCAA are enacted. The delisting of our common shares, or the threat of their being delisted, may materially and adversely affect the value of your investment.
The HFCAA was signed into law on December 18, 2020. Pursuant to the HFCAA, the SEC will identify an issuer as a “Commission-Identified Issuer” if the issuer has filed an annual report containing an audit report issued by a registered public accounting firm that the PCAOB has determined it is unable to inspect or investigate completely, and will then impose a trading prohibition on an issuer after it is identified as a Commission-Identified Issuer for three consecutive years. On December 16, 2021, the PCAOB issued a report to notify the SEC of its determination that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. The PCAOB identified our auditor as one of the registered public accounting firms that the PCAOB is unable to inspect or investigate completely.
Whether the PCAOB will be able to conduct inspections of our auditor before the issuance of our financial statements for the year ending December 31, 2023, which is due by April 30, 2024, or at all, is subject to substantial uncertainty and depends on a number of factors out of our, and our auditor’s, control. A trading prohibition would substantially impair your ability to sell or purchase our common shares when you wish to do so, and the risk and uncertainty associated with delisting would have a negative impact on the price of our common shares.
On June 22, 2021, the U.S. Senate passed the Accelerating Holding Foreign Companies Accountable Act, which, if enacted, would reduce the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCAA from three years to two, and thus, would reduce the time before our securities may be prohibited from trading or delisted. On February 4, 2022, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill which contained, among other things, an identical provision. If this provision is enacted into law and the number of consecutive non-inspection years required for triggering the prohibitions under the HFCAA is reduced from three years to two, then our common shares could be prohibited from trading in the United States in 2023.
It may be difficult for overseas regulators to conduct investigations or collect evidence within China.
Shareholder claims or regulatory investigations that are common in the United States generally are difficult to pursue as a matter of law or practicality in China. For example, in China, there are significant legal and other obstacles to providing information needed for regulatory investigations or litigation initiated outside China. Although the authorities in China may establish a regulatory cooperation mechanism with the securities regulatory authorities of another country or region to implement cross-border supervision and administration, such cooperation with the securities regulatory authorities in the Unities States may not be efficient in the absence of a mutual and practical cooperation mechanism. Furthermore, according to Article 177 of the PRC Securities Law (“Article 177”), which became effective in March 2020, no overseas securities regulator is allowed to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within the territory of the PRC. While detailed interpretation of or implementing rules under Article 177 have yet to be promulgated, the inability for an overseas securities regulator to directly conduct investigation or evidence collection activities within China may further increase difficulties faced by you in protecting your interests.
If we fail to protect our intellectual property rights, it could harm our business and competitive position.
We own five patents in China covering our wastewater treatment technology, and we rely on a combination of patent protection, trade secret laws and other methods to protect our intellectual property rights. The process of seeking patent protection on future patents can be lengthy and expensive, our patent applications may be rejected and our existing and future patents may be insufficient to provide us with sufficient protection or commercial advantage. Our patents and patent applications may also be challenged, invalidated or circumvented.
Implementation of Chinese intellectual property-related laws has historically been ineffective, primarily due to ambiguities in Chinese laws and enforcement difficulties. Accordingly, intellectual property rights and confidentiality protections in China may not be as effective as those in the United States or other developed countries. Furthermore, we may need to resort to litigation to enforce or defend our patents. Such litigation and its results could cause substantial costs and diversion of resources and management attention, which could harm our business and growth.
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PRC regulations establish complex procedures for some acquisitions conducted by foreign investors, which could make it more difficult for us to pursue growth through acquisitions in China.
The Regulations on Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors (the “M&A Rules”), adopted by six PRC regulatory agencies in August 2006 and amended in June 2009, among other things, established additional procedures and requirements that could make merger and acquisition activities by foreign investors more time-consuming and complex. In addition, the Provisions of Ministry of Commerce on Implementation of Security Review System for Mergers and Acquisitions of Domestic Enterprises by Foreign Investors, issued by the Ministry of Commerce in August 2011, specify that mergers and acquisitions by foreign investors involved in “an industry related to national security” are subject to strict review by the Ministry of Commerce, and prohibit any activities attempting to bypass such security review, including by structuring the transaction through a proxy or contractual control arrangement.
On March 15, 2019, the PRC National People’s Congress enacted the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC (the “Foreign Investment Law”), which became effective on January 1, 2020. The Foreign Investment Law has replaced the previous major laws and regulations governing foreign investment in the PRC, including the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Ventures Enterprises Law of the PRC, the Sino-foreign Co-operative Enterprises Law of the PRC and the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law of the PRC. According to the Foreign Investment Law, “foreign-invested enterprises” refers to enterprises that are wholly or partly invested by foreign investors and registered under the PRC laws within China, and “foreign investment” refers to any foreign investor’s direct or indirect investment activities in China, including: (i) establishing foreign-invested enterprises in China either individually or jointly with other investors; (ii) obtaining stock shares, equity shares, shares in properties or other similar interests of Chinese domestic enterprises; (iii) investing in new projects in China either individually or jointly with other investors; and (iv) investing through other methods provided by laws, administrative regulations or provisions prescribed by the State Council.
On December 26, 2019, the State Council issued Implementation Regulations for the Foreign Investment Law of the PRC (the “Implementation Rules”) which came into effect on January 1, 2020, and replaced the Implementing Rules of the Sino-foreign Equity Joint Ventures Enterprises Law of the PRC, the Implementing Rules of the Sino-foreign Co-operative Enterprises Law of the PRC and the Implementing Rules of the Wholly Foreign-invested Enterprise Law of the PRC. According to the Implementation Rules, in the event of any discrepancy between the Foreign Investment Law, the Implementation Rules and the relevant provisions on foreign investment promulgated prior to January 1, 2020, the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Rules shall prevail. The Implementation Rules also set forth that foreign investors that invest in sectors on the “Negative List” in which foreign investment is restricted shall comply with special management measures with respect to, among others, shareholding and senior management personnel qualification in the Negative List. Pursuant to the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Rules, the existing foreign-invested enterprises established prior to the effective date of the Foreign Investment Law are allowed to keep their corporate organization forms for five years from the effectiveness of the Foreign Investment Law before such existing foreign-invested enterprises change their organization forms and organization structures in accordance with the PRC Company Law, the Partnership Enterprise Law of the PRC and other applicable laws.
After the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Rules became effective on January 1, 2020, the provisions of the M&A Rules remained effective to the extent they are not inconsistent with the Foreign Investment Law and the Implementation Rules. We believe that our business is not in an industry related to national security, but we cannot preclude the possibility that the competent PRC government authorities may publish explanations contrary to our understanding or broaden the scope of such security reviews in the future, in which case our future acquisitions and investment in the PRC, including those by way of entering into contractual control arrangements with target entities, may be closely scrutinized or prohibited. Moreover, according to the Anti-Monopoly Law of the PRC, the SAMR shall be notified in advance of any concentration of undertaking if certain filing thresholds are triggered. We may grow our business in part by directly acquiring complementary businesses in China. Complying with the requirements of the laws and regulations mentioned above and other PRC regulations necessary to complete such transactions could be time-consuming, and any required approval processes, including obtaining approval from the SAMR, may delay or inhibit our ability to complete such transactions, which could materially and adversely affect our ability to expand our business or maintain our market share.
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In December 2020, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce promulgated the Measures for the Security Review of Foreign Investment, which came into effect on January 18, 2021. As these measures are recently promulgated, official guidance has not been issued by the designated office in charge of such security review yet. At this stage, the interpretation of those measures remains unclear in many aspects. For example, it is unclear whether these measures may apply to foreign investment that is implemented or completed before the enactment of these new measures. We cannot assure you that our current or new business operations will remain fully compliant, or that we can adapt our business operations to new regulatory requirements on a timely basis, or at all.
We and our PRC subsidiaries are required to maintain a series of licenses, permits and approvals from PRC authorities to operate our business in the PRC, and failure to maintain or renew such licenses, permits or approvals in a timely manner could materially affect our business.
Our PRC subsidiaries mainly carry out rural wastewater treatment and metal exploration activities in the PRC, which are subject to a series of PRC laws and regulations. Such business activities require us to obtain licenses, permits and approvals from different PRC authorities, including an exploration permit from the Land and Resources Department of the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region with regards to our metal exploration activity, construction permits in relation to our EPC activities, and business licenses from local industry and commercial bureaus as required upon company registration. As of the date of this prospectus, as far as we are aware and in the judgment of management, we have obtained all necessary licenses, permits and approvals to operate our business in the PRC, and have not been denied any such licenses, permits or approvals. If we or our PRC subsidiaries fail to maintain or renew such licenses, permits and approvals in a timely manner in the future, our business may be materially affected.
The approval of or filing with the CSRC or other PRC government authorities may be required in connection with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and, if required, we cannot predict whether or for how long we will be able to obtain such approval or complete such filing.
The M&A Rules require an overseas special purpose vehicle formed for listing purposes through acquisitions of PRC domestic companies and controlled by PRC persons or entities to obtain the approval of the CSRC prior to the listing and trading of such special purpose vehicle’s securities on an overseas stock exchange. The interpretation and application of the regulations remain unclear, and our offshore offerings may ultimately require approval of the CSRC. If the CSRC approval is required, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain the approval and, even if we successfully obtain such CSRC approval, the approval could be rescinded. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining the CSRC approval for any of our offshore offerings, or a rescission of any successfully obtained approvals, would subject us to sanctions imposed by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities. Sanctions could include fines and penalties on our operations in China, restrictions or limitations on our ability to pay dividends outside of China, and other forms of sanctions that may materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
On July 6, 2021, PRC government authorities issued the Opinions on Strictly Cracking Down on Illegal Securities Activities in Accordance with the Law. These opinions emphasized the need to strengthen the administration over illegal securities activities and the supervision on overseas listings by China-based companies. They proposed to take measures such as promoting the construction of relevant regulatory systems to deal with the risks and incidents faced by China-based overseas listed companies.
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On December 24, 2021, the State Council issued the Draft Provisions and the CSRC issued the Draft Administrative Measures for public comment. The Draft Provisions and the Draft Administrative Measures propose to establish a new filing-based regime to regulate overseas offerings of stock, depository receipts, convertible corporate bonds or other equity securities, and overseas listing of these securities for trading, by PRC companies. According to the Draft Provisions and the Draft Administrative Measures, an overseas offering and listing by a domestic company, whether directly or indirectly, shall be filed with the CSRC. Specifically, the examination and determination of an indirect offering and listing will be conducted on a substance-over-form basis, and an offering and listing shall be considered as an indirect overseas offering and listing by a domestic company if the issuer meets the following conditions: (i) the operating income, gross profit, total assets, or net assets of the domestic enterprise in the most recent fiscal year was more than 50% of the relevant line item in the issuer’s audited consolidated financial statements for that year; and (ii) senior management personnel responsible for business operations and management are mostly PRC citizens or are ordinarily resident in the PRC, and the main place of business is in the PRC or business is mainly carried out in the PRC. According to the Draft Administrative Measures, the issuer or its affiliated domestic company, as the case may be, shall file with the CSRC for its initial public offering, follow-on offering and other equivalent offering activities. Particularly, the issuer shall submit the filing with respect to its initial public offering and listing within three business days after its initial filing of the listing application, and submit the filing with respect to a follow-on offering within three business days after completion of the follow-on offering. Failure to comply with the filing requirements may result in fines to the relevant domestic companies, suspension of their businesses, revocation of their business licenses and operation permits and fines on the controlling shareholder and other responsible persons. The Draft Administrative Measures also sets forth certain regulatory red lines for overseas offerings and listings by domestic enterprises.
As of the date of this prospectus, the Draft Provisions and the Draft Administrative Measures have been released for public comment only, and therefore, filing or approval under the Draft Administrative Measures is not necessary at present. However, there are uncertainties as to whether the Draft Provisions and the Draft Administrative Measures would be further amended, revised or updated. Substantial uncertainties exist with respect to the enactment timetable and final content of the Draft Provisions and the Draft Administrative Measures. As the CSRC may formulate and publish guidelines for filings in the future, the Draft Administrative Measures do not provide for detailed requirements of the substance and form of the filing documents. In a Q&A released on its official website, the respondent CSRC official indicated that the CSRC will start applying the filing requirements to new offerings and listings. Only new initial public offerings and refinancing by existing overseas listed Chinese companies will be required to go through the filing process. As for the filings for the existing companies, the regulator will grant an adequate transition period to complete their filing procedures. Given the substantial uncertainties surrounding the latest CSRC filing requirements at this stage, we cannot assure you that we will be able to complete the filings and fully comply with the relevant new rules on a timely basis, if at all.
As of the date of this prospectus, as far as we are aware and in the judgment of management, we have received all requisite permissions or approvals in connection with our offshore offerings under PRC law, and have not been denied any such permissions or approvals. However, we cannot assure you that any new rules or regulations promulgated in the future will not impose additional requirements on us. If it is determined in the future that approval from and filing with the CSRC or other regulatory authorities or other procedures are required for our offshore offerings, it is uncertain whether we can or how long it will take us to obtain such approval or complete such filing procedures and any such approval or filing could be rescinded or rejected. Any failure to obtain or delay in obtaining such approval or completing such filing procedures for our offshore offerings, including by our inadvertent conclusion that such approval or filing was not required when in fact it was, or a rescission of any such approval or filing if obtained by us, could subject us to sanctions by the CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities. These regulatory authorities may impose fines and penalties on our operations in China, limit our ability to pay dividends outside of China, limit our operating privileges in China, delay or restrict the repatriation of the proceeds from our offshore offerings into China or take other actions that could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, as well as the trading price of our listed securities. The CSRC or other PRC regulatory authorities also may take actions requiring us, or making it advisable for us, to halt our offshore offerings before settlement and delivery of the securities offered. Consequently, if investors engage in market trading or other activities in anticipation of and prior to settlement and delivery, they do so at the risk that settlement and delivery may not occur. In addition, if the CSRC or other regulatory authorities later promulgate new rules or explanations requiring that we obtain their approvals or accomplish the required filing or other regulatory procedures for our prior offshore offerings, we may be unable to obtain a waiver of such approval requirements, if and when procedures are established to obtain such a waiver. Any uncertainties or negative publicity regarding such approval requirement could materially and adversely affect our business, prospects, financial condition, reputation and the trading price of our listed securities.
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Failure to comply with PRC regulations and other legal obligations concerning data protection and cybersecurity may materially and adversely affect our business, as we routinely collect, store and use data during the conduct of our business.
On December 28, 2021, the CAC adopted the Cybersecurity Review Measures, which became effective on February 15, 2022. The Cybersecurity Review Measures require network platform operators possessing personal information of more than one million individual users to undergo a cybersecurity review by the CAC when they seek a listing on a foreign exchange. The Cybersecurity Review Measures provide that critical information infrastructure operators purchasing network products and services and network platform operators carrying out data processing activities, which affect or may affect national security, shall apply for cybersecurity review to the applicable local cyberspace administration in accordance with the provisions thereunder.
On July 30, 2021, the State Council promulgated the Regulations on Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, which became effective on September 1, 2021. Pursuant to the Regulations on Protection of Critical Information Infrastructure, critical information infrastructure shall mean any important network facilities or information systems of an important industry or field, such as public communications and information services, energy, transportation, water conservation, finance, public services, e-government affairs and science and technology and national defense industries, which may seriously endanger national security, peoples’ livelihoods and the public interest in the event of damage, function loss or data leakage. In addition, the relevant administrative departments of each critical industry and sector shall be responsible for formulating eligibility criteria and determining the critical information infrastructure operator in the respective industry or sector. The operators shall be informed about the final determination as to whether they are categorized as critical information infrastructure operators. Among these industries, the energy and telecommunications industries are mandated to take measures to provide key assurances for the safe operation of critical information infrastructure in other industries and fields. We believe our wastewater treatment activities do not fall under the water conservation industry, although we cannot assure you that local administrative departments will come to the same interpretation.
We and our PRC subsidiaries do not carry out business in China through any self-owned network platform and hold personal information of less than one million individuals from PRC operations. We and our PRC subsidiaries have not been identified as critical information infrastructure operators by any PRC authorities. The data collected from our China operations is mainly information related to our production, customers, suppliers and our employees. We believe that we and our PRC subsidiaries do not commit any acts that threaten or endanger the national security of the PRC, and to our knowledge we and our PRC subsidiaries have not received or been subject to any investigation, notice, warning or sanction from any PRC authority with respect to national security issues arising from our business operations. As of the date of this prospectus, we do not believe that we need to proactively apply for the cybersecurity review required by the CAC.
Furthermore, the CAC promulgated the Security Assessment Measures for Outbound Data Transfers, effective July 7, 2022, which require that to provide data abroad under any of the following circumstances, a data processor shall declare security assessment for its outbound data transfer to the CAC through the local cyberspace administration at the provincial level: (i) where a data processor provides critical data abroad; (ii) where a key information infrastructure operator or a data processor processing the personal information of more than one million individuals provides personal information abroad; (iii) where a data processor has provided personal information of 100,000 individuals or sensitive personal information of 10,000 individuals in total abroad since January 1 of the previous year; and (iv) in other circumstances prescribed by the CAC for which declaration of a security assessment for outbound data transfers is required. As we and our PRC subsidiaries do not provide any data collected from China operations abroad, we do not believe it is necessary for us to declare any security assessments pursuant to the Security Assessment Measures for Outbound Data Transfers.
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However, there remains uncertainty as to how these regulations will be interpreted or implemented and whether the PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, may adopt new laws, regulations, rules or detailed implementation and interpretation, and there is no assurance that PRC regulatory agencies, including the CAC, would take the same view as we do. There have not been comparable developments in Hong Kong, but those could occur, and we believe are currently in compliance with all Hong Kong laws and regulations regarding data security. If any such new laws, regulations, rules or implementation and interpretation come into effect, we will take all reasonable measures and actions to comply and to minimize the adverse effect of such laws on us. However, we cannot assure you that we can fully or timely comply with such laws. In the event that we are subject to any mandatory cybersecurity reviews and/or other requirements of the CAC, we face uncertainty as to whether any clearance or other required actions can be timely completed, or at all. Given such uncertainty, it is possible that we may be required to suspend the relevant business, or face other penalties, which could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or the value of our securities, or could significantly limit or completely hinder our ability to offer or continue to offer securities to investors. As of the date of this prospectus, we have not been informed that we have been identified as a critical information infrastructure operator by any governmental authorities. These laws and regulations are relatively new, and the PRC authorities continue to promulgate and issue new laws, regulations and rules in this regard. Therefore, there is substantial uncertainty with respect to the interpretation and implementation of these data security laws and regulations. We will closely monitor the relevant regulatory environment and will assess and determine whether we are required to apply for the cybersecurity review.
We may be classified as a “resident enterprise” for PRC enterprise income tax purposes; such classification could result in unfavorable tax consequences to us and our non-PRC shareholders.
The Enterprise Income Tax Law provides that enterprises established outside of China whose “de facto management bodies” are located in China are considered PRC tax resident enterprises and will generally be subject to the uniform 25% PRC enterprise income tax rate on their global income. In 2009, the State Administration of Taxation (“SAT”) issued the Circular of the State Administration of Taxation on Issues Concerning the Identification of Chinese-Controlled Overseas Registered Enterprises as Resident Enterprises in Accordance with the Actual Standards of Organizational Management (“SAT Circular 82”), which was partially amended by the Announcement on Issues concerning the Determination of Resident Enterprises Based on the Standards of Actual Management Institutions issued by the SAT on January 29, 2014, and further partially amended by the Decision on Issuing the Lists of Invalid and Abolished Tax Departmental Rules and Taxation Normative Documents issued by the SAT on December 29, 2017. SAT Circular 82, as amended, provides certain specific criteria for determining whether the “de facto management body” of a Chinese-controlled offshore-incorporated enterprise is located in China, which include all of the following conditions: (i) the location where senior management members responsible for an enterprise’s daily operations discharge their duties; (ii) the location where financial and human resource decisions are made or approved by organizations or persons; (iii) the location where the major assets and corporate documents are kept; and (iv) the location where more than half (inclusive) of all directors with voting rights or senior management have their habitual residence. SAT Circular 82 further clarifies that the identification of the “de facto management body” must follow the “substance over form” principle. In addition, the SAT issued the Announcement of State Administration of Taxation on Promulgation of the Administrative Measures on Income Tax on Overseas Registered Chinese-funded Holding Resident Enterprises (Trial Implementation) (the “SAT Bulletin 45”) on July 27, 2011, effective from September 1, 2011, and partially amended on April 17, 2015, June 28, 2016, and June 15, 2018, providing more guidance on the implementation of SAT Circular 82. SAT Bulletin 45 clarifies matters including resident status determination, post-determination administration and competent tax authorities. Although both SAT Circular 82 and SAT Bulletin 45 only apply to offshore enterprises controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups, not those controlled by PRC individuals or foreign individuals, the determining criteria set forth in SAT Circular 82 and SAT Bulletin 45 may reflect the SAT’s general position on how the “de facto management body” test should be applied in determining the tax resident status of offshore enterprises, regardless of whether they are controlled by PRC enterprises or PRC enterprise groups or by PRC or foreign individuals.
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Currently, there are no detailed rules or precedents governing the procedures and specific criteria for determining “de facto management bodies” that are applicable to us or our overseas subsidiaries. We do not believe that CHNR meets all of the conditions for a PRC resident enterprise. The Company is a company incorporated outside the PRC. As a holding company, its key assets are its ownership interests in its subsidiaries, and its key assets are located, and its records (including the resolutions of its board of directors and the resolutions of its shareholders) are maintained, outside the PRC. For the same reasons, we believe our other entities outside of China are not PRC resident enterprises either. However, the tax resident status of an enterprise is subject to determination by the PRC tax authorities, and uncertainties remain with respect to the interpretation of the term “de facto management body.” There can be no assurance that the PRC government will ultimately take a view that is consistent with ours.
However, if the PRC tax authorities determine that CHNR is a PRC resident enterprise for enterprise income tax purposes, we may be required to withhold a 10% withholding tax from dividends we pay to our shareholders that are non-resident enterprises. Such 10% tax rate could be reduced by applicable tax treaties or similar arrangements between China and the jurisdiction of our shareholders. For example, for shareholders eligible for the benefits of the tax treaty between China and Hong Kong, known as the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (the “Double Taxation Arrangement”), the tax rate is reduced to 5% for dividends if relevant conditions are met, including without limitation that (a) the Hong Kong resident enterprise must be the beneficial owner of the relevant dividends; and (b) the Hong Kong resident enterprise must directly hold no less than 25% share ownership in the PRC resident enterprise during the 12 consecutive months preceding its receipt of the dividends. In current practice, a Hong Kong resident enterprise must obtain a tax resident certificate from the Hong Kong tax authority to apply for the 5% lower PRC withholding tax rate. As the Hong Kong tax authority will issue such a tax resident certificate on a case-by-case basis, we cannot assure you that we will be able to obtain a tax resident certificate from the relevant Hong Kong tax authority and enjoy the preferential withholding tax rate of 5% under the Double Taxation Arrangement with respect to any dividends paid by our PRC subsidiaries to their immediate holding companies. In addition, non-resident enterprise shareholders may be subject to a 10% PRC tax on gains realized on the sale or other disposition of common equity if such income is treated as sourced from within the PRC. It is unclear whether our non-PRC individual shareholders would be subject to any PRC tax on dividends or gains obtained by such non-PRC individual shareholders in the event we are determined to be a PRC resident enterprise. If any PRC tax were to apply to such dividends or gains, it would generally apply at a rate of 20% unless a reduced rate is available under an applicable tax treaty. However, it is also unclear whether non-PRC shareholders of the Company would be able to claim the benefits of any tax treaties between their country of tax residence and the PRC in the event that the Company is treated as a PRC resident enterprise.
Provided that CHNR, as a BVI holding company, is not deemed to be a PRC resident enterprise, our shareholders who are not PRC residents will not be subject to PRC income tax on dividends distributed by us or gains realized from the sale or other disposition of our shares. However, under SAT Circular 7, where a non-resident enterprise conducts an “indirect transfer” by transferring taxable assets, including, in particular, equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise, indirectly by disposing of the equity interests of an overseas holding company, the non-resident enterprise, being the transferor, or the transferee or the PRC entity which directly owned such taxable assets may report to the relevant tax authority such indirect transfer. Using a “substance over form” principle, the PRC tax authority may disregard the existence of the overseas holding company if it lacks a reasonable commercial purpose and was established for the purpose of reducing, avoiding or deferring PRC tax. As a result, gains derived from such indirect transfer may be subject to PRC enterprise income tax, and the transferee would be obligated to withhold the applicable taxes, currently at a rate of 10% for the transfer of equity interests in a PRC resident enterprise. We and our non-PRC resident investors may be at risk of being required to file a return and being taxed under SAT Circular 7, and we may be required to expend valuable resources to comply with SAT Bulletin 37, or to establish that we should not be taxed under SAT Circular 7 and SAT Bulletin 37.
In addition to the uncertainty in how the new resident enterprise classification could apply, it is also possible that the rules may change in the future, possibly with retroactive effect. If we are required under the Enterprise Income Tax Law to withhold PRC income tax on our dividends payable to our foreign shareholders, including U.S. investors, or if you are required to pay PRC income tax on the transfer of our shares under the circumstances mentioned above, the value of your investment in our shares may be materially and adversely affected. These rates may be reduced by an applicable tax treaty, but it is unclear whether, if we are considered a PRC resident enterprise, holders of our shares would be able to claim the benefit of income tax treaties or agreements entered into between China and other countries or areas. Any such tax may reduce the returns on your investment in our shares.
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Any failure to comply with PRC regulations regarding the registration requirements for employee stock incentive plans may subject the PRC plan participants or us to fines and other legal or administrative sanctions.
In February 2012, SAFE promulgated the Notices on Issues Concerning the Foreign Exchange Administration for Domestic Individuals Participating in Stock Incentive Plans of Overseas Publicly-Listed Companies, replacing earlier rules promulgated in March 2007. Pursuant to these rules, PRC citizens and non-PRC citizens who reside in China for a continuous period of not less than one year who participate in any stock incentive plan of an overseas publicly listed company, subject to a few exceptions, are required to register with SAFE through a domestic qualified agent, which could be the PRC subsidiary of such overseas-listed company, and complete certain other procedures related to account establishment, funds transfer and remittance. In addition, an overseas-entrusted institution must be retained to handle matters in connection with the exercise or sale of stock options and the purchase or sale of corresponding shares and interests. We and our executive officers and other employees who have been PRC citizens or who have resided in the PRC for a continuous period of not less than one year and who are granted options or other awards under our equity incentive plan will be subject to these regulations. Failure to complete the SAFE registrations may subject them to fines and legal sanctions and may also limit our ability to contribute additional capital into our PRC subsidiary and limit our PRC subsidiaries’ ability to distribute dividends to us. As at the date of this prospectus, we have already completed the SAFE registration and obtained the relevant approval of foreign exchange for our executive officers, consultants and other employees who have been granted options and are subject to the above regulations. We also face regulatory uncertainties that could restrict our ability to adopt additional incentive plans for our directors, executive officers and employees under PRC law.
On July 14, 2022, the board of directors of the Company granted option covering an aggregate of 8,100,000 common shares, without par value, of the Company to fifteen consultants and employees of the Company under the China Natural Resources, Inc. 2014 Equity Incentive Plan. SAT has issued circulars concerning employee share options, under which certain of our employees and consultants who are PRC tax residents and exercise share options will be subject to PRC individual income tax. The individual income tax of consultant grantees and employees shall be paid according to remuneration for personal services and wages and salaries respectively. Our PRC subsidiaries have obligations to file documents related to employee share options with relevant tax authorities and to withhold individual income taxes of those employees and consultants who exercise their share options. If our employees and consultants fail to pay or if we fail to withhold their individual income tax as required by relevant laws and regulations, we may face sanctions imposed by the PRC tax authorities or other PRC government authorities.
Failure to make adequate contributions to various mandatory social security plans as required by PRC regulations may subject us to penalties.
Under the PRC Social Insurance Law and the Administrative Measures on Housing Fund, our PRC subsidiaries are required to participate in various government sponsored employee benefit plans, including certain social insurance, housing funds and other welfare-oriented payment obligations, and to contribute to the plans in amounts equal to certain percentages of salaries, including bonuses and allowances, of the employees up to a maximum amount specified by the local government from time to time at locations where they operate the businesses. The requirements of employee benefit plans have not been implemented consistently by the local governments in China given the different levels of economic development in different locations. If the local governments deem our subsidiaries’ contribution to be insufficient, our subsidiaries may be subject to late contribution fees or fines in relation to any underpaid employee benefits, and our financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected.
In Hong Kong, employers are required to select and join a provident fund scheme (“MPF Scheme”) in accordance with the statutory requirements of the Mandatory Provident Fund Schemes Ordinance for all employees in Hong Kong and to make contributions to the MPF Scheme based on the minimum statutory contribution requirement of 5% of the eligible employees’ relevant aggregate income, subject to a capped amount. Any non-compliance with statutory requirements with respect to our employees located in Hong Kong may result in enforcement being taken by the relevant authorities, which could lead to financial penalties or imprisonment.
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Enforcement of stricter labor laws and regulations may increase our labor costs.
China’s overall economy and the average wage have grown in recent years and are expected to continue to grow. The average wage level for our employees has also grown in recent years. We expect that our labor costs, including wages and employee benefits, will continue to increase. Unless we are able to pass on these increased labor costs to our customers who pay for our services, our profitability and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. The PRC Labor Contract Law and its implementing rules impose requirements concerning contracts entered into between an employer and its employees and establishes time limits for probationary periods and for how long an employee can be placed in a fixed-term labor contract. We cannot assure you that our or our subsidiaries’ employment policies and practices do not, or will not, violate the Labor Contract Law or its implementing rules or that we will not be subject to related penalties, fines or legal fees. If we or our subsidiaries are subject to large penalties or fees related to the Labor Contract Law or its implementing rules, our business, financial condition and results of operations may be materially and adversely affected. In addition, according to the Labor Contract Law and its implementing rules, if we intend to enforce the non-compete provision with an employee in a labor contract or non-competition agreement, we have to compensate the employee on a monthly basis during the term of the restriction period after the termination or ending of the labor contract, which may cause extra expenses to us. Furthermore, the Labor Contract Law and its implementation rules require certain terminations to be based upon seniority rather than merit, which significantly affects the cost of reducing workforce for employers. In the event we decide to significantly change or decrease our workforce in the PRC, the Labor Contract Law could adversely affect our ability to enact such changes in a manner that is most advantageous to our circumstances or in a timely and cost-effective manner, thus our results of operations could be adversely affected.
If the chops of our PRC subsidiaries are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised.
In China, a company chop or seal serves as the legal representation of the company towards third parties even when unaccompanied by a signature. Each legally registered company in China is required to maintain a company chop, which must be registered with the local Public Security Bureau. In addition to this mandatory company chop, companies may have several other chops which can be used for specific purposes. The chops of our PRC subsidiaries are generally held securely by personnel designated or approved by us in accordance with our internal control procedures. To the extent those chops are not kept safely, are stolen or are used by unauthorized persons or for unauthorized purposes, the corporate governance of these entities could be severely and adversely compromised, and those corporate entities may be bound to abide by the terms of any documents so chopped, even if they were chopped by an individual who lacked the requisite power and authority to do so. In addition, if the chops are misused by unauthorized persons, our PRC subsidiaries could experience disruption to our normal business operations. We may have to take corporate or legal action, which could involve significant time and resources to resolve while distracting management from our operations.
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Risks Relating to Our Securities
If we fail to regain compliance with the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, we would face possible delisting, which would result in a limited public market for our common shares and make obtaining future debt or equity financing more difficult for us.
Our common shares are traded and listed on Nasdaq under the symbol of “CHNR.” As previously announced, we received a notification letter from Nasdaq on April 27, 2022, advising the Company that we were not in compliance with the minimum bid price requirements set forth in Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) for continued listing on Nasdaq. Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2) requires listed securities to maintain a minimum bid price of $1.00 per share, and Nasdaq Listing Rule 5810(c)(3)(A) provides that a failure to meet the minimum bid price requirement exists if the deficiency continues for a period of 30 consecutive business days. Based on the closing bid price of the Company’s common shares for the 30 consecutive business days prior to the date of the notification letter from Nasdaq, the Company no longer satisfied the minimum bid price requirement. The notification letter provided that the Company had 180 calendar days, or until October 24, 2022, to regain compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5550(a)(2). To regain compliance, the Company’s common shares must have a closing bid price of at least $1.00 per share for a minimum of 10 consecutive business days (Nasdaq may monitor the price for as long as 20 consecutive business days prior to making a final compliance determination).
On October 25, 2022, we received a second notice letter from the Nasdaq, in which Nasdaq granted us an additional 180 days, or until April 24, 2023, to regain compliance, because the Company met the continued listing requirement for market value of publicly held shares and all other applicable requirements, except the bid price requirement, and the Company had indicated its intention of curing the deficiency by effecting a reverse stock split, if necessary.
There is no assurance that we will be able to regain compliance with the Nasdaq continued listing requirements. If we fail to do so, the Company’s common shares may lose their status on Nasdaq and they would likely be traded on the over-the-counter markets. As a result, selling the Company’s common shares could be more difficult because smaller quantities of shares would likely be bought and sold, transactions could be delayed, and security analysts’ coverage of us may be reduced. In addition, in the event the Company’s common shares are delisted, broker dealers would bear certain regulatory burdens which may discourage broker dealers from effecting transactions in the Company’s common shares and further limit the liquidity of the Company’s shares. These factors could result in lower prices and larger spreads in the bid and ask prices for the Company’s common shares. Such delisting from Nasdaq and continued or further declines in the Company’s common share price could also greatly impair our ability to raise additional necessary capital through equity or debt financing and could significantly increase the ownership dilution to shareholders caused by the Company’s issuing equity in financing or other transactions.
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE OFFERING
The Offer and Listing; Offer Statistics and Expected Timetable
The securities we may offer pursuant to this prospectus are described elsewhere in this prospectus. We may offer the securities described in this prospectus at an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $92,674,000.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. A prospectus supplement will provide applicable disclosure about the specific details of any offering of securities including such matters as pricing, terms of the offering, restrictions on transferability of the securities, subscription rights, pre-emptive rights, the engagement of underwriters and the plan of distributing the securities. A prospectus supplement may also include a discussion of risks or other special considerations applicable to us or the securities being offered; and may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and any related prospectus supplement, you must rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. Please carefully read both this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement in their entirety together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information" in this prospectus. This prospectus may not be used to sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. It is anticipated that the securities covered by this prospectus may be offered for a period of not longer than three years from the date of this prospectus.
The amount of securities that we may sell under this prospectus during any 12-month period is limited by General Instruction I.B.5. of Form F-3 to one-third of the aggregate market value of our Public Float. The aggregate market value of our Public Float as of November 16, 2022 is $5,765,610.71 (calculated by multiplying the 13,408,397 shares in our Public Float by the $0.43 market price of our common shares on such date). During the 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus, we did not offer any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.5. This limitation will only apply until such time, if any, as our Public Float exceeds $75,000,000.
Capitalization and Indebtedness
The following table sets forth as of June 30, 2022, our capitalization and indebtedness on an actual basis:
As of June 30, 2022 (in thousands) | ||||||||
RMB | US$ | |||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
Unguaranteed and unsecured | ||||||||
Due to related companies | 5,986 | 893 | ||||||
Due to the Shareholder | 14,050 | 2,097 | ||||||
Dividend payable | 5,048 | 753 | ||||||
Lease liabilities | 613 | 91 | ||||||
Guaranteed and secured: | ||||||||
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings | 3,000 | 448 | ||||||
Sub-total | 28,697 | 4,282 | ||||||
NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES: | ||||||||
Unguaranteed and unsecured: | ||||||||
Lease liabilities | 1,033 | 155 | ||||||
Guaranteed and secured: | ||||||||
Interest-bearing loans and borrowings | 72,500 | 10,822 | ||||||
Sub-total | 73,533 | 10,977 | ||||||
Total Debt | 102,230 | 15,259 | ||||||
EQUITY: | ||||||||
Issued capital | 450,782 | 67,286 | ||||||
Other capital reserves | 719,110 | 107,338 | ||||||
Accumulated losses | (1,082,438 | ) | (161,570 | ) | ||||
Other comprehensive losses | (10,076 | ) | (1,504 | ) | ||||
Total Equity | 77,378 | 11,550 |
This table should be read in conjunction with, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, our unaudited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto in our report on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on November 7, 2022.
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Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds
Unless otherwise indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby will be used for general corporate purposes. We have not allocated any portion of the net proceeds for any particular use at this time. The net proceeds may be invested temporarily until they are used for their stated purpose. Specific information concerning the use of proceeds from the sale of any securities will be included in the prospectus supplement relating to such securities.
Interests of Experts and Counsel
No named expert of or counselor to us was employed on a contingent basis, or, to our knowledge, owns an amount of our shares (or those of our subsidiaries) which is material to that person, or has a material, direct or indirect economic interest in us or that depends on the success of the offering.
Offer and Listing Details; Markets
The principal United States market for our common shares, our only class of outstanding equity securities, is Nasdaq. Our common shares have been listed on Nasdaq since November 22, 2004, under the symbol “CHNR.” We are not aware of any principal market for any of our securities outside of the United States.
Plan of Distribution
A discussion of the Plan of Distribution is included elsewhere in this prospectus under the heading “Plan of Distribution.” Additional information relating to the plan of distribution covering a specific offering will be contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Selling Security Holders
This prospectus does not cover the resale of securities by selling security holders.
Dilution
The specific transaction or terms upon which shares covered by this prospectus may be issued is not known at this time. Each time we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain certain specific information about the terms of that issuance. In the event that there is substantial disparity between the public offering price of the securities to be issued and the effective cost to directors or senior management or affiliated persons, of equity securities acquired by them during the last five years, or which they have the right to acquire, a comparison of the public contribution in the proposed public offering and the effective cash contributions of such persons, as well as the amount and percentage of immediate dilution resulting from the offering, will be contained in the prospectus supplement.
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Expenses of the Issue
The following table sets forth the estimated costs and expenses payable by us in connection with the registration of the securities being registered hereunder. All of the amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC Filing Fee and FINRA Filing Fee.
Description | Amount | ||
SEC Filing Fee | $ | 11,232(1) | |
FINRA Filing Fee | 14,401 | ||
Legal Fees and Expenses | * | ||
Accounting Fees and Expenses | * | ||
Printing and Filing Expenses | * | ||
Transfer Agent and Registrar | |||
Miscellaneous | * | ||
Total | $ | * |
———————
(1) | Reflects the registration fee previously paid in connection with unsold securities pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). |
Estimated expenses are not presently known. The foregoing sets forth the general categories of expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions) that the Company anticipates it will incur in connection with the offering of securities under the registration statement. An estimate of the aggregate expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being offered will be included in the applicable prospectus supplement or a report on Form 6-K that is incorporated by reference into the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
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The following is a summary of the terms of our common shares and preferred shares that we may issue from time to time pursuant to this prospectus. We may also create new classes or series of preferred shares that may be issued pursuant to this prospectus. Common shares and preferred shares may be offered independently, with each other or together with other securities. When we offer common shares or preferred shares in the future, a prospectus supplement will explain the terms of any common shares and/or preferred shares to be issued.
The summary descriptions in this prospectus and any summary descriptions in the applicable prospectus supplement do not purport to be complete descriptions of the terms and conditions of any class or series of preferred shares and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the designations, powers, preferences and rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions which are fixed by our directors at the time of issuing the relevant preferred shares or class or series of preferred shares, pursuant to which each such class or series was created and issued, as set out or described or otherwise approved by resolutions of our board of directors, and any other documents referenced in such board resolutions, including any certificates of designation. We urge you to read the applicable description of the terms of any such preferred shares, which have been or will be filed with or furnished to the SEC on or before the time of any sale of preferred shares, because they, and not this description, will define the rights of holders of such securities.
General
We are currently authorized to issue up to 210,000,000 shares consisting of (a) 200,000,000 common shares, without par value, and (b) 10,000,000 preferred shares, without par value. As of the date of this prospectus, there were 40,948,082 common shares issued and outstanding, all of which are fully paid and non-assessable, and no preferred shares issued or outstanding. Our common shares are issued in registered form and are issued when registered in our register of members.
Common Shares
Subject to the dividend rights of preferred security holders, holders of common shares participate in dividends on a proportionate basis, as may be declared by the board of directors. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, after payment to creditors and holders of our outstanding preferred shares, if any, our remaining assets, if any, will be divided proportionately on a per share basis among the holders of our common shares.
Each common share has one vote. Holders of our shares do not have cumulative voting rights. This means that the holders of a majority of the votes which are cast at any shareholders meeting can pass a resolution of members, including a resolution to appoint directors. In that event, the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to appoint any directors. Our Amended and Restated Memorandum (our “Memorandum”) and Articles of Association (our “Articles,” and together with our Memorandum, our “Memorandum and Articles”) provide that, except in limited circumstances, shareholders (also referred to as “members”) entitled to exercise at least 50% of the voting rights of the shares of each class or series of shares entitled to vote as a class or series thereon, and the same proportion of the votes of the remaining shares entitled to vote thereon, constitutes a quorum to transact business at a meeting of members. However, in the event a meeting of shareholders is adjourned due to the absence of a quorum, at the adjourned meeting the quorum requirement shall be reduced to one-third of the votes of shares or each class or series of shares entitled to vote on the resolutions to be considered by the meeting. Our common shares have no preemptive, subscription or conversion rights.
Shares may be issued on the terms that they are redeemable or, at the option of the Company, liable to be redeemed, on such terms and in such manner as the directors before or at the time of the issue of such shares may determine. The Company may purchase, redeem or acquire its own shares for such consideration as may be determined by the directors, subject to the written consent of all the members whose shares are to be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, and such shares may, at the direction of the directors, be cancelled or held as treasury shares; provided, however, that the Company may not purchase, redeem or acquire its shares unless, immediately following the purchase, redemption or acquisition (a) the value of the Company's assets exceeds its liabilities and (b) the Company is able to pay its debts as they become due.
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Preferred Shares
Our Articles provide that preferred shares shall carry such designations, powers, preferences and rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as shall be fixed by our board of directors at the time of issuing the relevant preferred shares or class or series of preferred shares, as the case may be. In the event that our board of directors so designates preferred shares for issuance, we may issue any such preferred shares that are properly authorized in transactions covered by this prospectus. A description of the terms of any such preferred shares and the transaction in which the preferred shares are to be issued will be included in a prospectus supplement delivered at the time of the applicable transaction.
Warrants
As of the date of this prospectus, there are outstanding warrants to purchase up to 1,980,000 common shares of the Company.
The warrants have an exercise price of $0.623 per common share, are currently exercisable and will expire on July 22, 2024. The exercise price and number of common shares issuable upon exercise of the warrants is subject to appropriate adjustment upon the occurrence of certain events, including, but not limited to, stock dividends or splits, business combination, sale of assets, similar recapitalization transactions or other similar transactions. In addition, the exercise price of the warrants issued to investors in our January 2021 private placement is subject to an adjustment in the event that we issue common shares for less than the applicable exercise price of the warrant. Holders of those warrants are eligible to participate in distributions to holders of the common shares to the same extent as if they had exercised their warrants prior to such distribution.
Holders of the warrants may exercise their warrants to purchase common shares on or before the expiration date of such warrants by delivering an exercise notice, appropriately completed and duly signed. Following each exercise of the warrants, the holder is required to pay the exercise price for the number of common shares for which the warrant is being exercised in cash. A holder of the warrants also will have the right to exercise its warrants on a cashless basis if a registration statement or prospectus contained therein is not available for the resale of the common shares issuable upon exercise thereof. Warrants may be exercised, in whole or in part, and any portion of a warrant not exercised prior to the termination date shall be and become void and of no value. The absence of an effective registration statement or applicable exemption from registration does not alleviate our obligation to deliver common shares issuable upon exercise of a warrant.
Upon the holder’s exercise of a warrant, we will issue the common shares issuable upon exercise of the warrant within two trading days of our receipt of notice of exercise, subject to receipt of payment of the aggregate exercise price therefor.
The common shares issuable on exercise of the warrants are duly and validly authorized and will be, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the warrants, validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable.
If, at any time a warrant is outstanding, we consummate any fundamental transaction, as described in the warrants and generally including any consolidation or merger into another corporation, or the sale of all or substantially all of our assets, or other transaction in which our common shares are converted into or exchanged for other securities or other consideration, the holder of any warrants will thereafter receive, the securities or other consideration to which a holder of the number of common shares then deliverable upon the exercise or exchange of such warrants would have been entitled upon such consolidation or merger or other transaction. Additionally, in the event of a fundamental transaction, each warrant holder will have the right to require us, or our successor, to repurchase the warrants for an amount equal to the Black-Scholes value of the remaining unexercised portion of the warrant on the terms set forth in the warrant.
The exercisability of the warrants may be limited in certain circumstances if, after giving effect to such exercise, the holder or any of its affiliates would beneficially own (as determined pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) more than 4.99% or 9.99% of our common shares, at the election of the holder.
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Transfer Agent
The transfer agent for our common shares is Pacific Stock Transfer Company, 6725 Via Austi Parkway, Suite 300, Las Vegas NV 89119.
2014 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”)
The Plan is administered by the board of directors or a committee designated by the board (the “Plan Committee”). The Plan allows the Plan Committee to grant various incentive equity awards not limited to stock options. The Company has reserved a number of common shares equal to 20% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company, from time-to-time, for issuance pursuant to options granted (“Plan Options”) or for restricted stock awarded (“Stock Grants”) under the Plan. Stock Appreciation Rights may be granted as a means of allowing participants to pay the exercise price of Plan Options. Stock Grants may be made upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Committee determines. Stock Grants may include deferred stock awards under which receipt of Stock Grants is deferred, with vesting to occur upon such terms and conditions as the Plan Committee determines.
The Plan Committee will determine, from time to time, those of our officers, directors, employees and consultants to whom Stock Grants and Plan Options will be granted, the terms and provisions of the respective Stock Grants and Plan Options, the dates such Plan Options will become exercisable, the number of shares subject to each Plan Option, the purchase price of such shares and the form of payment of such purchase price. Plan Options and Stock Grants will be awarded based upon the fair market value of our common shares at the time of the award. All questions relating to the administration of the Plan, and the interpretation of the provisions thereof are to be resolved at the sole discretion of the Plan Committee. The Plan terminates on June 19, 2024.
A total of 8,189,616 common shares have been reserved for issuance under the Plan. On July 14, 2022, the Company approved grants of option awards covering an aggregate of 8,100,000 common shares, without par value, of the Company to fifteen consultants and employees of the Company under the Plan. Woo Chun Kei Jackie and Li Feiwen, received options exercisable for 3,700,000 and 3,000,000 Shares, respectively. The remaining 13 grant recipients received option awards exercisable for amounts ranging between 40,000 to 200,000 common shares. The granted options vested immediately upon granting and became exercisable upon the filing of the Company’s registration statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-266219). The exercise price for the options is $0.623 per common share. The options expire three years from the date of grant.
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DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
General
As used in this prospectus, the term “debt securities” means the debentures, notes, bonds and other evidence of indebtedness that we may issue from time to time. Debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be named therein. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. We may issue debt securities which may or may not be converted into our common shares. It is likely that convertible debt securities will not be issued under an indenture. We may issue the debt securities independently or together with any underlying securities, and debt securities may be attached or separate from the underlying securities.
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to the debt securities that we may issue. The summary is not complete. When debt securities are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the debt securities as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This summary and any description of debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of any specific debt securities document or agreement. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of debt securities. See “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Information Incorporated by Reference” below for information on how to obtain a copy of a debt securities document when it is filed.
When we refer to a series of debt securities, we mean all debt securities issued as part of the same series under the applicable indenture.
Terms
The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus may describe the terms of any debt securities that we may offer, including, but not limited to, the following:
· | the title of the debt securities; |
· | the total amount of the debt securities; |
· | the amount or amounts of the debt securities that will be issued and respective interest rate or interest rates; |
· | the conversion price at which the debt securities may be converted; |
· | the date on which the right to convert the debt securities will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
· | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of debt securities that may be converted at any one time; |
· | if applicable, a discussion of material federal income tax consideration; |
· | if applicable, the terms of the payoff of the debt securities; |
· | the identity of the indenture agent, if any; |
· | the procedures and conditions relating to the conversion of the debt securities; and |
· | any other terms of the debt securities, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange or conversion of the debt securities. |
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Form, Exchange and Transfer
We may issue the debt securities in registered form or bearer form. Debt securities issued in registered form, i.e., book-entry form, will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository, which will be the holder of all the debt securities represented by the global security. Those investors who own beneficial interests in global debt securities will do so through participants in the depository’s system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depository and its participants. In addition, we may issue debt securities in non-global form, i.e., bearer form. If any debt securities are issued in non-global form, debt securities certificates may be exchanged for new debt securities certificates of different denominations, and holders may exchange, transfer, or convert their debt securities at the debt securities agent’s office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference or free writing prospectus.
A debt security may entitle the holder to purchase, in exchange for the extinguishment of debt, an amount of securities at a conversion price that will be stated in the debt security. Convertible debt securities may be converted at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the terms of such debt security. After the close of business on the expiration date, convertible debt securities not exercised will be paid in accordance with their terms. Prior to the conversion of their debt securities, holders of debt securities convertible for common shares will not have any rights of holders of common shares, and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the common shares.
Debt securities may be converted as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of a notice of conversion properly completed and duly executed by us or our agent, as applicable, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the debt security represented by such security is converted, a new debt security will be issued for the remaining debt security.
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General
We may issue warrants to purchase our securities. We may issue the warrants independently or together with any underlying securities, and the warrants may be attached or separate from the underlying securities. We may also issue a series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants.
The following description is a summary of selected provisions relating to the warrants that we may issue. The summary is not complete. When warrants are offered in the future, a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or a free writing prospectus, as applicable, will explain the particular terms of those securities and the extent to which these general provisions may apply. The specific terms of the warrants as described in a prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus will supplement and, if applicable, may modify or replace the general terms described in this section.
This summary and any description of warrants in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all the provisions of any specific warrant document or agreement, if applicable. We will file each of these documents, as applicable, with the SEC and incorporate them by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part on or before the time we issue a series of warrants. See “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Documents by Reference” below for information on how to obtain a copy of a warrant document when it is filed.
When we refer to a series of warrants, we mean all warrants issued as part of the same series under the applicable warrant agreement.
Terms
The applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus, may describe the terms of any warrants that we may offer, including, but not limited to, the following:
· | the title of the warrants; |
· | the total number of warrants; |
· | the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued; |
· | the price or prices at which the warrants may be exercised; |
· | the currency or currencies that investors may use to pay for the warrants; |
· | the date on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and the date on which the right will expire; |
· | whether the warrants will be issued in registered form or bearer form; |
· | information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any; |
· | if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time; |
· | if applicable, the designation and terms of the underlying securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each underlying security; |
· | if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related underlying securities will be separately transferable; |
· | if applicable, a discussion of material federal income tax considerations; |
· | if applicable, the terms of redemption of the warrants; |
· | the identity of the warrant agent, if any; |
· | the procedures and conditions relating to the exercise of the warrants; and |
· | any other terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures, and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants. |
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Warrant Agreement
We may issue the warrants in one or more series under one or more warrant agreements, each to be entered into between us and a bank, trust company, or other financial institution as warrant agent. We may add, replace, or terminate warrant agents from time to time. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent or may choose one of our subsidiaries to do so.
The warrant agent under a warrant agreement will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants issued under that agreement. Any holder of warrants may, without the consent of any other person, enforce by appropriate legal action, on its own behalf, its right to exercise those warrants in accordance with their terms.
Form, Exchange, and Transfer
We may issue the warrants in registered form or bearer form. Warrants issued in registered form, i.e., book-entry form, will be represented by a global security registered in the name of a depository, which will be the holder of all the warrants represented by the global security. Those investors who own beneficial interests in a global warrant will do so through participants in the depository’s system, and the rights of these indirect owners will be governed solely by the applicable procedures of the depository and its participants. In addition, we may issue warrants in non-global form, i.e., bearer form. If any warrants are issued in non-global form, warrant certificates may be exchanged for new warrant certificates of different denominations, and holders may exchange, transfer, or exercise their warrants at the warrant agent’s office or any other office indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus.
Prior to the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants exercisable for common shares will not have any rights of holders of common shares and will not be entitled to dividend payments, if any, or voting rights of the common shares.
Exercise of Warrants
A warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash an amount of securities at an exercise price that will be stated in, or that will be determinable as described in, the applicable prospectus supplement, information incorporated by reference, or free writing prospectus. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable offering material. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void. Warrants may be redeemed as set forth in the applicable offering material.
Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the applicable offering material. Upon receipt of payment and the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the applicable offering material, we will forward, as soon as practicable, the securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by such warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants.
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We may issue units consisting of any combination of the other types of securities offered under this prospectus in one or more series. We may evidence each series of units by unit certificates that we will issue under a separate agreement. We may enter into unit agreements with a unit agent, and if we do so, each unit agent will be a bank or trust company that we select and we will indicate the name and address of the unit agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of units.
The following description, together with the additional information included in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the general features of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. You should read any prospectus supplement that we authorize to be provided to you related to the series of units being offered, as well as the complete version of any unit agreement containing the terms of the units that we may enter into. Specific unit agreements, if any, will contain additional important terms and provisions and we will file as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from another report that we file with the SEC, the form of each unit agreement relating to units offered under this prospectus that we enter into.
If we offer any units, certain terms of that series of units will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement, including, without limitation, the following, as applicable:
· | the title of the series of units; |
· | identification and description of the separate constituent securities comprising the units; |
· | the price or prices at which the units will be issued; |
· | the date, if any, on and after which the constituent securities comprising the units will be separately transferable; |
· | a discussion of certain United States Federal income tax considerations applicable to the units; and |
· | any other terms of the units and their constituent securities. |
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in such amounts and in such numerous distinct series as we determine.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Units
Each unit agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable unit agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any unit. A single bank or trust company may act as unit agent for more than one series of units. A unit agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable unit agreement or unit, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a unit may, without the consent of the related unit agent or the holder of any other unit, enforce by appropriate legal action its rights as holder under any security included in the unit.
We, and any unit agent and any of their agents, may treat the registered holder of any unit certificate as an absolute owner of the units evidenced by that certificate for any purpose and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units so requested, despite any notice to the contrary.
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We may sell the securities covered by this prospectus from time to time in one or more offerings. Registration of the securities does not mean, however, that those securities will necessarily be offered or sold.
We may sell the securities separately or together:
· | through one or more underwriters or dealers in a public offering and sale by them; |
· | directly to investors, including our affiliates and shareholders, or in a rights offering; |
· | through agents; or |
· | through any combination of any of these methods of sale. |
We may sell the securities from time to time:
· | in one or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed from time to time; |
· | at market prices prevailing at the times of sale; |
· | in “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a sales agent or market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; |
· | at prices related to such prevailing market prices; or |
· | at negotiated prices. |
Each time we sell securities covered by this prospectus, we will describe the method of distribution of the securities and the terms of the offering in the prospectus supplement. Any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
We may engage in at-the-market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, and we may also sell securities through a rights offering, forward contracts or similar arrangements. In any distribution of subscription rights to shareholders, if all of the underlying securities are not subscribed for, we may then sell the unsubscribed securities directly to third parties or may engage the services of one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, including standby underwriters, to sell unsubscribed securities to third parties.
If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the securities may be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions described above. The securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters, or directly by underwriters. Generally, the underwriters’ obligations to purchase the securities will be subject to conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if they purchase any of the securities.
We may designate agents to sell the securities. Unless otherwise specified in connection with any particular sale of securities, the agents will agree to use their best efforts to solicit purchases for the period of their appointment. We may use underwriters or agents with whom we have a material relationship. We will describe in the prospectus supplement, naming the underwriter or agent, the nature of any such relationship.
We may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.
We may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a post-effective amendment.
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Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments made by the underwriters, dealers or agents, under agreements between us and the underwriters, dealers and agents.
We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of securities an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, in connection with the distribution.
Underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from us or our purchasers, as their agents in connection with the sale of securities. These underwriters, dealers or agents may be considered to be underwriters under the Securities Act. As a result, discounts, commissions or profits on resale received by the underwriters, dealers or agents may be treated as underwriting discounts and commissions. The prospectus supplement will identify any such underwriter, dealer or agent and describe any compensation received by them from us. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or re-allowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
Any common shares sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be listed for trading on Nasdaq.
Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment transactions, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that such transactions may have on the price of the securities. A description of these activities, if any, will be contained in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents who may become involved in the sale of the common shares may engage in transactions with and perform other services for us in the ordinary course of their business for which they receive compensation.
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OUR CHARTER AND CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF BVI LAW
Charter
Our charter documents consist of our Memorandum and Articles.
The following is a summary of some of the key provisions of our Memorandum and Articles. This summary does not purport to be complete and does not address all of the provisions of our Memorandum and Articles. Readers are urged to review these documents in their entirety for a complete understanding of the provisions of our charter documents.
Memorandum
Corporate Powers
We were incorporated in the BVI on December 14, 1993, with company number 102930. Clause 6 of our Memorandum of Association provides that the objects for which we are established are unrestricted and we shall have full power and authority to carry out any object which is not prohibited by any laws in force in the BVI.
Authorized Shares
We are authorized to issue a maximum of 210 million shares of no par value, of which, 200 million may be common shares and 10 million may be preferred shares. The directors of the Company or our shareholders may increase or decrease the maximum number of authorized shares by amending the Memorandum as provided by law.
Each common share is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders. Common shares are subject to redemption, purchase and acquisition by the Company for fair value. Common shares shall be entitled to receive such dividends and distributions as may be declared by the directors. Subject to the rights of holders of each class of shares, the directors may declare and pay dividends on any class of shares to the exclusion of others. All our common shares shall be entitled to share in the surplus assets of the Company available for distribution upon liquidation. Preferred shares shall carry such designations, powers, preferences and rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as may be determined by the directors at the time of issuance.
In December 2004, the board of directors designated and issued, and thereafter, exchanged (for 320,000 common shares) and retired, 320,000 of the Company’s Series B preferred shares. No other preferred shares have been designated or issued by the Company and, on September 19, 2019, the board of directors adopted a resolution cancelling the designation of the Series B preferred shares, and restoring such shares to the status of authorized but unissued preferred shares.
Amendments to Memorandum and Articles
Subject to the laws of the BVI and certain limited exceptions contained in the Memorandum, the Memorandum and Articles may each be amended by a resolution of our members or by a resolution of our directors.
Articles
Issuance of Shares
The unissued shares of the Company may be issued at the discretion of the directors, who may determine whether to issue shares, grant options over or otherwise dispose of them, at such times and for such consideration (which may not be less than par value (if any) of the shares) as the directors determine. Consideration may take any form acceptable to the directors, including money, a promissory note, or other written obligation to contribute money or property, real property, personal property (including goodwill and know-how), services rendered or a contract for future services; provided that in the case of consideration other than money, the directors must pass a resolution stating (a) the amount to be credited for issuance of the shares, (b) their determination of the reasonable present cash value of the non-monetary consideration and (c) that, in their opinion, the present cash value of the non-monetary consideration is not less the amount to be credited for the share issuance.
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Redemption of Shares
Shares may be issued on the terms that they are redeemable or, at the option of the Company, liable to be redeemed, on such terms and in such manner as the directors before or at the time of the issue of such shares may determine.
The Company may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire its own shares for such consideration as may be determined by the directors, subject to the written consent of all the members whose shares are to be purchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired, and such shares may, at the direction of the directors, be cancelled or held as treasury shares; provided, however, that the Company may not purchase, redeem or acquire its shares unless, immediately following the purchase, redemption or acquisition (a) the value of the Company’s assets exceeds its liabilities and (b) the Company is able to pay its debts as they become due.
Meetings of Shareholders
The directors may convene meetings of our shareholders at such times and in such manner and places as the directors consider necessary or desirable. In addition, the directors are required to convene a meeting of our shareholders upon the written request of shareholders holding 30% or more of the voting rights in respect of the matter for which the meeting is requested. At least seven days’ notice of the meeting is required to be given to the shareholders whose names appear on the share register. One or more shareholders entitled to exercise at least 50% of the voting rights of the shares of each class or series of shares entitled to vote as a class or series thereon, and the same proportion of the votes of the remaining shares entitled to vote thereon, must be present at a meeting of shareholders, in person or by proxy, in order to constitute a quorum and the affirmative vote of a simple majority of those present and entitled to vote shall be required in order to approve and pass a resolution of shareholders. However, in the event a meeting of shareholders is adjourned due to the absence of a quorum, at the adjourned meeting the quorum requirement shall be reduced to one-third of the votes of shares or each class or series of shares entitled to vote on the resolutions to be considered by the meeting. Our Memorandum and Articles provide that any action that may be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if the action is approved by a resolution consented to in writing by shareholders, by an absolute majority of the votes of shares entitled to vote thereon, without the need for any notice.
Directors
Our Articles provides that our board of directors shall consist of not less than three nor more than 25 directors; and directors, solely for purposes of determining the term for which they will serve, are classified as Class I, Class II and Class III directors, with approximately one-third of the total number of directors being allocated to each Class. Each director is to hold office for a three-year term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders held in the third year after his or her appointment. Directors may be removed by the shareholders by a resolution of shareholders, with or without cause, and by the directors by a resolution of directors, only with cause.
The business of the Company shall be managed by the directors, who may exercise all such powers of the Company as are necessary for managing and for directing and supervising, the business and affairs of the Company as are not required to be exercised by the members.
With the prior or subsequent approval by a resolution of shareholders, the directors may, by a resolution of directors, fix the emoluments of directors with respect to services to be rendered in any capacity to the Company. At the annual meeting of shareholders held in 2008, the shareholders adopted resolutions providing that (a) all emoluments to directors previously fixed by the board of directors are approved and ratified and (b) the board of directors is empowered and authorized to fix all future emoluments to directors, for their services in all capacities to the Company, without further approval or ratification by shareholders.
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The directors may, by a resolution of directors, exercise all the powers of the Company to borrow money and to mortgage or charge its undertaking and property or any part thereof, to issue debentures, debenture stock and other securities whenever money is borrowed or as security for any debt, liability or obligation of the Company or any third party. There is no age limit requirement for retirement or non-retirement of directors. A director shall not require a share qualification. Directors may be natural persons who have attained the age of 18 years and are not undischarged bankrupts; or companies, in which event the company may designate a person as its representative as director.
A director may, from time to time, appoint (and revoke the appointment of) another director or another person who is not a director, but who is not disqualified from serving as a director, to be his or her alternate to exercise his or her powers and to carry out his or her responsibilities as a director.
Directors are not disqualified from entering into contracts with the Company, and no such contract shall be void or require the interested director to account for any profit under any such contract, provided that the fact of the director’s interest in the transaction is disclosed to the board. A director who is interested in a contract with the Company may, nevertheless, attend meetings of the board at which the interested transaction is discussed and/or approved, be counted towards a quorum at any such meeting and vote in respect of such transaction.
At least one-half of the total number of directors (with a minimum of two) must be present for a duly constituted meeting. Resolutions of directors shall require the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the directors present in person or by alternate at a duly convened and constituted meeting of directors and entitled to vote on the resolution. Directors may pass resolutions of directors in writing in lieu of meeting provided that such written resolution is consented to in writing by all of the directors. Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Articles, directors may appoint committees and agents. Directors do not have the authority to appoint new auditors – such appointment must be made by the shareholders.
Indemnification
The Company shall indemnify every officer and director of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses incurred as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions, except those incurred by reason of their own actual fraud or willful default. No indemnified person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage except due to the actual fraud or willful default of the indemnified person. Actual fraud or willful default may only be found to exist by a court of competent jurisdiction. The Company must advance reasonable attorney’s fees and other expenses to an indemnified person provided that the indemnified person executes an agreement to reimburse the Company if a court of competent jurisdiction determines that indemnification was not available under the circumstances.
Dividends and Distribution
The directors may authorize the payment of dividends or other distributions to shareholders, if the directors are satisfied, on reasonable grounds that, immediately after the dividend or other distribution (a) the value of the Company’s assets will exceed its liabilities and (b) the Company will be able to pay its debts as they fall due. Distributions, including dividends, may be declared and paid in cash, or in specie, in shares or other assets.
Restrictions on Rights to Own Securities
There are no limitations on the rights to own our securities.
Disclosure of Share Ownership
There are no provisions of our Memorandum and Articles governing the ownership threshold above which shareholder ownership must be disclosed.
Changes in Capital
Requirements to effect changes in capital are not more stringent than is required by law.
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Arbitration
Our Articles provide that any differences between us and our shareholders or their executors, administrators or assigns relating to the intent, construction, incidences or consequences of our Articles or the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended), including any breach or alleged breach of our Articles or the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended), or relating to our affairs, shall be resolved by arbitration before two arbitrators (unless the parties agree to arbitrate before one arbitrator), who shall jointly appoint an umpire.
Certain Anti-Takeover Effects
General
There are no provisions of our Memorandum and Articles of Association that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring involving us. However, certain provisions of our Memorandum and Articles of Association and the BVI Act could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing an acquisition of control of us by means of a tender offer, a proxy fight, open market purchases or otherwise in a transaction not approved by our board of directors. The provisions described below may reduce our vulnerability to an unsolicited proposal for the restructuring or sale of all or substantially all of our assets or an unsolicited takeover attempt which is unfair to our shareholders.
Our board of directors has no present intention to introduce additional measures that might have an anti-takeover effect; however, our board of directors expressly reserves the right to introduce these measures in the future.
Staggered Board of Directors
The BVI Act does not contain statutory provisions that prohibit staggered board arrangements for a BVI company and our Memorandum and Articles of Association provide for a staggered board, with three classes of directors each holding three year terms.
Blank Check Preferred
Under our Memorandum and Articles of Association, our board of directors is able to issue preferred shares with such designations, powers, preferences and rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as shall be fixed by our directors at the time of issuance, without the prior approval of our shareholders.
Special Meetings
If our shareholders want us to hold a meeting of our shareholders, they may requisition the directors to hold one upon the written request of shareholders entitled to exercise at least 30% of the voting rights in respect of the matter for which the meeting is requested. Under the BVI Act, we may not increase the required percentage to call a meeting above 30%.
Subject to our Memorandum and Articles of Association, a meeting of shareholders of the Company will be called by not less than seven days’ written notice. However, the inadvertent failure of the convener or conveners of a meeting of shareholders to give notice of the meeting to a shareholder, or the fact that a shareholder has not received the notice, does not invalidate the meeting.
A meeting may be called by shorter notice than that mentioned above, and under our Articles of Association such meeting will be valid, if shareholders holding at least 90% of the total voting rights on all the matters to be considered at the meeting have waived notice of the meeting and, for this purpose, the presence of a shareholder at the meeting shall be deemed to constitute a waiver on the part of that shareholder in relation to all the shares which that shareholder holds (unless such shareholder objects in writing before the meeting proceeds to business).
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Mergers and Similar Arrangements
Under the BVI Act, two or more companies may merge or consolidate in accordance with the relevant statutory provisions. A merger means the merging of two or more constituent companies into one of the constituent companies, and a consolidation means the consolidating of two or more constituent companies into a new company. In order to merge or consolidate, the directors of each constituent company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation specifying certain required information, which written plan of merger or consolidation must be authorized by a resolution of our shareholders (which resolution may be passed either at a duly convened and constituted meeting of our shareholders by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the votes of those shareholders who vote at the meeting, or by a written resolution consented to by shareholders who hold an absolute majority of votes of shares entitled to vote thereon).
The plan of merger or consolidation must also be authorized by a resolution of the outstanding shares of every class of shares that are entitled to vote on the merger or consolidation as a class if our Memorandum or our Articles so provide, or if the plan of merger or consolidation contains any provision which, if proposed as an amendment to our Memorandum and Articles of Association, would entitle the class to vote on the proposed amendment as a class. As currently drafted, our Memorandum and Articles of Association do not contain provisions which grant such rights to any class of our shareholders. In any event, all shareholders must be given a copy of the plan of merger or consolidation irrespective of whether they are entitled to vote at the meeting or consent to the written resolution to approve the plan of merger or consolidation.
Key Differences in Corporate Laws
The applicable provisions of BVI corporate law differ from corporate laws generally applicable in the United States in certain material respects. Set forth below is a summary of certain differences between the provisions of BVI law applicable to us and corporate laws generally in effect in the United States. Moreover, corporate laws among the various states in the United States may be different from each other and, therefore, BVI law may be similar to certain state corporate laws but different from others. This summary is not intended to be a complete discussion of these differences and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual laws in effect under U.S. and BVI laws.
Fiduciary Duties and Shareholder Litigation: Under the laws of most jurisdictions in the United States, majority and controlling shareholders generally have certain fiduciary responsibilities to the minority shareholders. Shareholder action must be taken in good faith and actions by controlling shareholders which are obviously unreasonable may be declared null and void. BVI law protecting the interests of minority shareholders may not be as protective in all circumstances as the law protecting minority shareholders under most jurisdictions in the United States.
The BVI Business Companies Act (as amended) set out the fiduciary duties of directors by stating that "a director of a company, in exercising his or her powers and performing his or her duties, shall act honestly and in good faith and in what the director believes to be in the best interests of the company." This statutory provision essentially imports the appropriate principles of English common law (prior to the enactment of the Companies Act 2006 of the United Kingdom), which have been substantially confirmed by decisions of the courts of the BVI.
In practical terms, these fiduciary duties translate into the following:
(a) | Bona Fides: The directors must act bona fide in what they consider is in the best interests of the company. | |
(b) | Proper Purpose: The directors must exercise the powers that are vested in them for the purpose for which they were conferred and not for a collateral purpose. | |
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(c) | Unfettered Discretion: Since the powers of the directors are to be exercised by them in trust for the company, they should not improperly fetter the exercise of future discretion. | |
(d) | Conflict of Duty and Interest: Directors must not place themselves in a position in which there is a conflict between their duty to the Company and their personal interests. This means that, strictly speaking, a director should not participate in a decision in circumstances where he has a potential conflict. That is, he should declare his interest and abstain. The BVI Business Companies Act provides that a director "shall, forthwith after becoming aware of the fact that he or she is interested in a transaction entered into or to be entered into by the company, disclose the interest to the board of the company." The Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association of our Company allow our directors who are interested in a particular transaction to vote on it, attend meetings at which it is considered, and sign documents on behalf of our Company which relate to the transaction. |
In addition to the above fiduciary duties, each director also owes a duty of care, diligence and skill to the company. In exercising powers or performing duties as a director, each director is required to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonable director would exercise in the same circumstances, taking into account, without limitation, the nature of the company, the nature of the decision, and the position of the director and the nature of the responsibilities undertaken by him or her.
The duties of a director are owed to the company and not to individual shareholders. In the ordinary course, the "interest of the company" may be equated to the interests of the company's shareholders. Once, however, a company is insolvent or is "doubtfully solvent" the directors must, when discharging their duties, consider the creditors' interests.
Under British Virgin Islands law, our shareholders do not owe any fiduciary duties to our Company or to our minority shareholders. Accordingly, our shareholders may exercise their powers as shareholders, including the exercise of voting rights in respect of their shares, in such manner as they think fit, subject only to very limited equitable constraints.
In principle, our Company will normally be the proper plaintiff to sue for a breach of duty or any other wrong done to us as a company. However, under the BVI Business Companies Act, a member may bring a derivative action in the name of the company in certain circumstances. The BVI Court may, on the application of a member of a company, grant leave to that member to (a) bring proceedings in the name and on behalf of that company, or (b) intervene in proceedings to which the company is a party for the purpose of continuing, defending or discontinuing the proceedings on behalf of the company. In determining whether to grant leave, the BVI Court must take the following matters into account:
(a) | whether the member is acting in good faith; | |
(b) | whether the derivative action is in the interests of the company taking account of the views of the company's directors on commercial matters; | |
(c) | whether the proceedings are likely to succeed; | |
(d) | the costs of the proceedings in relation to the relief likely to be obtained; and | |
(e) | whether an alternative remedy to the derivative claim is available. |
While BVI law does permit a shareholder of a BVI company to bring a derivative action in the name of the company, that is, in the name of, and for the benefit of, our Company and to sue a company and its directors for his benefit and for the benefit of others similarly situated, the circumstances in which any such action may be brought, and the procedures and defenses that may be available in respect of any such action, may result in the rights of shareholders of a BVI company being more limited than those of shareholders of a company organized in the United States.
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Powers of Directors: Our directors have the power to take certain actions without shareholder approval, including the powers to amend our Memorandum of Association or Articles of Association (except that our directors cannot make any such amendment (a) to restrict the rights or powers of our members to amend the Memorandum or the Articles, (b) to change the percentage of our members required to pass a resolution to amend our Memorandum or the Articles, or (c) in circumstances where the Memorandum or the Articles cannot be amended by our members), and to increase or decrease the maximum number of shares that we are authorized to issue, which would require shareholder approval under the laws of most jurisdictions in the United States. In addition, the directors of a BVI company, subject in certain cases to court approval but without shareholder approval, may, among other things, implement a reorganization (other than statutory mergers or consolidations which require shareholder authorization), the sale, transfer, exchange or disposition of any assets, property, part of the business, or securities of the company, or any combination, if they determine it is in the best interests of the company. In most jurisdictions in the United States, shareholder approval is required in order to amend most provisions of the certificate or articles of incorporation. Our ability to amend our Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association without shareholder approval could have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a change in our control without any further action by the shareholders, including a tender offer to purchase our common shares at a premium over then current market prices. However, our directors must exercise the powers that are vested in them for the purpose for which they were conferred and not for a collateral purpose.
Liability of Directors: In most jurisdictions in the United States, directors owe a fiduciary duty to the corporation and its shareholders, including a duty of care, under which directors must properly apprise themselves of all reasonably available information, and a duty of loyalty, under which they must protect the interests of the corporation and refrain from conduct that injures the corporation or its shareholders or that deprives the corporation or its shareholders of any profit or advantage. Many US jurisdictions have enacted various statutory provisions which permit the monetary liability of directors to be eliminated or limited.
Under BVI law, liability of a director to the BVI company is primarily limited to cases where the director has acted in breach of his fiduciary duties (such as not acting honestly and in good faith and with a view to the best interests of the company) or his duties of care, skill and diligence. Under our Memorandum of Association and Articles of Association, we shall indemnity all or our directors and officers, together with every former director and former officer, against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud or willful default. No director or officer shall be liable to our company for any loss or damage incurred by us as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud or willful default of such director or officer.
Qualifications of Directors: Unlike most corporate laws in the United States, directors of a BVI company may be companies. Moreover, any director may appoint a person (who may or may not be another director) to be his alternate to exercise the appointing director’s powers, and to carry out the appointing director’s responsibilities, in relation to the taking of decisions by the directors in the absence of the appointing director (including to attend meetings and vote in the place and stead of the appointing director). An alternate director has the same rights as the appointing director in relation to any directors' meeting and any written resolution circulated for written consent. Any exercise by the alternate director of the appointing director's powers in relation to the taking of decisions by the directors, is as effective as if the powers were exercised by the appointing director. An alternate director is liable for his or her own acts and omissions as an alternate director and an alternate director is subject to the same fiduciary duties and the same duties of care, diligence and skill as other directors, when acting as such.
Control Share Statutes and Changes in Control: Certain states in the United States have adopted corporate laws that limit the ability of a significant shareholder of a corporation to vote its shares in favor of approving transactions in which the significant shareholder has an interest. Some states also limit transactions between a corporation and a significant shareholder. In general, BVI law does not impose similar restrictions on interested or affiliated party transactions.
The ability of the board of directors to amend our Memorandum and Articles without shareholder approval, as well as the exercise of its power to designate the rights and preferences of preferred shares, could operate to delay, defer or prevent a change in control of the Company, including with respect to a merger, acquisition or corporate restructuring. In most jurisdictions in the United States, shareholder approval is required in order to amend most provisions of the certificate or articles of incorporation.
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Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP will pass upon certain legal matters under BVI law relating to the issuance and sale of certain of the securities. Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP will pass upon certain legal matters under New York law relating to the issuance and sale of the debt securities. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us, or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The consolidated financial statements of China Natural Resources, Inc. appearing in China Natural Resources, Inc.’s Annual Report (20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2021 have been audited by Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES
We are incorporated in the BVI to take advantage of certain benefits associated with being an exempted BVI company, such as:
· | political and economic stability; |
· | an effective judicial system; |
· | a favorable tax system; |
· | the absence of exchange control or currency restrictions; and |
· | the availability of professional and support services. |
However, certain disadvantages accompany incorporation in the BVI. These disadvantages include:
· | the BVI has a less developed body of securities laws as compared to the United States and these securities laws provide significantly less protection to investors; and |
· | BVI companies do not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States. |
Our Articles provide that any differences between us and our shareholders or their executors, administrators or assigns relating to the intent, construction, incidences or consequences of our Articles or the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended), including any breach or alleged breach of our Articles or the BVI Business Companies Act (as amended), or relating to our affairs, shall be resolved by arbitration before two arbitrators (unless the parties agree to arbitrate before one arbitrator), who shall jointly appoint an umpire.
Service of process upon us and upon our directors, all of whom reside outside the United States, may be difficult to obtain within the United States. Furthermore, because all of our assets and all of our directors and officers are located outside the United States, any judgment obtained in the United States against us or any of our directors and officers may not be collectible within the United States.
There is doubt as to the enforceability of civil liabilities under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in original actions instituted in the PRC. PRC courts may refuse to hear a claim based on a violation of U.S. securities laws, including because the PRC is not the most appropriate forum to bring such a claim. In addition, even if a PRC court agrees to hear a claim, it may determine that PRC law, and not U.S. law, is applicable to the claim. If U.S. law is found to be applicable, the content of applicable U.S. law may have to be proven in court as a fact, which can be a time-consuming and costly process. Certain matters of procedure will also be governed by PRC law. There is little binding case law in the PRC addressing the matters described above. Many of the same doubts apply to similar suits that may be brought in the BVI or Hong Kong and as to the enforceability of any judgment rendered by a court in the BVI or Hong Kong. Moreover, we have no assets in the BVI that may be used to satisfy a judgment rendered by a court located there.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file or furnish annual reports, current reports and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information filed electronically with the SEC. The address of that site is www.sec.gov.
Each statement made in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement concerning a document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement or incorporated by reference herein is qualified in its entirety by reference to that document.
We make available, free of charge, on or through our web site, copies of our annual reports on Form 20-F, our current reports on Form 6-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file them with or furnish them to the SEC. We maintain a web site at www.chnr.net. The information on this website is not and should not be considered part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and is not incorporated by reference herein or therein, other than that information specifically incorporated by reference below.
We are a “foreign private issuer” within the meaning of Rule 3b-4 under the Exchange Act. Foreign private issuers are not required to provide all of the disclosure required to be included in reports filed under the Exchange Act by companies that are not foreign private issuers. In addition, , among other things, (i) our proxy solicitations are not subject to the disclosure and procedural requirements of Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, (ii) transactions in our equity securities by our officers and directors are exempt from Section 16 of the Exchange Act, (iii) we are not subject to Regulation FD promulgated by the SEC, and (iv) we have adopted IFRS accounting principles, which are different from accounting principles under U.S. GAAP. Moreover, as a result of an exemption from Nasdaq rules applicable to foreign private issuers, (i) a majority of our directors are not independent as defined by Nasdaq rules; (ii) our independent directors do not hold regularly scheduled meetings in executive session (rather, all board members may attend all meetings of the board of directors); (iii) the compensation of our executive officers is recommended but not determined by an independent committee of the board or by the independent members of the board of directors; and our CEO is not prevented from being present in the deliberations concerning his compensation; (iv) related party transactions are not required to be reviewed; (v) we are not required to solicit member approval of stock plans or securities issuances, including those in which our officers or directors may participate; stock issuances that will result in a change in control; the issuance of our stock in related party acquisitions or other acquisitions in which we may issue 20% or more of our outstanding shares; or below market price issuances of 20% or more of our outstanding shares to any person; and (vi) we are not required to hold an in-person annual meeting to elect directors and transact other business customarily conducted at an annual meeting (rather, we complete these actions by written consent of holders of a majority of our voting securities).
INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we submit to it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents that are considered part of this prospectus. Each document incorporated by reference is current only as of the date of such document, and the incorporation by reference of such documents shall not create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date thereof or that the information contained therein is current as of any time subsequent to its date. Information that we submit to the SEC in the future and incorporate by reference will automatically update and supersede the previously submitted information. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded.
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We incorporate herein by reference the documents listed below that we have furnished to the SEC:
· | Our 2021 Annual Report, as filed with the SEC on May 17, 2022. |
· | Our reports on Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on May 2, 2022, July 15, 2022, October 26, 2022, and November 7, 2022. |
· | The description of our common shares contained in Exhibit 2.1 to our annual report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed June 12, 2020, including any amendments thereto or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We are also incorporating by reference into this prospectus all subsequent annual reports on Form 20-F that we file with the SEC and may incorporate by reference into this prospectus reports on Form 6-K that we furnish to the SEC after the date of this prospectus (if we identify in such reports that they are incorporated by reference into this prospectus) and prior to the termination of the offering of securities under the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. In all cases, you should rely on the later information over different information included in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement.
Unless expressly incorporated by reference, nothing in this prospectus shall be deemed to incorporate by reference information furnished to, but not filed with, the SEC. We will provide, free of charge, annual reports on Form 20-F and current reports on Form 6-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Requests for copies should be directed to our principal executive offices at Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Our telephone number there is +852-2810-7205.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 8. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
BVI law does not limit the extent to which a company’s memorandum and articles of association may provide for indemnification of officers and directors, except to the extent any such provision may be held by the BVI courts to be contrary to public policy, such as to provide indemnification against civil fraud or the consequences of committing a crime. Our Amended and Restated Articles of Association provide as follows:
“Subject to the provisions of the Act, every director and officer of the Company (which for the avoidance of doubt, shall not include auditors of the Company), together with every former director and former officer of the Company (each an "Indemnified Person") shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Company against any liability, action, proceeding, claim, demand, costs, damages or expenses, including legal expenses, whatsoever which they or any of them may incur as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability (if any) that they may incur by reason of their own actual fraud or willful default. No Indemnified Person shall be liable to the Company for any loss or damage incurred by the Company as a result (whether direct or indirect) of the carrying out of their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud or willful default of such Indemnified Person. No person shall be found to have committed actual fraud or willful default under this Article unless or until a court of competent jurisdiction shall have made a finding to that effect.
The Company shall advance to each Indemnified Person reasonable attorneys' fees and other costs and expenses incurred in connection with the defense of any action, suit, proceeding or investigation involving such Indemnified Person for which indemnity will or could be sought. In connection with any advance of any expenses hereunder, the Indemnified Person shall execute an undertaking to repay the advanced amount to the Company if it shall be determined by final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Article. If it shall be determined by a final judgment or other final adjudication that such Indemnified Person was not entitled to indemnification with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses, then such party shall not be indemnified with respect to such judgment, costs or expenses and any advancement shall be returned to the Company (without interest) by the Indemnified Person.
The directors, on behalf of the Company, may purchase and maintain insurance for the benefit of any director or other officer of the Company against any liability which, by virtue of any rule of law, would otherwise attach to such person in respect of any negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust of which such person may be guilty in relation to the Company.”
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons (within the meaning of the Exchange Act) pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable.
ITEM 9. EXHIBITS
Exhibit | ||
Number | Description | |
1.1 | Form of underwriting agreement+ | |
4.1 | Specimen common share certificate (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to our Form F-3 filed on February 9, 2021) | |
4.2 | Form of certificate of designations or similar authorization with respect to any preferred shares issued hereunder and the related form of preferred share certificate+ | |
4.3 | Form of warrant agreement and warrant+ | |
4.4 | Form of unit agreement+ | |
4.5 | Form of indenture to be entered into between the registrant and a trustee acceptable to the registrant* |
II-1 |
4.6 | Form of debt security+ | |
5.1 | Opinion of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP* | |
5.2 | Opinion of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP* | |
23.1 | Consent of Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP* | |
23.2 | Consent of Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)* | |
23.3 | Consent of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2)* | |
24.1 | Power of attorney (included on signature page of this registration statement)* | |
25.1 | Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (To be filed or furnished separately pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the appropriate rules thereunder)+ | |
107 | Filing Fee Table* |
———————
+ | To be filed or furnished, if necessary, by amendment or incorporation by reference in connection with the offering of the securities. |
* | Included herewith. |
ITEM 10. UNDERTAKINGS
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) | To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended; |
(ii) | To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total value of securities 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) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement; and |
(iii) | To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; |
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (ii), and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement;
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof;
(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;
II-2 |
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to the registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, need not be furnished, provided, that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph (4) and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933 , as amended, or Item 8.A of Form 20-F if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic 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, as amended, that are incorporated by reference in the Form F-3;
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date; |
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) | Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424; |
(ii) | Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant; |
(iii) | The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and |
(iv) | Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser; |
II-3 |
(7) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (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, as amended) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offering therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(8) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, 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, as amended, and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, as amended, and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-4 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in the City of Hong Kong, on November 18, 2022.
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC. | ||
By: | /s/ Wong Wah On Edward | |
Name: | Wong Wah On Edward | |
Title: | Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Principal Executive Officer | |
By: | /s/ Zhu Youyi | |
Name: | Zhu Youyi | |
Title: | Secretary, Chief Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Wong Wah On Edward and Zhu Youyi, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement and any and all related registration statements pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated have signed this Registration Statement on Form F-3.
SIGNATURE | TITLE | DATE | ||
/s/ Wong Wah On Edward | Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer | November 18, 2022 | ||
Wong Wah On Edward | (Principal Executive Officer) | |||
/s/ Zhu Youyi | Chief Financial Officer | November 18, 2022 | ||
Zhu Youyi | (Principal Accounting Officer) | |||
/s/ Tam Cheuk Ho | Director | November 18, 2022 | ||
Tam Cheuk Ho | ||||
/s/ Ng Kin Sing | Director | November 18, 2022 | ||
Ng Kin Sing | ||||
/s/ Lam Kwan Sing | Director | November 18, 2022 | ||
Lam Kwan Sing | ||||
/s/ Yip Wing Hang | Director | November 18, 2022 | ||
Yip Wing Hang |
II-5 |
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED U.S. REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of China Natural Resources, Inc. has signed this registration statement or amendment thereto on November 18, 2022.
PUGLISI & ASSOCIATES | ||
By: | /s/ Donald J. Puglisi | |
Name: | Donald J. Puglisi | |
Title: | Managing Director |
II-6 |
EXHIBIT 4.5
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
and
,
as Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of
Page | ||
ARTICLE I | Definitions And Other Provisions Of General Application | 1 |
Section 1.1 | Definitions | 1 |
Section 1.2 | Compliance Certificates and Opinions | 7 |
Section 1.3 | Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee | 7 |
Section 1.4 | Acts of Holders; Record Dates | 8 |
Section 1.5 | Notices, Etc. | 9 |
Section 1.6 | Notice to Holders; Waiver | 10 |
Section 1.7 | Conflict with Trust Indenture Act | 10 |
Section 1.8 | Effect of Headings and Table of Contents | 10 |
Section 1.9 | Successors and Assigns | 10 |
Section 1.10 | Separability Clause | 10 |
Section 1.11 | Benefits of Indenture | 11 |
Section 1.12 | Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction | 11 |
Section 1.13 | Legal Holidays | 11 |
Section 1.14 | Foreign Account Tax Compliance | 12 |
ARTICLE II | Security Forms | 12 |
Section 2.1 | Forms Generally | 12 |
Section 2.2 | Form of Legend for Global Securities | 12 |
Section 2.3 | Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication | 13 |
ARTICLE III | The Securities | 14 |
Section 3.1 | Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series | 14 |
Section 3.2 | Denominations | 16 |
Section 3.3 | Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating | 16 |
Section 3.4 | Temporary Securities | 18 |
Section 3.5 | Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange | 19 |
Section 3.6 | Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, and Stolen Securities | 20 |
Section 3.7 | Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved | 21 |
Section 3.8 | Persons Deemed Owners | 22 |
Section 3.9 | Cancellation | 23 |
Section 3.10 | Computation of Interest | 23 |
Section 3.11 | CUSIP Numbers | 23 |
ARTICLE IV | Satisfaction and Discharge | 24 |
Section 4.1 | Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture | 24 |
Section 4.2 | Application of Trust Money | 25 |
i |
ARTICLE V | Remedies | 25 |
Section 5.1 | Events of Default | 25 |
Section 5.2 | Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment | 27 |
Section 5.3 | Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee | 27 |
Section 5.4 | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim | 28 |
Section 5.5 | Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities | 29 |
Section 5.6 | Application of Money Collected | 29 |
Section 5.7 | Limitation on Suits | 29 |
Section 5.8 | Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium, and Interest | 30 |
Section 5.9 | Restoration of Rights and Remedies | 30 |
Section 5.10 | Rights and Remedies Cumulative | 30 |
Section 5.11 | Delay or Omission Not Waiver | 30 |
Section 5.12 | Control by Holders | 31 |
Section 5.13 | Waiver of Past Defaults | 31 |
Section 5.14 | Undertaking for Costs | 31 |
ARTICLE VI | The Trustee | 32 |
Section 6.1 | Certain Duties and Responsibilities | 32 |
Section 6.2 | Notice of Defaults | 33 |
Section 6.3 | Certain Rights of Trustee | 33 |
Section 6.4 | Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities | 35 |
Section 6.5 | May Hold Securities | 35 |
Section 6.6 | Money Held in Trust | 35 |
Section 6.7 | Compensation and Reimbursement | 35 |
Section 6.8 | Disqualification; Conflicting Interests | 36 |
Section 6.9 | Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility | 37 |
Section 6.10 | Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor | 37 |
Section 6.11 | Acceptance of Appointment by Successor | 38 |
Section 6.12 | Merger, Conversion, Consolidation, or Succession to Business | 39 |
Section 6.13 | Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company | 39 |
Section 6.14 | Appointment of Authenticating Agent | 40 |
ARTICLE VII | Holder’s Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company | 42 |
Section 7.1 | Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders | 42 |
Section 7.2 | Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders | 42 |
Section 7.3 | Reports by Trustee | 42 |
Section 7.4 | Reports by Company | 43 |
ARTICLE VIII | Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease | 43 |
Section 8.1 | Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms | 43 |
Section 8.2 | Successor Substituted | 44 |
ii |
ARTICLE IX | Supplemental Indentures | 44 |
Section 9.1 | Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders | 44 |
Section 9.2 | Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders | 45 |
Section 9.3 | Execution of Supplemental Indentures | 46 |
Section 9.4 | Effect of Supplemental Indentures | 46 |
Section 9.5 | Conformity With Trust Indenture Act | 46 |
Section 9.6 | Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures | 46 |
Section 9.7 | Notice of Supplemental Indentures | 47 |
ARTICLE X | Covenants | 47 |
Section 10.1 | Payment of Principal, Premium, and Interest | 47 |
Section 10.2 | Maintenance of Office or Agency | 47 |
Section 10.3 | Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust | 47 |
Section 10.4 | Statement by Officers as to Default | 48 |
Section 10.5 | Existence | 49 |
ARTICLE XI | Redemption of Securities | 49 |
Section 11.1 | Applicability of Article | 49 |
Section 11.2 | Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee | 49 |
Section 11.3 | Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed | 49 |
Section 11.4 | Notice of Redemption | 50 |
Section 11.5 | Deposit of Redemption Price | 50 |
Section 11.6 | Securities Payable on Redemption Date | 51 |
Section 11.7 | Securities Redeemed in Part | 51 |
ARTICLE XII | Sinking Funds | 51 |
Section 12.1 | Applicability of Article | 51 |
Section 12.2 | Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities | 52 |
Section 12.3 | Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund | 52 |
ARTICLE XIII | Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance | 52 |
Section 13.1 | Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 52 |
Section 13.2 | Defeasance and Discharge | 53 |
Section 13.3 | Covenant Defeasance | 53 |
Section 13.4 | Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | 53 |
Section 13.5 | Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | 55 |
Section 13.6 | Reinstatement | 56 |
iii |
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC.
Certain Sections
of this Indenture relating to
Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939:
Trust Indenture Act Section | Indenture Section | |
§310 | (a)(1) | 6.9 |
(a)(2) | 6.9 | |
(a)(3) | Not Applicable | |
(a)(4) | Not Applicable | |
(b) | 6.8 | |
6.10 | ||
§311 | (a) | 6.13 |
(b) | 6.13 | |
§312 | (a) | 7.1 |
(b) | 7.2(a) | |
(c) | 7.2(b) | |
§313 | (a) | 7.3(a) |
(b) | 7.3(a) | |
(c) | 7.3(a) | |
(d) | 7.3(b) | |
§314 | (a) | 7.4 |
(a)(4) | 1.2 | |
10.4 | ||
(b) | Not Applicable | |
(c)(1) | 1.2 | |
(c)(2) | 1.2 | |
(c)(3) | Not Applicable | |
(d) | Not Applicable | |
(e) | 1.2 | |
§315 | (a) | 6.1 |
(b) | 6.2 | |
(c) | 6.1 | |
(d) | 6.1 | |
(d)(1) | 6.1 | |
(d)(2) | 6.1 | |
(d)(3) | 6.1 | |
(e) | 5.14 | |
§316 | (a)(1)(A) | 5.12 |
(a)(1)(B) | 5.2 | |
5.13 | ||
(a)(2) | Not Applicable | |
(b) | 5.8 | |
(c) | 1.4(c) | |
§317 | (a)(1) | 5.3 |
(a)(2) | 5.4 | |
(b) | 10.3 | |
§318 | (a) | 1.7 |
NOTE: This shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be part of the Indenture.
iv |
INDENTURE, dated as of , between China Natural Resources, Inc., a British Virgin Islands corporation (the “Company”), having its principal office Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre, 168-200 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong, and , 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 debentures, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness (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, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities or of any series of the Securities, as follows:
ARTICLE
I
Definitions And Other Provisions Of General Application
For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:
(1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular;
(2) all other terms used in this Indenture which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference to the Trust Indenture Act, have the meanings assigned to them in the Trust Indenture Act;
(3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined in this Indenture have the meanings assigned to them in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and, except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, the term “accounting principles generally accepted in the United States” with respect to any computation required or permitted under this Indenture shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted in the United States 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; and
(5) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an “Article” or a “Section” refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be, of this Indenture.
“Act,” when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified in Section 1.4(a).
“Affiliate” of any specified Person means any other Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, “control” when used with respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have the meanings correlative to the foregoing.
“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.
“Authorized Officer” means any officer of the Company designated by or pursuant to a Board Resolution to take certain actions as specified in this Indenture.
“Board of Directors” means either the board of directors of the Company or any other duly authorized committee of that 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, or by action of an Authorized Officer designated as such pursuant to a resolution of 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, unless otherwise specified, any day that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that is not a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to be closed in The City of New York, New York or a day on which the Corporate Trust Office is closed.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Exchange Act or, if at any time after the execution of this Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties at such time.
“Company” means the Person named as the “Company” in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor Person.
“Company Request” or “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, its Chief Financial Officer, or a Vice President, and by its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Controller, an Assistant Controller, its Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.
2 |
“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee located in The City of New York at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.
“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.3.
“Debt” means, with respect to any Person at any date of determination (without duplication):
(i) | all debt of such Person for borrowed money, |
(ii) | all obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments, |
(iii) | all obligations of such Person in respect of letters of credit or other similar instruments (including reimbursement obligations with respect thereto), |
(iv) | all obligations of such Person to pay the deferred purchase price of property or services, which purchase price is due more than six months after the date of placing such property in service or taking delivery thereto or the completion of such services, except trade payables, |
(v) | all obligations of such Person as lessee under capitalized or finance leases, |
(vi) | Debt of Persons other than such Person secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person, whether or not such Debt is assumed by such Person; provided that the amount of such Debt shall be the lesser of (A) the fair market value of such asset at such date of determination and (B) the amount of such Debt, and |
(vii) | all Debt of Persons other than such Person guaranteed by such Person to the extent such Debt is guaranteed by such Person. |
“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.7.
“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 13.2.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person designated as Depositary for such series by the Company pursuant to Section 3.1, which Person shall be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act.
“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Section 5.1.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended now or in the future, and any successor statute.
“Global Security” means a Security bearing the legend prescribed in Section 2.2 evidencing all or part of a series of Securities, authenticated and delivered to the Depositary for such series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
3 |
“Holder” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more supplemental indentures entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, including, for all purposes of this Indenture and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this Indenture 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.
“Interest Payment Date,” with respect to any Security, means the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
“Lien” means, any mortgage, lien, pledge, security interest, encumbrance or charge of any kind (including, without limitation, any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof, any sale with recourse against the seller or any Affiliate of the seller, or any agreement to give any security interest).
“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 in accordance with its terms or the terms of this Indenture, whether at the Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, a Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an Assistant Controller, the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee. The officer signing an Officer’s 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, reasonably acceptable to the Trustee, of counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company.
“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount of such Security to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity of such Security pursuant to Section 5.2.
“Outstanding,” when used with respect to Securities, means, as of the date of determination, all Securities previously authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(i) | Securities previously cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; |
(ii) | Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been previously 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 for such redemption satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; |
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(iii) | Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 3.6 or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company; |
(iv) | Securities which have been defeased pursuant to Section 13.2; and |
(v) | Securities not deemed outstanding pursuant to Section 11.3; |
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver under this Indenture, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon acceleration of its maturity pursuant to Section 5.2, (ii) 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, and (iii) Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or any 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, or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or any such other obligor.
“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.
“Periodic Offering” means an offering of Securities of any series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including, without limitation, its rate or rates of interest, if any, its Stated Maturity, and redemption provisions, if any, with respect to such Securities are to be determined by the Company or its agents upon the issuance of such Securities.
“Person” means any individual, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, association, unincorporated organization, or government or any agency or political subdivision of any government.
“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.
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“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.
“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.
“Responsible Officer,” when used with respect to the Trustee, means any officer within the corporate trust department of the Trustee, including any vice president, any assistant vice president, any trust officer or assistant trust officer, any associate or senior associate or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who, in each case, shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
“Securities” has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.
“Security Register” and “Security Registrar” have the respective meanings specified in Section 3.5.
“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.7.
“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any Security or any installment of principal or interest on such Security, 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 corporation or other Person more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock or a majority of the controlling interest of which is 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 which ordinarily has voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.
“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 under this Indenture, 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.
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“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in force at the date as of which this Indenture was executed; provided, however, that in the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, “Trust Indenture Act” means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as so amended.
“U.S. Government Obligation” has the meaning specified in Section 13.4.
“Vice President,” when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee, means any vice president (other than any assistant 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 to 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 in the case of any such application or request as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provisions of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
Every certificate or opinion (other than the Officer’s Certificate delivered under Section 10.4 of this Indenture) 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 related definitions;
(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 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.
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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 this 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.
(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given 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 otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is expressly required by this Indenture, to the Company. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied in and evidenced by such instrument or instruments) are 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.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, a Holder, including a Depositary that (or whose nominee) is a Holder of a Global Security, may make, give, or take, by a proxy or proxies, duly appointed in writing, any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided or permitted in this Indenture to be made, given, or taken by Holders, and a Depositary that (or whose nominee) is a Holder of a Global Security may provide its proxy or proxies to the beneficial owners of interests in any such Global Security.
(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him its execution. Where such execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.
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(c) The Company may fix any day as the record date for the purpose of determining the Holders of Securities of any series entitled to give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action, or to vote on any action, authorized, or permitted to be given or taken by Holders of Securities of such series. If not set by the Company prior to the first solicitation of a Holder of Securities of such series made by any Person in respect of any such action, or, in the case of any such vote, prior to such vote, the record date for any such action or vote shall be the 30th day (or, if later, the date of the most recent list of Holders required to be provided pursuant to Section 7.1) prior to such first solicitation or vote, as the case may be. With regard to any record date for action to be taken by the Holders of one or more series of Securities, only the Holders of Securities of such series on such date (or their duly designated proxies) shall be entitled to give, take, or vote on the relevant action.
(d) The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.
(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of transfer of, in exchange for, or in lieu of such Security in respect of anything done, omitted, or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance on such action, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.
(f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled to give or take any action under this Indenture 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 different 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 under this Indenture if made, given, furnished, or filed in writing to or with the Trustee at , or
(2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for every purpose under this Indenture (unless otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
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The Trustee shall have the right, but shall not be required, to rely upon and comply with notices, instructions, directions or other communications sent by e-mail, facsimile and other similar unsecured electronic methods by persons believed by the Trustee to be authorized to give instructions and directions on behalf of the Company. The Trustee shall have no duty or obligation to verify or confirm that the person who sent such instructions or directions is, in fact, a person authorized to give instructions or directions on behalf of the Company; and the Trustee shall have no liability for any losses, liabilities, costs or expenses incurred or sustained by the Company as a result of such reliance upon or compliance with such notices, instructions, directions or other communications. The Company agrees to assume all risks arising out of the use of such electronic methods to submit notices, instructions, directions or other communications to the Trustee, including without limitation the risk of the Trustee acting on unauthorized instructions, and the risk of interception and misuse by third parties. The Company shall use all reasonable endeavors to ensure that any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications transmitted to the Trustee pursuant to this Indenture are complete and correct. Any such notices, instructions, directions or other communications shall be conclusively deemed to be valid instructions from the Company to the Trustee for the purposes of this Indenture.
Section 1.6 Notice to Holders; Waiver.
Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) if in writing and (i) mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, or (ii) in the event that a Depositary (or a nominee thereof) is a Holder of Securities issued in the form of Global Securities, then with respect to such Securities given by electronic, email or other means as such be acceptable to such Depositary, in all cases, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.
In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose under this Indenture.
Section 1.7 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies, or conflicts with a provision of the Trust Indenture Act that is required under such Act to be a part of and govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of this 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 this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.
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Section 1.8 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.
The Article and Section headings in this Indenture and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction of this Indenture.
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 by such invalid, illegal, or unenforceable provision.
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 to this Indenture and their successors under this Indenture, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.
Section 1.12 Governing Law; Waiver of Jury Trial; Consent to Jurisdiction.
This Indenture and the Securities shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York (including but not limited to N.Y. General Obligations Law Section 5-1401 and any successor statute thereto).
Each of the Company and the Trustee, and each Holder of a Security by its acceptance thereof, hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right it may have to trial by jury in any legal proceeding directly or indirectly arising out of or relating to this Indenture, the Securities or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.
Each of the Company and the Trustee 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 court sitting, in each case, in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New York, United States of America, and of any appellate court in respect 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. Each of the Company and the Trustee 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. Each of the Company and the Trustee 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 the Trustee, respectively, and the Company 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.
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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, other than a provision of the Securities of any series which specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) 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, if such payment is made on such next succeeding Business Day, no interest shall accrue with respect to the payment due on such date for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, or Stated Maturity, as the case may be.
The Securities of each series shall be in substantially such form or forms as shall be established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions or in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, or in an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to such Board Resolution or any such supplemental indenture, 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 on them as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange or as may, consistently with this Indenture, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. 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.
The definitive Securities, if any, 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.
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Section 2.2 Form of Legend for Global Securities.
Any Global Security authenticated and delivered under this Indenture shall bear a legend (in addition to any legend that may be required by the applicable requirements of the Depositary) in substantially the following form:
“This Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture referred to in this Security and is registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee. This Security may not be transferred to, or registered or exchanged for Securities registered in the name of, any Person other than the Depositary or its nominee or a successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor and no such transfer may be registered, except in the limited circumstances described in the Indenture. Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, this Security shall be a Global Security subject to the foregoing, except in such limited circumstances.”
Section 2.3 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee’s certificates of authentication shall be in substantially the following form:
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Date: | , as Trustee |
By: ________________________________________ Authorized Signatory | |
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Section 3.1 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities which 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 Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution or indenture supplemental to this Indenture, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series,
(1) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of the series from Securities of any other series);
(2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Section 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 9.6, or 11.7 and except for any Securities which, pursuant to Section 3.3, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered under this Indenture);
(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 Regular Record Date for such interest;
(4) the date or dates on which the principal (and premium, if any) of the Securities of the series is payable;
(5) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;
(6) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of any such deferral period, including the maximum consecutive period during which interest payment periods may be extended;
(7) the place or places in addition to the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, if any, where the principal of and any premium and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;
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(8) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which 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;
(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase, or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund, or analogous provision or at the option of a Holder of the Security, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased, or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(10) if other than denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples of such denomination, the denomination or denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(11) if the amount of payments of principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(12) if other than the principal amount of the Securities of the series, the portion of the principal amount of Securities which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of its Maturity pursuant to Section 5.2;
(13) 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 under the Securities or this Indenture, including the principal amount 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);
(14) the application, if any, of either or both of Section 13.2 and Section 13.3 to the Securities of the series (including, in the case of Section 13.3, the covenants and any Events of Default not specified therein that are subject thereto) and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election pursuant to such Sections by the Company shall be evidenced;
(15) whether the 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 Depositary or Depositaries for such Global Security or Global Securities (if other than The Depository Trust Company), and any circumstances other than those set forth in Section 3.5 in which any such Global Security may be transferred to, and registered and exchanged for, Securities registered in the name of, a Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or its nominee and in which any such transfer may be registered;
(16) any Authenticating Agents, Paying Agents, or any other agents with respect to the Securities of the series;
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(17) any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of Securities of the series in addition to (and not inconsistent with) those included in this Indenture for the benefit of Securities of all series, or any other covenant or warranty included for the benefit of Securities of the series in lieu of any covenant or warranty included in this Indenture for the benefit of Securities of all series (including any covenant contained in Article X), or any provision that any covenant or warranty included in this Indenture for the benefit of Securities of all series (including any covenant contained in Article X) shall not be for the benefit of Securities of such series, or any change to or combination of the provisions of any such covenant or warranty included in this Indenture for the benefit of Securities of all series (including any covenants contained in Article X) which applies to the Securities of such series;
(18) any addition to, deletion from, 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 of such Securities due and payable pursuant to Section 5.2;
(19) the terms, if any, upon which the Securities of the series may be convertible into or exchanged for other securities of the Company and the terms and conditions upon which such conversion or exchange shall be effected; and
(20) any other terms of the Securities of such series, or of any specified tenor thereof.
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 Officer’s Certificate referred to above or in any indenture supplemental to this Indenture.
Unless otherwise provided with respect to the Securities of any series, at the option of the Company, interest on the Securities of any series that bears interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled to such interest as such address shall appear in the Security Register.
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 Officer’s Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.
The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiples of such denomination.
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Section 3.3 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman, its Chief Executive Officer, its President, or one of its Vice Presidents, and may (but need not) have the corporate seal of the Company affixed or reproduced thereon and, if so affixed or reproduced, attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.
Securities bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company, notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Securities or did not hold such offices at the date of such Securities.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with the documents referred to below in this Section 3.3, for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver such Securities to or upon a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such recipients as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order. If so provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing the Securities of any series, the maturity date, original issue date, interest rate, and any other terms of any or all of the Securities of such series may be determined by or pursuant to such Company Order and procedures. If provided for in such procedures, such Company Order may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to electronic instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. 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, unless and until such documents have been superseded or revoked:
(a) a Company Order requesting such authentication and setting forth delivery instructions if the Securities are not to be delivered to the Company, provided that, with respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (i) such Company Order may be delivered by the Company to the Trustee at any time prior to the delivery to the Trustee of the Securities of such series for authentication and delivery, (ii) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount established for such series, pursuant to a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time to time by a Company Order, and (iii) if so provided in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture establishing the Securities of such series, the maturity date, original issue date, interest rate, and any other terms of any or all of the Securities of such series may be determined by a Company Order or pursuant to such procedures;
(b) any Board Resolution, Officer’s Certificate and/or executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.1 and 3.1 by or pursuant to which the form or forms and terms of the Securities of such series were established;
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(c) an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the form or forms and the terms of the Securities of such series, stating that such form or forms and terms have been established pursuant to Sections 2.1 and 3.1 and comply with this Indenture, and covering such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request; and
(d) an Opinion of Counsel, substantially to the effect that:
(i) | the form or forms of the Securities of such series have been duly authorized and established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; |
(ii) | the terms of the Securities of such series (or the manner of determining such terms) have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and |
(iii) | 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 and other customary qualifications and assumptions. |
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, liabilities or immunities under the Securities or this Indenture or otherwise.
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 above specified documents at or prior to the time of authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security of such series to be issued.
Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for in this Indenture executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized signatory, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered under this Indenture. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered 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 under this Indenture and shall never be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
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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 one or more definitive Securities of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. 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 or in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment may sometimes be 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 provided in this Indenture.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any 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 a like aggregate principal amount and tenor.
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 a like aggregate principal amount and tenor, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency. Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
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.
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Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange shall 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 or his attorney duly authorized in writing.
No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.4, 9.6, or 11.7 not involving any transfer.
The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of, or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of that series selected for redemption under Section 11.3 and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
Notwithstanding the foregoing and except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series represented by a Global Security or Global Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a Depositary for the Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for Securities of a series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, the Company shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company or, if appointed, has not accepted such appointment, within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon Company Request, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Global Securities representing Securities of such series in exchange for such Global Security or Global Securities.
In the event that (i) the Company at any time and in its sole discretion determines that the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global Securities shall no longer be represented by such Global Security or Global Securities or (ii) there shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any series, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon Company Request or instructions from the Depositary, will authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive form and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or Global Securities representing such series in exchange for such Global Security or Global Securities.
Upon the occurrence in respect of any Global Security of any series of any one or more of the conditions specified in the preceding two paragraphs or such other conditions as may be specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such series, such Global Security may be exchanged for Securities registered in the names of, and the transfer of such Global Security may be registered to, such Persons (including Persons other than the Depositary with respect to such series and its nominees) as such Depositary shall direct. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, any Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, any Global Security shall also be a Global Security and shall bear the legend or legends specified in Section 2.2 except for any Security authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or upon registration of transfer of, a Global Security pursuant to the preceding sentence.
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Section 3.6 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost, and Stolen Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange 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 protected 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 to such issuance and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected with such issuance.
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 under this Indenture.
The provisions of this Section are exclusive and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Securities.
Section 3.7 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.1 with respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest.
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Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (“Defaulted Interest”) shall 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:
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(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 provided in this clause. At such time 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 related Special Record Date to be transmitted to each Holder of Securities of such series at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the related Special Record Date 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).
(2) The Company may make payment to Holders 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.
(3) Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
Section 3.8 Persons Deemed Owners.
Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 3.7) any interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor an agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
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No holder of any beneficial interest in any Global Security registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee shall have any rights under this Indenture with respect to such Global Security, and such Depositary or nominee, as the case may be, may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee as the owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Indenture 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 a Depositary or its nominee pursuant to this Indenture. Furthermore, none of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar, or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in any such Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests. The Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar, or any other agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to deal with the Depositary, and any nominee thereof, that is the registered holder of any Global Security for all purposes of this Indenture relating to such Global Security (including the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest and additional amounts, if any, and the giving of instructions or directions by or to the owner or holder of a beneficial ownership interest in such Global Security) as the sole holder of such Global Security and shall have no obligations to the beneficial owners thereof. None of the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Security Registrar shall have any responsibility or liability for any acts or omissions of the Depositary with respect to such Global Security, for the records of any such depositary, including records in respect of beneficial ownership interests in respect of any such Global Security, for any transactions between the Depositary and any Depositary participant or between or among the Depositary, any such Depositary participant and/or any holder or owner of a beneficial interest in such Global Security, or for any transfers of beneficial interests in any such Global Security.
All Securities surrendered for payment, conversion, 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 cancelled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered 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 which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All cancelled Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of by the Trustee in accordance with its then customary procedures.
Section 3.10 Computation of Interest.
Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
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The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in “CUSIP,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers.
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 expressly provided for in this Indenture), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when
(1) either:
(i) | all Securities previously 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 previously been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 10.3) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or |
(ii) | all such Securities not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation |
(iii) | have become due and payable, or |
(iv) | will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity within one year, or |
(v) | 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, |
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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 an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (other than Securities which have been destroyed, lost, or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.6), 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 by the Company under this Indenture; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture 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 (if any) of the Company 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 such satisfaction and discharge.
In the event Securities of two or more series were at any time issued under this Indenture, the Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to the Securities of all series as to which it is Trustee and if the conditions of satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture contained in this Section 4.1 in respect of such Securities have been satisfied. In the event there are two or more Trustees under this Indenture, the effectiveness of any such instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of such instruments from all such Trustees.
Section 4.2 Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.1 shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled to such money, of the principal and any premium and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.
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, unless in the establishing Board Resolution, supplemental indenture or Officer’s Certificate, it is provided that such series shall not have the benefit of said Event of Default:
(1) failure to pay any interest on the Securities within 30 days after such interest becomes due and payable by the terms of the Securities of such series;
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(2) failure to pay principal of (or premium, if any, on) the Securities at maturity, or if applicable, the redemption price, when the same becomes due and payable;
(3) failure to pay any sinking fund installment as and when the same shall become due and payable by the terms of the Securities, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
(4) failure to comply with (or obtain a waiver with respect to) any of the covenants or agreements in the Securities or this Indenture (other than an agreement or covenant that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of another series of Securities) for 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of all outstanding Securities affected by that failure a written notice specifying such failure and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;
(5) the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:
(a) commences a voluntary case;
(b) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case;
(c) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property;
(d) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or
(e) generally is unable to pay its debts as the same become due;
(6) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(a) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case;
(b) appoints a Custodian of the Company or for all or substantially all of its property; or
(c) orders the liquidation of the Company; and
(d) the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days;
(7) a default or defaults with respect to any issue or issues of other Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary having an outstanding aggregate principal amount of $50 million for all such issues of all such Persons, whether such Debt now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default or defaults shall constitute a failure to pay all or any portion of the principal of such Debt when due and payable or shall have resulted in such Debt becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and payable and such Debt has not been discharged in full or such acceleration has not been rescinded or annulled (by cure, waiver or otherwise) within 60 days of such acceleration; provided, however, that any secured Debt in excess of the limits set forth above shall be deemed to have been declared due and payable if the lender in respect thereof takes any action to enforce a security interest against, or an assignment of, or to collect on, seize, dispose of or apply any assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries (including lock-box and other similar arrangements) securing such Debt, or to set off against any bank accounts of the Company or its Subsidiaries in excess of $50 million in the aggregate; and
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(8) any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental indenture, Officer’s Certificate or Board Resolution under which such series of Securities is issued or in the form of Security for such series.
The term “Bankruptcy Law” means title 11, U.S. Code or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors or any comparable non-U.S. statute applicable to the Company. The term “Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
Section 5.2 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing (other than an Event of Default referred to in Section 5.1(5) or (6)) then in every such case the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if any Securities of that series are Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on 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) and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(5) or (6) shall occur, the principal amount (or specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to any series has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal and interest, if any, of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
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;
(2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at its Maturity; or
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(3) default is made in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due pursuant to the terms of any Security,
then 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 in such Securities, and, in addition, 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 immediately 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 necessary 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 in this Indenture, or to enforce any other proper remedy.
Section 5.4 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities), its property, or its creditors, the Trustee shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator, or other similar official in any such judicial proceeding is authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.7.
No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided, however, the Trustee may vote on behalf of the Holders for the election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and may be a member of a creditors, or other similar committee.
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Section 5.5 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.
All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities or the production of such Securities in any related proceeding, and any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents, and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.
Section 5.6 Application of Money Collected.
Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 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 on account of principal or any premium or interest, upon presentation of the Securities and the notation on such Securities of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender of such Securities 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 any premium and interest on the Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: To the Company or as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct in writing.
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 under this Indenture, 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 not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee under the Indenture;
(3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses, and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;
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(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 provided in this Indenture 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.
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) any interest on such Security on the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or mandatory repurchase, on the Redemption Date or mandatory repurchase date, as applicable), 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 under this Indenture 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 conferred in this Indenture 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 under this Indenture or now or in the future existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy under this Indenture, 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 or acquiescence in any such Event of Default. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.
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,
(2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction, and
(3) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed would involve the Trustee in personal liability.
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 under this Indenture with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default (1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of such series, or (2) in respect of a covenant or provision of this Indenture which under Article IX cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such affected series.
Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising from such default 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 consequent right.
Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Securities by his acceptance of such Securities 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 attorney’s fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.14 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 Securities on or after the Stated Maturity or Maturities expressed in such Securities (or, in the case of redemption or mandatory repurchase, on or after the Redemption Date or mandatory repurchase date, as applicable).
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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 of 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 his or her own affairs.
(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that
(1) this Subsection (c) shall not be construed to limit the effect of Subsections (a) or (d) of this Section;
(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 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 of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, determined as provided herein, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series.
(d) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.
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(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 transmit to all Holders of Securities of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register (or in case that a Depositary (or a nominee thereof) is a Holder of Securities issued in the form of Global Securities, then with respect to such Securities give by electronic, email or other means as such be acceptable to such Depositary), 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 default in the payment of the principal of or the interest on any of the Securities of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund installment or analogous payment on such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a committee comprised of Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of such series. For the purpose of this Section, 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:
(a) the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness, or other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;
(b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned in this Indenture shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;
(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering, or omitting any action under this Indenture, the Trustee (unless other evidence be specifically prescribed in this Indenture) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate;
(d) 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 under this Indenture in good faith and in reliance on such advice or Opinion of Counsel;
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(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses, and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;
(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness, or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records, and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney 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;
(g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers or perform any duties under this Indenture 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;
(h) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(i) the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities unless written notice of such default or Event of Default shall have been given to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee by the Company or by any Holder of the Securities, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;
(j) the permissive rights of the Trustee enumerated herein shall not be construed as duties;
(k) the rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder, and each agent, custodian and other Person employed to act hereunder;
(l) the Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture, which 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;
(m) anything in this Indenture notwithstanding, in no event shall the Trustee be liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to loss of profit), even if the Trustee has been advised as to the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action; and
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(n) 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 control, including, without limitation, any provision of any law or regulation or any act of any governmental authority, acts of God; earthquakes; fire; flood; terrorism; wars and other military disturbances; sabotage; epidemics; riots; interruptions; loss or malfunctions of utilities, computer (hardware or software) or communication services; accidents; labor disputes; acts of civil or military authority and governmental action.
Section 6.4 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
The recitals contained in this Indenture 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 from such Securities. The Trustee shall not be responsible to make any calculation with respect to any matter under this Indenture. The Trustee shall have no duty to monitor or investigate the Company’s compliance with or the breach of, or cause to be performed or observed, any representation, warranty, or covenant, or agreement of any Person, other than the Trustee, made in 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, 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 under this Indenture 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 under this Indenture except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.
Section 6.7 Compensation and Reimbursement.
The Company agrees:
(1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time such compensation as shall be agreed in writing between the Company and the Trustee for all services rendered by it under this Indenture (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);
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(2) except as otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements, and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement, or advance as shall be determined to have been caused by its own gross negligence or willful misconduct; and
(3) to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee and their officers, agents, directors and employees for, and to hold them harmless against, any and all loss, damage, claim, liability, or expense, including fees and expenses of counsel and including taxes (other than taxes based upon, measured by or determined by the income of the Trustee), incurred without gross negligence or willful misconduct on their part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, or any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties under this Indenture, or in connection with enforcing the provisions of this Section.
To secure the Company’s obligations under this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all money or property held or collected by the Trustee in its capacity as Trustee, except for such money and property which is held in trust to pay principal (and premium, if any) or interest on particular Securities;
In addition to, and without prejudice to its other rights under this Indenture, when the Trustee incurs any expenses or renders any services after the occurrence of an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1(1) or (2), such expenses (including the fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the United States Bankruptcy Code (Title 11 of the United States Code) or any similar Federal or State law for the relief of debtors; and
The provisions of this Section 6.7 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture, the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination for any reason of this Indenture.
“Trustee” for purposes of this Section shall include any predecessor Trustee; provided, however, that the negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith of any Trustee hereunder shall not affect the rights of any other Trustee hereunder.
Section 6.8 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. For the purpose of the second paragraph of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the phrase “default (as such term is defined in such indenture, but exclusive of any period of grace or requirement of notice)” is hereby defined to mean any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.
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Section 6.9 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.
There shall at all times be a Trustee under this Indenture which shall be a Person that is eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If such Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section (and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act), the combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Article.
Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.
(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the applicable requirements of Section 6.11.
(b) The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice of such resignation to the Company.
(c) 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.
(d) If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.8 after written request for such compliance by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months, or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after written request 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 behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
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(e) 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 or removal, the Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(f) 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, immediately 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 behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.
(g) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 1.6. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.
Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.
(a) In case of the appointment of a successor Trustee under this Indenture 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. Upon such delivery, 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 and all other amounts payable to it hereunder, 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 under this Indenture, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 6.7.
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(b) In case of the appointment under this Indenture 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 a supplemental indenture 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 the Securities of all series, 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 under this Indenture by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing in this Indenture or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees cotrustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts under this Indenture separate and apart from any trust or trusts under this Indenture 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 in such supplemental indenture 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; and such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer, and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 6.7.
(c) Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers, and trusts referred to in paragraph (a) and (b) of this Section, as the case may be.
(d) No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under this Article.
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 under this Indenture, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties to this Indenture. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion, or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
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Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.
If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities (other than by reason of a relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company or any such other obligor. For purposes of Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act:
(1) the term “cash transaction” means any transaction in which full payment for goods or securities sold is made within seven days after delivery of the goods or securities in currency or in checks or other orders drawn upon banks or bankers and payable upon demand; and
(2) the term “self-liquidating paper” means any draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation which is made, drawn, negotiated or incurred by the Company or such obligor for the purpose of financing the purchase, processing, manufacturing, shipment, storage or sale of goods, wares or merchandise and which is secured by documents evidencing title to, possession of, or a lien upon, the goods, wares or merchandise or the receivables or proceeds arising from the sale of the goods, wares or merchandise previously constituting the security, provided the security is received by the Trustee simultaneously with the creation of the creditor relationship with the Company or such obligor arising from the making, drawing, negotiating or incurring of the draft, bill of exchange, acceptance or obligation.
Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.
The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents (which may be an affiliate of the Company) with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer, or partial redemption or conversion, or pursuant to Section 3.6, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee. 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 of its states, 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 the supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.
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Any Person into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion, or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any Person succeeding to the corporate agency or corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an Authenticating Agent, provided such Person shall be otherwise eligible under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall mail written notice of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment under this Indenture shall become vested with all the rights, powers, and duties of its predecessor, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section.
The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.
If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed on it, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternative certificate of authentication in the following form:
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
, as Trustee | ||
By: | ||
As Authenticating Agent | ||
By: | ||
Authorized Officer |
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ARTICLE
VII
Holder’s Lists and Reports by Trustee and Company
Section 7.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually, not later than June 30 and December 31 in each year, a list for each series, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of such series as of the preceding June 15 or December 15, as the case may be, 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; provided, that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar for such series, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.
Section 7.2 Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.
(a) 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 dispose of as it deems fit any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.1 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.
(b) The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act.
Section 7.3 Reports by Trustee.
(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act. To the extent that any such report is required by the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any 12-month period, such report shall cover the 12-month period ending May 15 and shall be transmitted (in accordance with the Trust Indenture Act) by the next succeeding July 15.
(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission, and with the Company. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.
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Section 7.4 Reports by Company.
The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents, and other reports, and such summaries, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Trust Indenture Act; provided that any such information, documents, or reports required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is filed with the Commission.
Delivery of such reports, information, and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee shall be entitled to rely exclusively on Officer’s Certificates).
ARTICLE
VIII
Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance, Transfer or Lease
Section 8.1 Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.
The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the Company shall not permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Company, unless:
(1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another Person or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;
(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction and treating any indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Company or a Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and
(3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture, comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent in this Indenture provided for 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 in this Indenture, 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 consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more supplemental indentures, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:
(1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company in this Indenture and in the Securities; or
(2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power conferred in this Indenture upon the Company; or
(3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series); or
(4) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of Securities in uncertificated form; or
(5) to add to, change, or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such addition, change, or elimination (i) shall neither (A) apply to any Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (B) modify the rights of the Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (ii) shall become effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or
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(6) to secure the Securities; or
(7) to establish the form or forms or terms of Securities of any series as permitted by Sections 2.1 and 3.1; or
(8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under this Indenture 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 under this Indenture by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 6.11(b);
(9) to comply with any requirements of the Commission in connection with qualifying this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act or conform this Indenture or the Securities of any series to the description thereof contained in any applicable prospectus, prospectus supplement, free writing prospectus, offering memorandum, term sheet or other offering document;
(10) to cure any ambiguity, mistake, defect or inconsistency; or
(11) to make any change, provided that such change shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect.
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 affected by such supplemental indenture, by Act of such Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture or indentures for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture entered into pursuant to this Section 9.2 shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected by such supplemental indenture,
(1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce its principal amount or rate of interest or any premium payable upon its redemption, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security or any other Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of its Maturity pursuant to Section 5.2, or adversely affect any right of repayment at the option of the Holder of any Security, or change any Place of Payment where any Security or any premium or interest is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after its Stated Maturity (or, in the case of redemption or mandatory repurchase, on or after the Redemption Date or mandatory repurchase date, as applicable), or
(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 the provisions of or defaults under this Indenture and their consequences provided for in this Indenture, or
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(3) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 5.13, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each affected Outstanding Security, 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 Section 6.11(b) and 9.1(8).
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance of such supplemental indenture.
Section 9.3 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.
In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive in addition to the documents required by Section 1.2, 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. The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties, liabilities or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.4 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance with such supplemental indenture, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and every Holder of Securities previously or subsequently authenticated and delivered under this Indenture shall be bound by such supplemental indenture.
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 of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Company, bear a notation in form approved by the Company as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities of such series.
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Section 9.7 Notice of Supplemental Indentures.
After any supplemental indenture under this Article becomes effective, the Company may give to the Holders of Securities, in the manner referred to in Section 1.6, a notice briefly describing such supplemental indenture; provided, however, that the failure to give such notice to all Holders of Securities, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of such supplemental indenture.
Section 10.1 Payment of Principal, Premium, and Interest.
The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of the Securities and this Indenture.
Section 10.2 Maintenance of Office or Agency.
The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, 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 its address, such presentations, surrenders, notices, and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices, and demands.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company 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 to such principal, premium, or interest 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 provided in this Indenture and will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act.
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Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, 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 in writing of its action or failure 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 (i) comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (ii) 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, and upon the written request of the Trustee, immediately 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.
Subject to applicable abandoned property laws, 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 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, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee, shall cease at such time.
Section 10.4 Statement by Officers as to Default.
The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date of this Indenture, an Officer’s Certificate (the signer of which shall be the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, or principal accounting officer of the Company), stating whether or not, to the best knowledge of the signers, the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions, and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture) and, if the Company shall be in default, specifying all such defaults and their nature and status of which they may have knowledge. The Company will deliver to the Trustee written notice of the occurrence of any Event of Default or default (which word has the meaning of the word “default” as used in Section 6.2), within ten (10) Business Days of the Company becoming aware of any such Event of Default or default and setting forth the detail of such Event of Default or default and the action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
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Subject to Article VIII, the Company will do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence, rights (charter and statutory), and franchises; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the Board of Directors shall determine that its preservation is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that its loss is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.
ARTICLE
XI
Redemption of Securities
Section 11.1 Applicability of Article.
Securities of any series which 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 Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.
Section 11.2 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.
The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 60 calendar days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and, if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. 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 of Securities to Be Redeemed.
If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed (unless all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed or such series is comprised of a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption (i) in the case of Global Securities, in accordance with applicable procedures of the Depositary or (b) if there are no such requirements of the Depositary, on a pro rata basis and in compliance with any applicable securities exchange rules or (ii) by lot 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 of such denomination) of the principal amount of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. If less than all of the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such series is comprised of a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.
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For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.
Section 11.4 Notice of Redemption.
Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at his address appearing in the Security Register.
All notices of redemption shall state:
(1) the Redemption Date,
(2) the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,
(3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption of any Securities, the principal amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed, and that on or after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in authorized denominations for an aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued,
(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any, will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and that interest on such Security will cease to accrue on and after such date,
(5) the place or places where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price and accrued interest, if any,
(6) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case, and
(7) the CUSIP numbers,” “ISIN” or other similar numbers, if any, of the Securities to be redeemed.
Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request (delivered to the Trustee, together with a form of notice of redemption, at least 45 days (unless a shorter period shall be acceptable to the Trustee) prior to the Redemption Date) , by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company and shall be irrevocable.
Section 11.5 Deposit of Redemption Price.
Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City 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, 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.
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Section 11.6 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.
Notice of redemption having been given in accordance with this Indenture, the Securities to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price specified in the notice, 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 such 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 shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section 3.7.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed 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 (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 or his attorney duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new 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.
Section 12.1 Applicability of Article.
The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.1 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is referred to in this Indenture as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is referred to in this Indenture as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 12.2. Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities of any series as provided for by the terms of Securities of such series.
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Section 12.2 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.
The Company (1) may deliver Securities of a series (other than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit Securities of a series which previously have been redeemed by the Company 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, or have been otherwise acquired by the Company as permitted by such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to the Securities of such series required to be made pursuant to the terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series; provided that such Securities have not been previously so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.
Section 12.3 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.
Not less than 90 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 12.2 and the basis for such credit and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so delivered. Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund payment date the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in Section 11.3 and cause notice of redemption 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 Applicability of Article; Company’s Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
If, 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 or (b) Covenant Defeasance of the Securities of a series under Section 13.3, then the provisions of such Section or Sections, as the case may be, 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 Board Resolution or in any other manner specified as contemplated by Section 3.1, at any time, with respect to the Securities of such series, elect to have either Section 13.2 (if applicable) or Section 13.3 (if applicable) be applied to the Outstanding Securities of such series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XIII.
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Section 13.2 Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions precedent set forth in Section 13.3 are satisfied (“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, upon Company Order and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged under this Indenture: (A) the rights of Holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 13.4 as more fully set forth in such Section, payments of the principal of (any 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, 6.7, 10.2, and 10.3, and any ancillary obligations, (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties, immunities, and other provisions in respect of the Trustee under this Indenture, 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. Following a Defeasance, payment of the Securities of such series may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
Section 13.3 Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company’s exercise of the above option applicable to this Section and after the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (“Covenant Defeasance”), (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under any covenant applicable to such Securities that is determined pursuant to Section 3.1 to be subject to this provision, and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.1(5), Section 5.1(7) or determined pursuant to Section 3.1 to be subject to this provision shall not be deemed to be or result in an Event of Default. 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 whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere in this Indenture to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such Section to any other provision in this Indenture or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected by such Covenant Defeasance.
Section 13.4 Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions precedent to application of either Section 13.2 or Section 13.3 to the Outstanding Securities of such series:
(1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements contemplated by Section 6.9 and agrees to comply with the provisions of the Indenture applicable to it as if it were the Trustee under
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this Indenture), as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, and dedicated solely to, 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 accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a combination of such money and U.S. Government Obligations, in each case sufficient, without reinvestment, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants or investment bankers expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee as previously provided) to pay and discharge, the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Outstanding Securities of such series on the Maturity of such principal, any premium or interest, and any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments applicable to the Outstanding Securities of such series on their due dates. Before such a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date or dates in accordance with Article XI, which shall be given effect in applying the foregoing provisions. 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, 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), which may include the Trustee, 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.
(2) No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing (A) on the date of such deposit or (B) insofar as subsections 5.1(1) and (2) are concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 120th day after the date of such deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration of the preference period applicable to the Company under federal law in respect of such deposit (it being understood that the condition in this clause (B) shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).
(3) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not (A) cause the Trustee in respect of the Securities of such series to have a conflicting interest as defined in Section 6.8 or for purposes of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to any Securities of the Company or (B) result in the trust arising from such deposit to constitute, unless it is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(4) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.
54 |
(5) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause any Securities of such series then listed on any registered national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to be delisted.
(6) 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 on such ruling or change 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.
(7) 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.
(8) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that (subject to customary qualifications and assumptions) after the period described in Section 13.4(2), the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.
(9) 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 with such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance pursuant to Section 3.1.
(10) 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 in this Indenture 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 and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 10.3, all money and U.S. Government Obligations (including any proceeds) deposited with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this Section and Section 13.6, the Trustee and any such other qualifying trustee are referred to collectively as the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 13.4 in respect of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (but not 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 on such Securities in respect of principal (and premium, if any) and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
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The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee, or other charge imposed on or assessed against the money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 13.4 or the principal and interest received in respect of such money or U.S. Government Obligations 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 Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 13.4 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount which would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 13.5 by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining, or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the Company’s obligations under the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XIII until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money and U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with Section 13.5; provided, however, that if the Company makes any payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any such Security following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be entitled, at its election, (a) to receive from the Trustee or Paying Agent, as applicable, that portion of such money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as applicable, equal to the amount of such payment, or (b) to be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money and U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or the Paying Agent.
This instrument may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) 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 for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or electronic format (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
56 |
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.
CHINA NATURAL RESOURCES, INC. | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: | ||
, as Trustee | ||
By: | ||
Name: | ||
Title: |
EXHIBIT 5.1
Our ref | RDS/763360-000001/25272729v2 |
Direct tel | +852 2971 3046 |
richard.spooner@maples.com |
China Natural Resources, Inc.
Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre
168-200 Connaught Road Central
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
18 November 2022
Dear Sirs
China Natural Resources, Inc.
We have acted as counsel as to British Virgin Islands law to China Natural Resources, Inc., a company limited by shares incorporated with limited liability in the British Virgin Islands (the "Company"), in connection with the Company's registration statement on Form F-3, filed on 18 November 2022 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Registration Statement"), relating to registration of the following securities to be issued and sold by the Company from time to time (the "Securities"):
(a) | common shares of the Company of no par value ("Common Shares"); |
(b) | preferred shares of the Company of no par value ("Preferred Shares"); |
(c) | debt securities of the Company ("Debt Securities"), which Debt Securities shall be issued under an indenture to be entered into by the Company and the trustee for such Debt Securities (the "Indenture"); |
(d) | warrants to purchase Common Shares, Preferred Shares or Debt Securities (or any combination thereof) in the Company ("Warrants"), each series of Warrants to be issued under a warrant agreement to be entered into between the Company and the warrant agent for such Warrants (each a "Warrant Agreement" and together the "Warrant Agreements"); and |
(e) | units consisting of any combination of the Securities ("Units"), each series of Units to be issued under unit agreements to be entered into between the Company and a unit agent for such Units (the "Unit Agreements"). |
1 |
1 | Documents Reviewed |
We have reviewed originals, copies, drafts or conformed copies of the following documents:
1.3 | The written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 17 November 2022 (the "Resolutions"). |
1.4 | A certificate of good standing with respect to the Company issued by the Registrar of Corporate Affairs dated 16 November 2022 (the "Certificate of Good Standing"). |
1.5 | A certificate from a director of the Company (a copy of which is attached as Annexure A) (the "Director's Certificate"). |
1.6 | The Registration Statement. |
We are furnishing this opinion as Exhibits 5.1 and 23.2 to the Registration Statement.
2 | Assumptions |
The following opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the British Virgin Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter. In giving the following opinions we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy, as at the date of this opinion letter, of the Director's Certificate and the Certificate of Good Standing. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:
2.2 | The Transaction Documents and the Securities (other than the Common Shares and Preferred Shares) are, or will be, legal, valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York and all other relevant laws (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws of the British Virgin Islands). |
2.3 | Copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals. |
2 |
2.4 | All signatures, initials and seals are genuine. |
2.5 | The Company will receive consideration for the issue of the Common Shares and the Preferred Shares, and if such consideration is, in whole or in part, other than money, the directors of the Company shall resolve that, in their opinion, the present cash value of the non-money consideration and money consideration, if any, is not less than the amount to be credited for the issue of the shares. |
2.6 | There will be sufficient Common Shares and Preferred Shares authorised for issue under the Memorandum and Articles to enable the Company to issue such Securities. |
2.8 | The capacity, power, authority and legal right of all parties under all relevant laws and regulations (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws and regulations of the British Virgin Islands) to enter into, execute, unconditionally deliver and perform their respective obligations under the Transaction Documents and the Securities. |
2.9 | The Debt Securities, the Warrants and the Units will respectively be issued and authenticated as required in accordance with the provisions of a duly authorised, executed and delivered Indenture, Warrant Agreement and Unit Agreement. |
2.10 | The Transaction Documents and the Securities (other than the Common Shares and Preferred Shares) will be duly executed and delivered by an authorised person of the parties thereto. |
2.11 | There is no contractual or other prohibition or restriction (other than as arising under British Virgin Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting or restricting it from issuing the Common Shares or the Preferred Shares or entering into and performing its obligations under the Transaction Documents and the Securities. |
2.13 | There is nothing under any law (other than the laws of the British Virgin Islands) which would or might affect the opinions set out below. Specifically, we have made no independent investigation of the laws of the State of New York. |
2.14 | The execution and delivery of the Transaction Documents and the issue of the Securities will be of commercial benefit to the Company. |
2.15 | No invitation has been or will be made by or on behalf of the Company to the public in the British Virgin Islands to subscribe for any of the Securities. |
3 |
2.16 | There will be nothing contained in the minute book or corporate records of the Company (which we have not inspected) which would or might affect the opinions set out below. |
3 | Opinions |
Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing assumptions and the qualifications set out below, and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
3.2 | With respect to the Common Shares, when (i) the board of directors of the Company (the "Board") has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) the issue of such Common Shares has been recorded in the Company's register of members (shareholders) (the "Register of Members"); and (iii) the subscription price of such Common Shares has been fully paid in cash or other consideration approved by the Board, the Common Shares will be duly authorised, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
3.3 | With respect to the Preferred Shares, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation and terms of the series of Preferred Shares and to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) the issue of such Preferred Shares has been recorded in the Register of Members; and (iii) the subscription price of such Preferred Shares has been fully paid in cash or other consideration approved by the Board, the Preferred Shares will be duly authorised, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
3.4 | With respect to each issue of Debt Securities, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation and terms of the Debt Securities and to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) an Indenture relating to the Debt Securities shall have been authorised and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the trustee thereunder; and (iii) when such Debt Securities issued thereunder have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and authenticated in the manner set forth in the Indenture relating to such issue of Debt Securities and delivered against due payment therefor pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of the Registration Statement and any relevant prospectus supplement, such Debt Securities issued pursuant to the Indenture will have been duly executed, issued and delivered, and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
3.5 | With respect to each issue of Warrants, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation and terms of the Warrants and to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) a Warrant Agreement relating to the Warrants shall have been duly authorised and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the warrant agent thereunder; and (iii) the certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the Warrant Agreement relating to the Warrants and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided therein, the Warrants will have been duly executed, issued and delivered, and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
4 |
3.6 | With respect to each issue of Units, when (i) the Board has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation and terms of the Units and to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) a Unit Agreement relating to the Units shall have been duly authorised and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the financial institution designated as unit agent thereunder; and (iii) the certificates representing the Units have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the Unit Agreement relating to the Units and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the Company's Board upon payment of the consideration therefor provided therein, the Units will have been duly executed, issued and delivered, and will constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company. |
4 | Qualifications |
The opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:
4.1 | To maintain the Company in good standing under the laws of the British Virgin Islands, annual filing fees must be paid to the Registry of Corporate Affairs. |
4.2 | The obligations assumed by the Company under the Transaction Documents and the Securities (other than the Common Shares and Preferred Shares) will not necessarily be enforceable in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular: |
(c) | some claims may become barred under relevant statutes of limitation or may be or become subject to defences of set off, counterclaim, estoppel and similar defences; |
(e) | the courts of the British Virgin Islands have jurisdiction to give judgment in the currency of the relevant obligation; |
(f) | arrangements that constitute penalties will not be enforceable; |
(g) | enforcement may be prevented by reason of fraud, coercion, duress, undue influence, misrepresentation, public policy or mistake or limited by the doctrine of frustration of contracts; |
5 |
(i) | provisions imposing confidentiality obligations may be overridden by compulsion of applicable law or the requirements of legal and/or regulatory process; |
4.5 | The obligations of the Company may be subject to restrictions pursuant to United Nations and United Kingdom sanctions extended to the British Virgin Islands by Orders in Council and/or sanctions imposed by governmental or regulatory authorities or agencies in the British Virgin Islands under British Virgin Islands legislation. |
4.7 | We have not reviewed the final form of any of the Indenture or the Debt Securities to be issued thereunder, the Warrant Agreements or the Warrants to be issued thereunder, or the Unit Agreements or the Units to be issued thereunder, and our opinions are qualified accordingly. |
6 |
4.8 | We reserve our opinion as to the extent to which the courts of the British Virgin Islands would, in the event of any relevant illegality or invalidity, sever the relevant provisions of the Transaction Documents and the Securities (other than the Common Shares and Preferred Shares) and enforce the remainder of the Transaction Documents or the Securities (other than the Common Shares and Preferred Shares) or the transaction of which such provisions form a part, notwithstanding any express provisions in the Transaction Documents or the Securities in this regard. |
4.9 | In this opinion the phrase "non-assessable" means, with respect to the issuance of shares, that a shareholder shall not, in respect of the relevant shares and in the absence of a contractual arrangement, or an obligation pursuant to the memorandum and articles of association, to the contrary, have any obligation to make further contributions to the Company's assets (except in exceptional circumstances, such as involving fraud, the establishment of an agency relationship or an illegal or improper purpose or other circumstances in which a court may be prepared to pierce or lift the corporate veil). |
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In providing our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations of the SEC thereunder.
The opinions in this opinion letter are strictly limited to the matters contained in the opinions section above and do not extend to any other matters. We have not been asked to review and we therefore have not reviewed any of the ancillary documents relating to the Transaction Documents or the Securities and we express no opinion or observation upon the terms of any such document.
This opinion letter may be relied upon by US counsel to the Company for the purposes solely of any legal opinion that they may be required to give with respect to the Registration Statement.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP
7 |
Annexure A
Director's Certificate
November 18, 2022
To: | Maples and Calder (Hong Kong) LLP |
26th Floor, Central Plaza | |
18 Harbour Road | |
Wanchai, Hong Kong |
China Natural Resources, Inc. (the "Company")
I, the undersigned, being a director of the Company, am aware that you are being asked to provide a legal opinion (the "Opinion") in relation to certain aspects of British Virgin Islands law. Capitalised terms used in this certificate have the meaning given to them in the Opinion. I hereby certify that:
1 | The Memorandum and Articles remain in full force and effect and are unamended. |
2 | The Resolutions were signed by all the directors of the Company and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect. |
3 | The Company is authorised to issue a maximum of 210,000,000 shares of no par value, including (a) 200,000,000 common shares of no par value, comprising one series, and (b) 10,000,000 preferred shares of no par value. |
4 | The shareholders of the Company have not restricted or limited the powers of the directors in any way. |
5 | Each director of the Company considers the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement to be of commercial benefit to the Company and has acted bona fide in the best interests of the Company, and for a proper purpose of the Company in relation to the transactions the subject of the Opinion. |
6 | The Company is not the subject of legal, arbitral, administrative or other proceedings in any jurisdiction. Nor have the directors and/or shareholders taken any steps to have the Company struck off or placed in liquidation, nor have any steps been taken to wind up the Company. Nor has any receiver been appointed over any of the Company's property or assets. |
I confirm that you may continue to rely on this Certificate as being true and correct on the day that you issue the Opinion unless I shall have previously notified you personally to the contrary.
[signature page follows]
8 |
Signature: | /s/ Wong Wah On Edward |
Name: | Wong Wah On Edward |
Title: | Director |
9 |
EXHIBIT 5.2
November 18, 2022
China Natural Resources, Inc.
Room 2205, 22/F, West Tower, Shun Tak Centre
168-200 Connaught Road Central
Sheung Wan, Hong Kong
+852-2810-7205
RE: China Natural Resources, Inc. —Registration Statement on Form F-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We are acting as special New York counsel to China Natural Resources, Inc., a British Virgin Islands company (the “Company”), in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The Registration Statement relates to the offer and sale, from time to time, in one or more offerings, of securities, which may include any or all of the following: the Company’s debt securities (the “Debt Securities”), common shares, preferred shares, warrants, and units.
In connection with this opinion letter, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Registration Statement, the form of indenture to be entered into by the Company and a trustee (the “Indenture”), and such other documents and records as we have deemed necessary.
With your permission, for the purposes of the opinion expressed herein, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all natural persons, the authenticity of the documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with the originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, facsimile, pdf or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies.
We have also assumed for purposes of our opinion that the trustee (the “Trustee”) under the Indenture will be qualified to act as trustee thereunder and the Indenture will be duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, that the Indenture and any supplemental indenture (a “Supplemental Indenture”) will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, that the Indenture and any Supplemental Indenture will constitute a legal, valid and binding obligations of the Trustee, and that the Trustee has the requisite organizational and legal power and authority to perform its obligations under the Indenture and any Supplemental Indenture.
We have further assumed with respect to any Debt Securities that (i) the applicable indenture will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (ii) a Supplemental Indenture, officer’s certificate or board resolution with respect to such Debt Securities will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, (iii) such Debt Securities will be authenticated by the Trustee as provided in the applicable Indenture and any Supplemental Indenture with respect thereto, and (iv) such Debt Securities will be executed, issued and delivered by the Company (a) against receipt of the consideration for the Debt Securities approved by the board of directors of the Company and (b) as provided in the applicable Indenture and any Supplemental Indenture with respect thereto.
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, and the limitations and qualifications described below, we are of the opinion that when any series of the Debt Securities are duly authorized and executed by the Company, and when the Debt Securities are duly authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the applicable Indenture and any Supplemental Indenture with respect thereto and are issued and delivered by the Company against receipt of the consideration therefor, the Debt Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.
Morgan, Lewis & Bockius llp | ||
1111 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW | ||
Washington DC 20004-2451 | +1.202,739.3000 | |
United States | +1.202.739.3001 |
The opinions expressed above are subject to the following additional limitations and qualifications:
1. The opinions set forth above are subject to the effects of (i) bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights or remedies generally, (ii) general principles of equity (whether such principles are considered in a proceeding at law or equity), including the discretion of the court before which any proceeding may be brought, concepts of good faith, reasonableness and fair dealing and standards of materiality, and (iii) limitations on enforceability to the extent that acceleration of indebtedness under any Debt Security may impair the collectability of that portion, if any, of the principal amount thereof that might be determined to be unearned interest thereon.
2. We express no opinion as to the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the State of New York, as currently in effect. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing sentence, we express no opinion concerning (i) the laws of any country or subdivision thereof, other than the laws of the State of New York, or as to the effect of such laws, whether limiting, prohibitive or otherwise, on any of the rights or obligations of the Company, the holders of the Debt Securities, or any other party to or beneficiary of the Indenture, any Supplemental Indenture and the Debt Securities or (ii) the effect, if any, of the law of any jurisdiction, except the State of New York, in which any holder of any Debt Security is located that limits the rate of interest that such holder may charge or collect.
3. We express no opinion as to (i) whether a United States federal court or New York court would accept jurisdiction in any dispute, action, suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to the Debt Securities, the Indenture, any Supplemental Indenture or the transactions contemplated thereby, (ii) any objection to jurisdiction on the basis of the inconvenience of the forum provided for in the Indenture or any Supplemental Indenture or (iii) any provision in the Indenture relating to judgments in other currencies.
We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as Exhibit 5.2 to the Registration Statement and to the reference to us under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are acting within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours, | |
/s/ Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP | |
Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption “Experts” in the Registration Statement (Form F-3) and related Prospectus of China Natural Resources, Inc. for the registration of its common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants and units of its securities and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated May 17, 2022, with respect to the consolidated financial statements of China Natural Resources, Inc. included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young Hua Ming LLP
Beijing, People’s Republic of China
November 18, 2022
Exhibit 107
Calculation of Filing Fee Tables
FORM F-3
(Form Type)
China Natural Resources, Inc.
……………………………………………………..
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Not Applicable
(Translation of registrant’s name into English)
Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities
Security Type |
Security Class Title |
Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule |
Amount Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit |
Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Fee Rate | Amount of Registration Fee |
Carry Forward Form Type | Carry Forward File Number | Carry Forward Initial Effective Date | Filing Fee Previously Paid In Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carry Forward Securities | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Carry Forward Securities |
Equity | Common Shares, no par value | 415(a)(6) | (1) | — | (2) | — | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Equity | Preferred Shares, no par value | 415(a)(6) | (1) | — | (2) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Debt | Debt Securities | 415(a)(6) | (1) | — | (2) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | Warrants | 415(a)(6) | (1) | — | (2) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other | Units | 415(a)(6) | (1) | — | (2) | — | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unallocated (Universal) Shelf | 415(a)(6) | (1) | — | $ | 92,674,000 | — | — | F-3 | 333-233852 | November 20, 2019 | $ 11,232.08 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Offering Amounts | $ | 92,674,000 | $ | — | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fees Previously Paid | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total Fee Offsets | — | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Net Fee Due | $ | 0 |
(1) | There are being registered hereunder an indeterminate number or amount, as the case may be, of common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants and units, as may be offered by the registrant from time to time, which together shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $92,674,000. The securities included hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered hereunder. The securities included hereunder also include an indeterminate number of securities as may be issued upon conversion of or exchange for preferred shares or debt securities that provide for conversion or exchange, upon exercise of warrants, or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any of such securities. In addition, pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), this Registration Statement on Form F-3 (the “Registration Statement”) also covers any additional securities that may be offered or issued in connection with any stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions. |
(2) | The registrant previously paid registration fees in the aggregate of $12,120 with respect to the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-233852) (the “Prior Registration Statement”). Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act (“Rule 415(a)(6)”), the securities registered pursuant to this Registration Statement include an aggregate of $92,674,000 of securities previously registered on the Prior Registration Statement which remain unsold (the “Unsold Securities”). Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the registration fee of $11,232.08 associated with the offering of the Unsold Securities will continue to be applied to the Unsold Securities registered pursuant to this Registration Statement. Pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6), the offering of the Unsold Securities on the Prior Registration Statement will be deemed terminated as of the date of effectiveness of this Registration Statement. To the extent that, after the filing date hereof and prior to the effectiveness of this Registration Statement, the registrant sells any Unsold Securities pursuant to the Prior Registration Statement, the registrant will identify in a pre-effective amendment to this Registration Statement the updated amount of Unsold Securities from the Prior Registration Statement to be included in this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) and the updated amount of new securities to be registered on this Registration Statement. |