As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 8, 2023
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
_____________________________
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
_____________________________
Evolus, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_____________________________
| | | | | |
| Delaware | 46-1385614 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
_____________________________
| | |
520 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1200 Newport Beach, California 92660 (949) 284-4555 |
| (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive office) |
_____________________________
| | |
David Moatazedi President and Chief Executive Officer Evolus, Inc. 520 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1200 Newport Beach, California 92660 (949) 284-4555 |
| (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) |
_____________________________
Copies to:
| | | | | |
Jeffrey J. Plumer
General Counsel
Evolus, Inc.
520 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1200
Newport Beach, California 92660
(949) 284-4555 | Mark Peterson Shelly Heyduk O’Melveny & Myers LLP 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1700 Newport Beach, California 92660 (949) 823-6900 |
_____________________________
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box: ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box: ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| | | | | |
| Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
| Non-accelerated filer ☒ | Smaller reporting company ☒ |
| Emerging growth company ☒ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☒
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 that specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act 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.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
This registration statement contains two prospectuses:
•a base prospectus which covers the offering, issuance and sale by Evolus, Inc. (“Evolus”) of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $250,000,000 of Evolus' common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, units and rights; and
•an ATM prospectus covering the offering, issuance and sale by Evolus of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $50,000,000 of Evolus' common stock that may be issued and sold under a sales agreement with SVB Securities LLC.
The base prospectus immediately follows this explanatory note. The specific terms of any securities to be offered pursuant to the base prospectus will be specified in a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus.
The ATM prospectus applicable to the sales agreement with SVB Securities LLC immediately follows the base prospectus. The common stock that may be offered, issued and sold by Evolus under the ATM prospectus is included in the $250,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by Evolus under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the sales agreement with SVB Securities LLC, any portion of the $50,000,000 included in the ATM prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the sales agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus and a corresponding prospectus supplement, and if no shares are sold under the sales agreement, the full $250,000,000 of securities may be sold in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus.
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 it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 8, 2023
PROSPECTUS
$250,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
Rights
From time to time, we may offer and sell up to an aggregate amount of $250,000,000 of any combination of the securities described in this prospectus, either individually or in combination, in one or more offerings. We may also offer common stock or preferred stock upon conversion of debt securities, common stock upon conversion of preferred stock, or common stock, preferred stock or debt securities upon the exercise of warrants or rights.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq, under the trading symbol “EOLS.” On March 7, 2023, the last reported sale price of our common stock on Nasdaq was $9.17 per share.
We are an “emerging growth company” under the federal securities laws and, as such, are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company.”
Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Please read “Risk Factors” on page 4 of this prospectus and in any applicable prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our securities. We will provide the specific terms of any securities we may offer in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement describing the amount of and terms of the offering of those securities.
We may offer and sell the securities described in this prospectus to or through one or more underwriters, dealers or agents, or directly to purchasers on an immediate, continuous or delayed basis. The names of any underwriters, dealers or agents involved in the sale of any securities, the specific manner in which they may be offered and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement covering the sales of those securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| | | | | |
| About This Prospectus | |
| About The Company | |
| Risk Factors | |
| Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements | |
| Use of Proceeds | |
| |
| Description of Capital Stock | |
| Description of Debt Securities | |
| Description of Warrants | |
| Description of Units | |
| Description of Rights | |
| Plan of Distribution | |
| Legal Matters | |
| Experts | |
| Where You Can Find More Information | |
| Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference | |
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We not have authorized any person to give any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, or any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you, and, if given or made, you must not rely upon the information or representations as having been authorized. This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you, do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities, nor do this prospectus or any accompanying supplement to this prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. The information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you, speaks only as of the date set forth on the cover page and may not reflect subsequent changes in our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects even though this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you, is delivered or securities are sold on a later date.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration statement, we may from time to time sell any one or more, or a combination of, the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings for up to a total dollar amount of $250,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we offer and sell our securities, we will provide one or more prospectus supplements that will contain specific information about the terms of the offering. We may also authorize one or more free writing prospectuses to be provided to you that may contain material information relating to these offerings.
This prospectus does not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. For a more complete understanding of the offering of the securities, you should refer to the registration statement, including its exhibits. Each prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus and may include a discussion of any risk factors or other special considerations that apply to the offered securities.
Before making an investment decision, it is important for you to read and consider the information contained in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement, and any free writing prospectuses prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you, together with the additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” below.
This prospectus may not be used to offer to sell, solicit an offer to buy or consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement. If there is any inconsistency between information in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the latest supplement and documents incorporated by reference herein and therein.
EVOLUS® and Jeuveau® are two of our trademarks that are used in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. Jeuveau® is the trade name in the United States for our approved product with non-proprietary name, prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs. The product has different trade names outside of the United States, but is referred to throughout this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement as Jeuveau®. This prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement also include trademarks, trade names and service marks that are the property of other organizations, such as BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic, which we refer to throughout this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus as BOTOX. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement appear without the ® and ™ symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
Unless otherwise indicated herein, references in this prospectus to “Evolus,” “our company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Evolus, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Overview
We are a performance beauty company with a customer-centric approach to delivering breakthrough products in the self-pay aesthetic market.
Our first commercial product is Jeuveau®, which is a proprietary 900 kilodalton, or kDa, purified botulinum toxin type A formulation indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines, also known as “frown lines,” in adults. Our primary market is the self-pay aesthetic market, which includes medical products purchased by physicians and other customers that are then sold to consumers or used in procedures for aesthetic indications that are not reimbursed by any third-party payor, such as Medicaid, Medicare or commercial insurance. We believe we offer customers and consumers a compelling value proposition with Jeuveau®. Currently, BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) is the neurotoxin market leader, and prior to the approval of Jeuveau®, was the only known 900 kDa botulinum toxin type A complex approved in the United States. We believe aesthetic physicians generally prefer the performance characteristics of the complete 900 kDa neurotoxin complex and are accustomed to injecting this formulation.
United States
In February 2019, we received the approval of our first product Jeuveau® (prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. In May 2019, we commercially launched Jeuveau® in the United States.
In November 2021, we announced the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial designed to investigate a higher strength dose of Jeuveau® in the glabellar lines. We completed our patient enrollment in the clinical study evaluating the “extra-strength” dose in the second quarter of 2022 and the trial is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023. If this indication is approved by the FDA after our completion of all necessary clinical trials and regulatory submissions (including a Phase III clinical trial), we will have the opportunity to offer an extra-strength dosage option, which may make Jeuveau® the first multi-strength neurotoxin and give customers and consumers increased treatment options.
International
In August 2018, we received approval from Health Canada for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines in adult patients under 65 years of age. We began marketing Jeuveau® in Canada in October 2019 through our distribution partner, Clarion Medical Technologies, Inc., or Clarion.
In September 2019, we received approval from the European Commission, to market Jeuveau® in all 27 European Union, or EU, member states plus the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. In January 2021, we received a positive decision from the European Commission to add the 50 unit product to the existing approval obtained in September 2019. We commercially launched Jeuveau® in Great Britain in September 2022, in Germany and Austria in February 2023, and we are finalizing plans for entering additional countries in Europe as part of a phased rollout.
In January 2023, we received approval from the Australian Therapeutics Good Administration, or TGA, for regulatory approval of our neurotoxin in Australia.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We currently qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:
•being permitted to have only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related selected financial data and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations disclosure;
•an exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
•reduced disclosure about executive compensation arrangements in our periodic reports, registration statements and proxy statements; and
•exemptions from the requirements to seek non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements.
In addition, the JOBS Act permits emerging growth companies to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have elected to “opt out” of this provision and to comply with new or revised accounting standards as required of publicly-traded companies generally. This decision to opt out of the extended transition period is irrevocable.
A company that qualifies as an emerging growth company at the time of its initial public offering remains an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the initial public offering, (ii) the first fiscal year after our annual gross revenues are $1.235 billion or more, (iii) the date on which we have, during the immediately preceding three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities or (iv) the end of any fiscal year in which the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates is $700 million or more as of the end of the second quarter of that fiscal year. We will cease being an emerging growth company on December 31, 2023.
Company Information
We were incorporated in the State of Delaware in November 2012. Our principal executive offices are located at 520 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1200, Newport Beach, California 92660, and our telephone number is (949) 284-4555. Our website address is www.evolus.com. We do not incorporate the information on or accessible through our website into this prospectus, and you should not consider any information on, or that can be accessed through, our website a part of this prospectus or any other filing we make with the SEC.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves significant risks. Before deciding whether to invest in our common stock, you should consider carefully the risks, uncertainties and assumptions described in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the risk factors set forth in our filings with the SEC that are incorporated by reference herein and therein, including the risk factors in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as revised or supplemented by our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and which may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future. There may be other unknown or unpredictable economic, business, competitive, regulatory or other factors that could have material adverse effects on our future results. If any of these risks actually occurs, our business, business prospects, financial condition or results of operations could be seriously harmed. Please also read carefully the section below entitled “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein may contain or incorporate forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements, including statements about future events, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, our industry and the regulatory environment in which we operate, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein, in any accompanying prospectus supplement or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative of those terms, or other comparable terms intended to identify statements about the future. The forward-looking statements included herein are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections, which we believe to be reasonable, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control, include, but are not limited to, the following:
•We currently depend entirely on the successful commercialization of our only product, Jeuveau®. If we are unable to successfully market and sell Jeuveau®, we may not generate sufficient revenue to continue our business.
•We have a limited operating history and have incurred significant losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We have only one approved product, which, together with our limited operating history, makes it difficult to assess our future viability.
•We may require additional financing to fund our future operations, and a failure to obtain additional capital when so needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our operations.
•If we or our counterparties do not comply with the terms of our settlement agreements with Medytox, Inc., or Medytox, we may face litigation or lose our ability to market and sell Jeuveau®, which would materially and adversely affect our ability to carry out our business and our financial condition and ability to continue as a going concern.
•The terms of the Settlement Agreement with Medytox will reduce our profitability and may affect the extent of any discounts we may offer to our customers.
•Our business, financial condition and operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak or other similar outbreaks.
•We rely on the license and supply agreement, as amended, with Daewoong, which we refer to as the Daewoong Agreement, to provide us with exclusive rights to distribute Jeuveau® in certain territories. Any termination or loss of significant rights, including exclusivity, under the Daewoong Agreement would materially and adversely affect our development and commercialization of Jeuveau®.
•Our failure to successfully in-license, acquire, develop and market additional product candidates or approved products would impair our ability to grow our business.
•Jeuveau® faces, and any of our future product candidates will face, significant competition and our failure to effectively compete may prevent us from achieving significant market penetration and expansion.
•Jeuveau® may fail to achieve the broad degree of physician adoption and use or consumer demand necessary for commercial success.
•Our ability to market Jeuveau® is limited to use for the treatment of glabellar lines, and if we want to expand the indications for which we market Jeuveau®, we will need to obtain additional regulatory approvals, which will be expensive and may not be granted.
•Third party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our commercialization efforts and interrupt our supply of products.
•If we or any of our current or future licensors, including Daewoong, are unable to maintain, obtain or protect intellectual property rights related to Jeuveau® or any of our future product candidates, we may not be able to compete effectively in our market.
•We may need to increase the size of our organization, including our sales and marketing capabilities in order to further market and sell Jeuveau® and we may experience difficulties in managing this growth.
•We rely on our digital technology and applications and our business and operations would suffer in the event of computer system failures or breach.
•We are subject to extensive government regulation, and we may face delays in or not obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates and our compliance with ongoing regulatory requirements may result in significant additional expense, limit or delay regulatory approval or subject us to penalties if we fail to comply.
These risks and uncertainties are described in more detail in Item 1A “Risk Factors” included in our included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should carefully consider these risks, as well as the additional risks described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and in other documents we file with the SEC in the future, including subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which may from time to time amend, supplement or supersede the risks and uncertainties we disclose. We also operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements included herein or incorporated herein by reference are based on current expectations of management based on available information and are believed to be reasonable. In light of the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein or incorporated herein by reference, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that such results will be achieved, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read the this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by the cautionary statements referenced above.
We obtained the industry, statistical and market data in this prospectus, and the documents incorporated by reference herein from our own internal estimates and research as well as from industry and general publications and research, surveys and studies conducted by third parties. All of the market data used in this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein involves a number of assumptions and limitations. While we believe that the information from these industry publications, surveys and studies is reliable, the industry in which we operate is subject to a high degree of uncertainty and risk due to a variety of important factors, including those described in the section entitled “Risk Factors” and in any accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference into herein and therein. These and other factors could cause results to differ materially from those expressed in the estimates made by third parties and by us.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby. Except as described in any applicable prospectus supplement we have authorized for use in connection with a specific offering, we currently intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered by us hereunder, if any, for working capital and general corporate purposes. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies that are complementary to our own, although we have no current commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus. We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement our intended use for the net proceeds received from the sale of any securities sold pursuant to the prospectus supplement. Pending the use of the net proceeds from any such offering, we may invest the net proceeds in investment grade, short-term interest-bearing obligations, such as money-market funds, certificates of deposit, or direct or guaranteed obligations of the United States government, or hold the net proceeds as cash.
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
The following is a summary of the rights of our common stock and preferred stock, certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws, and applicable law. This summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by the provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, copies of which are filed as exhibits to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, which is incorporated by reference herein.
General
Our authorized capital stock consists of:
▪100,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.00001 per share; and
▪10,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $0.00001 per share.
As of December 31, 2022, there were 56,260,570 outstanding shares of our common stock. As of December 31, 2022, no shares of our preferred stock were issued or outstanding.
Equity Awards
As of December 31, 2022, there were outstanding options to purchase 4,769,521 shares of our common stock and 2,696,457 shares of common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units.
Common Stock
The following summarizes the rights of holders of our common stock:
Voting
The holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share. The number of authorized shares of common stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of our capital stock entitled to vote, irrespective of the provisions of Section 242(b)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL.
Dividends
Subject to preferences that may be applicable to the holders of outstanding shares of preferred stock, the holders of common stock are entitled to share equally, on a per share basis, in any dividends when, as and if declared by our board of directors out of assets legally available for dividends (except that in the event a dividend or distribution is paid in the form of common stock (or rights to acquire such stock), then holders of common stock shall receive common stock (or rights to acquire such stock, as the case may be).
As a Delaware corporation, we are subject to certain restrictions on dividends under the DGCL. Generally, a Delaware corporation may only pay dividends either out of “surplus” or out of the current or the immediately preceding year's net profits. Surplus is defined as the excess, if any, at any given time, of the total assets of a corporation over its total liabilities and statutory capital. The value of a corporation’s assets can be measured in a number of ways and may not necessarily equal their book value.
Liquidation Rights
Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after satisfaction of all our liabilities and the payment of any liquidation preference of any outstanding preferred stock, the holders of shares of common stock will be entitled to share equally, on a per share basis, in all of our assets legally remaining for distribution after payment of all debt and other liabilities.
Redemption Rights
There are no redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to our common stock.
Preemptive Rights and Conversion Rights
There are no preemptive or conversion rights applicable to our common stock.
Preferred Stock
We have no shares of our preferred stock outstanding, but our board of directors is authorized, without further action by our stockholders, to create and issue one or more series of preferred stock and to fix the rights, powers, preferences and privileges thereof. Among other rights, our board of directors may determine, without further vote or action by our stockholders:
▪the number of shares constituting the series and the distinctive designation of the series;
▪the dividend rate on the shares of the series, whether dividends will be cumulative, and if so, from which date or dates, and the relative rights of priority, if any, of payment of dividends on shares of the series;
▪whether the series will have voting rights in addition to the voting rights provided by law and, if so, the terms of the voting rights;
▪whether the series will have conversion privileges and, if so, the terms and conditions of conversion;
▪whether or not the shares of the series will be redeemable or exchangeable, and, if so, the dates, terms and conditions of redemption or exchange, as the case may be;
▪whether the series will have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of the sinking fund; and
▪the rights of the shares of the series in the event of our voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up and the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment of shares of the series.
Any future issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase shares of preferred stock, could, among other things, decrease the amount of earnings and assets available for distribution to the holders of common stock or could adversely affect the rights and powers, including voting rights, of the holders of the common stock.
Anti-Takeover Effects of Provisions of our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws and Delaware Law
Delaware Anti-Takeover Law
We are subject to Section 203 of the DGCL, or Section 203. Section 203 generally prohibits a public Delaware corporation from engaging in a “business combination” with an “interested stockholder” for a period of three years following the time that such stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless:
▪prior to such time the board of directors of the corporation approved either the business combination or the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder;
▪upon consummation of the transaction which resulted in the stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of the voting stock of the corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) those shares owned (i) by persons who are directors and also officers and (ii) employee stock plans in which employee participants do not have the right to determine confidentially whether shares held subject to the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or
▪at or subsequent to such time the business combination is approved by the board of directors and authorized at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, and not by written consent, by the affirmative vote of at least 66 2/3% of the outstanding voting stock which is not owned by the interested stockholder.
In general, Section 203 defines a business combination to include:
▪any merger or consolidation involving the corporation and the interested stockholder;
▪any sale, transfer, pledge or other disposition involving the interested stockholder of 10% or more of the assets of the corporation;
▪subject to exceptions, any transaction that results in the issuance or transfer by the corporation of any stock of the corporation to the interested stockholder;
▪subject to exceptions, any transaction involving the corporation that has the effect of increasing the proportionate share of the stock of any class or series of the corporation beneficially owned by the interested stockholder; and
▪the receipt by the interested stockholder of the benefit of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial benefits provided by or through the corporation.
In general, Section 203 defines an interested stockholder as any entity (other than the corporation and any direct or indirect majority-owned subsidiary of the corporation) or person beneficially owning 15% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation and any entity or person affiliated with, associated with or controlling or controlled by such entity or person.
Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
The following provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may make a change-of-control of our company more difficult and could delay, defer or prevent a tender offer or other takeover attempt that a stockholder might consider to be in its best interest, including takeover attempts that might result in the payment of a premium to stockholders over the market price for their shares. These provisions also may promote the continuity of our management by making it more difficult for a person to remove or change the incumbent members of our board of directors.
Authorized but Unissued Shares; Undesignated Preferred Stock. The authorized but unissued shares of our common stock will be available for future issuance without stockholder approval, subject to applicable law and the Nasdaq Marketplace Rules. These additional shares may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including future public offerings to raise additional capital, acquisitions and employee benefit plans. In addition, our board of directors may authorize, without stockholder approval, the issuance of undesignated preferred stock with voting rights or other rights or preferences designated from time to time by our board of directors (including the right to approve an acquisition or other change in our control). The existence of authorized but unissued shares of common stock or preferred stock may enable our board of directors to render more difficult or to discourage an attempt to obtain control of us by means of a merger, tender offer, proxy contest or otherwise.
Election and Removal of Directors. Our board of directors will consist of not less than five nor more than nine directors. The exact number of directors will be fixed from time to time only by resolution of our board of directors. Our board of directors currently has seven members.
Our certificate of incorporation provides that directors may be removed only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 66 2/3% of our then outstanding voting stock.
Classified Board of Directors. Our certificate of incorporation provides that our board of directors is classified with approximately one-third of the directors elected each year. The authorized number of directors may be changed only by resolution of the board of directors. The directors are divided into three classes, designated class I, class II and class III. Each class consists, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire board of directors. At each annual meeting of stockholders, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting will be elected until the third annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding the elections or until their successors are duly elected and qualified or until their earlier death, resignation or removal. In addition, if the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease will be apportioned by our board of directors among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class or from the removal from office, death, disability, resignation or disqualification of a director or other cause will hold office for a term that will coincide with the remaining term of that class, but in no case will a decrease in the number of directors have the effect of removing or shortening the term of any incumbent director.
Director Vacancies. Our certificate of incorporation authorizes only our board of directors to fill vacant directorships.
No Cumulative Voting. Our certificate of incorporation provides that stockholders do not have the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors (therefore allowing the holders of a majority of the shares of common stock entitled to vote in any election of directors to elect all of the directors standing for election, if they should so choose).
Special Meetings of Stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws provide that special meetings of our stockholders may only be called by the chairman of the board, our Chief Executive Officer or by our board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized directors.
Advance Notice Procedures for Director Nominations. Our bylaws establish advance notice procedures for stockholders seeking to nominate candidates for election as directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders. Although our bylaws do not give the board of directors the power to approve or disapprove stockholder nominations of candidates to be elected at an annual meeting, our bylaws may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper
procedures are not followed or may discourage or deter a potential acquiror from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.
Action by Written Consent. Our certificate of incorporation provides that any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders and may not be effected by any consent in writing in lieu of a meeting of such stockholders, subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock.
Amending Our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws. Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may be amended by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the voting power of our then-outstanding common stock.
Exclusive Jurisdiction. Our certificate of incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the state of Delaware (the "Court of Chancery") shall be the sole and exclusive forum for all “internal corporate claims.” “Internal corporate claims” are claims, (i) that are based upon a violation of a duty by a current or former director or officer or stockholder in such capacity, or (ii) as to which Title 8 of the DGCL confers jurisdiction upon the Court of Chancery, except for, as to each of (i) and (ii) above, any claim as to which the Court of Chancery determines that there is an indispensable party not subject to the jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery (and the indispensable party does not consent to the personal jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery within ten days following such determination), which is vested in the exclusive jurisdiction of a court or forum other than the Court of Chancery, or for which the Court of Chancery does not have subject matter jurisdiction. This exclusive forum provision is intended to apply to claims arising under Delaware state law and would not apply to claims brought pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Securities Act, or any other claim for which the federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. The exclusive forum provision in our certificate of incorporation will not relieve us of our duties to comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, and our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with these laws, rules and regulations.
Conflicts of Interest
Delaware law permits corporations to adopt provisions renouncing any interest or expectancy in certain opportunities that are presented to the corporation or its officers, directors or stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Delaware law, renounces any interest or expectancy that we have in, or right to be offered an opportunity to participate in, specified business opportunities that are from time to time presented to AEON Biopharma, Inc. formerly known as Alphaeon Corporation or any of its officers, directors, stockholders, agents, members, partners, subsidiaries (other than our company) and affiliates, other than those directors and officers of our company who are offered business opportunities in their capacity as directors and officers of our company, or the specified parties. Our certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, none of the specified parties will have any duty to refrain from engaging in a corporate opportunity that we might reasonably be deemed to have pursued or had the ability or desire to pursue if granted the opportunity to do so. In addition, to the fullest extent permitted by law, in the event that any of the specified parties acquire knowledge of a potential transaction or other business opportunity which may be a corporate opportunity for itself or himself or its or his affiliates or for us, such person will have no duty to communicate or offer such transaction or business opportunity to us and they may take any such opportunity for themselves or offer it to another person or entity. Our certificate of incorporation does not renounce our interest in any business opportunity that is offered to a director or officer of our company in his or her capacity as a director or officer of our company. To the fullest extent permitted by law, no business opportunity will be deemed to be a potential corporate opportunity for us unless we would be permitted to undertake the opportunity under our certificate of incorporation, we have sufficient financial resources to undertake the opportunity and the opportunity would be in line with our business.
Nasdaq Global Market Listing
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market under the symbol “EOLS.”
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent and registrar’s address is 150 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities from time to time, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any debt securities that we may offer in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus. The terms of any debt securities offered under any applicable prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Unless the context requires otherwise, whenever we refer to the indenture, we also are referring to any supplemental indentures that specify the terms of a particular series of debt securities.
We will issue the debt securities under the indenture that we will enter into with the trustee named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or the Trust Indenture Act. We have filed the form of indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and supplemental indentures and forms of debt securities containing the terms of the debt securities being offered will be filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or will be incorporated by reference from reports that we file with the SEC.
The following summary of material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture applicable to a particular series of debt securities. We urge you to read any applicable prospectus supplements and any related free writing prospectuses related to the debt securities that we may offer under this prospectus, as well as the complete indenture that contains the terms of the debt securities.
General
The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue. It provides that we may issue debt securities up to the principal amount that we may authorize and may be in any currency or currency unit that we may designate. Except for the limitations on consolidation, merger and sale of all or substantially all of our assets contained in the indenture, the terms of the indenture do not contain any covenants or other provisions designed to give holders of any debt securities protection against changes in our operations, financial condition or transactions involving us.
We may issue the debt securities issued under the indenture as “discount securities,” which means they may be sold at a discount below their stated principal amount. These debt securities, as well as other debt securities that are not issued at a discount, may be issued with “original issue discount,” or OID, for U.S. federal income tax purposes because of interest payment and other characteristics or terms of the debt securities. One or more series of debt securities may be variable rate debt securities that may be exchanged for fixed rate debt securities. Material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued with OID will be described in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement.
We will comply with Section 14(e) under the Exchange Act to the extent applicable, and any other tender offer rules under the Exchange Act, which may then be applicable, in connection with any obligation we may have to purchase debt securities at the option of the holders thereof. Any such obligation applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in any applicable prospectus supplement.
Any applicable prospectus supplement relating to a series of debt securities being offered will contain the following terms, if applicable:
•the title of the series of debt securities and the ranking;
•the aggregate principal amount and any limit on that amount;
•the price at which the debt securities will be issued;
•the date on which the debt securities mature;
•the fixed or variable rate at which the debt securities will bear interest, or the method by which the rate shall be determined;
•the timing, place and manner of making principal, interest and any premium payments on the debt securities, and, if applicable, where the debt securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange;
•the date or dates, if any, after which the debt securities may be converted or exchanged into or for our common stock or another company’s securities or property or cash, and the terms of any such conversion or exchange;
•any redemption or early repayment provisions;
•any sinking fund or similar provisions;
•the authorized denominations;
•any applicable subordination provisions;
•any guarantees of the securities by our subsidiaries or others;
•the currency in which we will pay the principal, interest and any premium payments on the debt securities;
•whether the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method and the manner in which the amounts shall be determined;
•the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities, if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof;
•the time period within which, the manner in which and the terms and conditions upon which the purchaser of the securities can select the payment currency;
•the provisions, if any, granting special rights to the holders of debt securities upon certain events;
•any additions to or changes in the events of default or covenants with respect to the debt securities, and any change in the right of the trustee or the holders, from those described in this prospectus, to declare principal, premium and interest to be due and payable;
•additions to or changes in or deletions of the provisions relating to covenant defeasance and legal defeasance;
•additions to or changes in the provisions relating to satisfaction and discharge of the indenture;
•additions to or changes in the provisions relating to the modification of the indenture both with and without the consent of holders of debt securities issued under the indenture;
•whether and under what circumstances we will pay any additional amounts on the debt securities for any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem the debt securities instead of paying those amounts;
•the form (registered and/or bearer securities), any restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of bearer securities and the terms, if any, upon which bearer securities may be exchanged for registered securities and vice versa;
•the date of any bearer securities or any global security, if other than the date of original issuance of the first security of the series to be issued;
•the person to whom and manner in which any interest shall be payable;
•whether the securities will be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities;
•the identity of the depositary for global securities;
•whether a temporary security is to be issued with respect to the series and whether any interest payable prior to the issuance of definitive securities of the series will be credited to the account of the persons entitled thereto;
•the terms upon which beneficial interests in a temporary global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for beneficial interests in a definitive global security or for individual definitive securities and the terms upon which exchanges may be made;
•the securities exchange(s), if any, on which the securities will be listed;
•whether any underwriter(s) will act as market maker(s) for the securities;
•the form (certificated or book-entry);
•the form and/or terms of certificates, documents or conditions which may be necessary, if any, for the debt securities to be issuable in final form; and
•additional terms not inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture.
Conversion or Exchange Rights
We will set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement the terms on which a series of debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock or our other securities. We will include provisions as to settlement upon conversion or exchange and whether conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option. We may include provisions pursuant to which the number of shares of our common stock or our other securities that the holders of the series of debt securities receive would be subject to adjustment.
Consolidation, Merger or Sale
Except as set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement, the indenture will provide that we shall not consolidate with, or sell, assign, transfer, lease or convey all or substantially all of our assets to, or merge into, another business entity, unless:
•we are the surviving entity or, in the event that we are not the surviving entity, the entity formed by the transaction (in a consolidation) or the entity which received the transfer of assets is organized under the laws of any state of the United States or the District of Columbia and that the entity assumes all of our obligations under the debt securities and the indenture; and
•immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default, as defined in the indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, we may merge with another business entity or acquire by purchase or otherwise all or any part of the property or assets of any other company in a transaction in which we are the surviving entity.
Events of Default
Unless otherwise specified in any applicable prospectus supplement, the following are events of default with respect to any series of debt securities issued under the indenture:
•failure to pay principal of any debt security of that series when due and payable at maturity, upon acceleration, redemption or otherwise;
•failure to pay any interest on any debt security of that series when due, and the default continues for 30 days;
•failure to make sinking fund payments when due;
•failure to comply with any covenant or warranty contained in the indenture, other than covenants or warranties contained in the indenture solely for the benefit of other series of debt securities, and the default continues for 30 days after notice from the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of that series;
•certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and
•any other event of default provided with respect to that particular series of debt securities.
If an event of default occurs and continues, then upon written notice to us, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the unpaid principal amount of and any accrued and unpaid
interest on, all debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately. However, at any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of any series has been made, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may rescind and annul the acceleration:
•if all events of default other than the nonpayment of principal of or interest on the debt securities of that series which have become due solely because of the acceleration have been waived or cured; and
•the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction. For information as to waiver of defaults, see “Modification of Indenture; Waiver” below.
The indenture will provide that, subject to the duty of the trustee during an event of default to act with the required standard of care, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of any of the holders, unless the holders shall have offered to the trustee reasonable security or indemnity. Subject to certain provisions, including those requiring security or indemnification of the trustee, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee, with respect to the debt securities of that series.
We will be required to furnish to the trustee under the indenture annually a statement as to the performance by us of our obligations under that indenture and as to any default in our performance.
Modification of Indenture; Waiver
Subject to certain exceptions, the terms of the indenture or the debt securities may be amended or supplemented by us and the trustee with the written consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the amendment with each series voting as a separate class. Without the consent of any holder of the debt securities, we and the trustee may amend the terms of the indenture or the debt securities to:
•cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
•provide for the assumption of our obligations to holders of the debt securities by a successor corporation;
•provide for uncertificated debt securities in addition to certificated debt securities;
•make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any holder of the debt securities in any material respect;
•add to, change or eliminate any other provisions of the indenture in respect of one or more series of debt securities if the change would not (i) apply to any security of any series created prior to the execution of a supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefit of the provision, and (ii) modify the rights of the holder of any security or would become effective only when there is no outstanding security of any series created prior to the execution of the supplemental indenture and entitled to the benefits of the provisions proposed to be changed;
•establish any additional series of debt securities; or
•comply with any requirement of the SEC in connection with the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
However, holders of each series of debt securities affected by a modification must consent to modifications that:
•reduce the principal amount of the debt securities;
•reduce the rate or change the time for payment of interest;
•change the fixed maturity date;
•change the date on which any debt security may be subject to redemption or repurchase, or reduce the redemption or repurchase price;
•make any debt security payable in currency other than that stated in the debt security;
•waive any existing default or event of default and the resulting consequences;
•modify the right of any holder to receive payment of principal or interest on any debt security;
•impair the right of any holder to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment due; or
•make any change in the foregoing amendment provisions which require each holder’s consent.
Any existing default may be waived with the consent of the holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of the series affected. The consent of the holders of debt securities is not necessary to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment to any indenture. It is sufficient if any consent approves the substance of the proposed amendment.
Covenants
Except as permitted in certain circumstances as discussed under “Consolidation, Merger or Sale,” the indenture will require us to do or cause to be done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect our existence, rights (declaration and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that we shall not be required to preserve any right or franchise if we determine that the right or franchise is no longer desirable in the conduct of our business and that the loss of the right or franchise is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the holders of the debt securities.
The indenture will require us to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged, before payment becomes delinquent, all taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed upon us, except any tax, assessment, charge or claim the amount or applicability of which is being contested in good faith.
Reference is made to the indenture and any applicable prospectus supplement for information with respect to any additional covenants specific to a particular series of debt securities.
Discharge
Except as otherwise set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement, we may terminate our obligations under the debt securities of any series, and the corresponding obligations under the indenture when:
•we have paid or deposited with the trustee funds or United States government obligations in an amount sufficient to pay at maturity all outstanding debt securities of the series, including interest other than destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of the series which have not been replaced or paid;
•all outstanding debt securities of the series have been delivered (other than destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of the series which have not been replaced or paid) to the trustee for cancellation;
•all outstanding debt securities of any series have become due and payable; or
•we have paid all other sums payable under the indenture.
In addition, we will have the option to terminate substantially all our obligations under the debt securities of any series and the corresponding obligations under the indenture, and we may exercise that option if:
•we have paid or deposited with the trustee, in trust an amount of cash or United States government obligations sufficient to pay all outstanding principal of and interest on the then outstanding debt securities of the series at maturity or upon their redemption, as the case may be;
•the deposit will not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, the indenture;
•no default or event of default shall have occurred and continue on the date of deposit and no event of default as a result of a bankruptcy or event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become a bankruptcy event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on the 91st day after that date;
•we deliver to the trustee a legal opinion that we have received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of the series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of our option and shall be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if we did not exercise our option; or
•certain other conditions are met.
We will have the option to be released from our obligations with respect to the covenants to deliver reports required to be filed with the SEC and an annual compliance certificate, and to make timely payments of taxes (including covenants described in an applicable prospectus supplement), and any event of default occurring because of a default with respect to the covenants as they related to any series of debt securities, and we may exercise that option if:
•we deposit or cause to be deposited with the trustee in trust an amount of cash or United States government obligations sufficient to pay and discharge when due the entire unpaid principal of and interest on all outstanding debt securities of any series;
•the deposit will not result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, the indenture;
•no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of deposit and no event of default as a result of a bankruptcy or event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become a bankruptcy event of default shall have occurred and be continuing on the 91st day after that date;
•we deliver to the trustee a legal opinion that the holders of the debt securities of the series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of our option and shall be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if we did not exercise our option; and
•certain other conditions are met.
Upon satisfaction of the applicable conditions, our obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of the series, other than with respect to the covenants and events of default referred to above, shall remain in full force and effect.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, no discharge or defeasance described above shall affect the following obligations to or rights of the holders of any series of debt securities:
•rights of registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities of the series;
•rights of substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities of the series;
•rights of holders of debt securities of the series to receive payments of principal thereof and premium, if any, and interest thereon when due;
•rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the trustee;
•rights of holders of debt securities of the series as beneficiaries with respect to property deposited with the trustee and payable to all or any of them; and
•our obligations to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities of the series.
Form, Exchange and Transfer
We expect payment of principal, premium, if any, and any interest on the debt securities to be payable, and the exchange and the transfer of debt securities will be registrable, at the office of the trustee or at any other office or agency we maintain for that purpose. We expect to issue debt securities in denominations of U.S. $1,000 or integral multiples of $1,000. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of the debt securities, but we may require a payment to cover any tax or other governmental charges payable in connection with an exchange or transfer.
A holder of debt securities may transfer or exchange those debt securities in accordance with the indenture. The registrar for the debt securities may require a holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements and transfer documents, and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the indenture. The registrar is not required to transfer or exchange any debt security selected for redemption or any debt security for a period of 15 days before a selection of debt security to be redeemed. The registered holder of a debt security may be treated as the owner of the security for all purposes.
We will name in any applicable prospectus supplement the security registrar, and any transfer agent in addition to the security registrar, that we initially designate for any debt securities. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of each series.
Replacement Securities
Any mutilated certificate representing a debt security or a certificate representing a debt security with a mutilated coupon will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon surrender of the certificate to the trustee. Certificates representing debt securities or coupons that become destroyed, stolen or lost will be replaced by us at the expense of the holder upon delivery to us and the trustee of evidence of any destruction, loss or theft satisfactory to us and the trustee, provided that neither we nor the trustee has been notified that the certificate or coupon has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser. In the case of any coupon which becomes destroyed, stolen or lost, the coupon will be replaced by issuance of a new certificate representing the debt security in exchange for the certificate representing the debt security to which the coupon appertains. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen certificate representing the debt security or coupon, an indemnity bond satisfactory to the trustee and us may be required at the expense of the holder of the debt security before a replacement certificate will be issued.
Information Concerning the Trustee
We will identify in any applicable prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities the trustee with respect to the series. The indenture and the Trust Indenture Act contain certain limitations on the rights of the trustee, should it become our creditor, to obtain payment of claims in certain cases, or to realize on certain property received in respect of any the claim, as security or otherwise. The trustee and its affiliates may engage in, and will be permitted to continue to engage in, other transactions with us and our affiliates, but if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest, as defined in the Trust Indenture Act, it must eliminate the conflict or resign.
The holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the trustee. The Trust Indenture Act and the indenture provide that in case an event of default occurs is continuing, the trustee will be required, in the exercise of its rights and powers, to use the degree of care and skill of a prudent man in the conduct of his own affairs. Subject to those provisions, the trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request of any of the holders of the debt securities, unless they have offered to the trustee indemnity satisfactory to it.
Global Debt Securities
Unless we indicate otherwise in any applicable prospectus supplement, the following provisions will apply to all debt securities.
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with a depositary that we will identify in any applicable prospectus supplement. Each global security will be deposited with the depositary and will bear a legend regarding any related restrictions or other matters as may be provided for pursuant to the applicable indenture.
Unless any applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, no global security may be transferred to, or registered or exchanged for, debt securities registered in the name of, any person or entity other than the depositary, unless:
•the depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable or is no longer qualified to continue as depositary;
•we order the trustee that the global security shall be so transferable, registrable and exchangeable, and the transfers shall be registrable; or
•other circumstances, if any, as may be described in any applicable prospectus supplement.
All debt securities issued in exchange for a global security or any portion of a global security will be registered in those names as the depositary may direct. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a global security will be described in any applicable prospectus supplement.
Debt securities which are to be represented by a global security to be deposited with or on behalf of a depositary will be represented by a global security registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Upon the issuance of the global security, and the deposit of the global security with the depositary, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee, or the Participants. The accounts to be credited will be designated by the underwriters or agents of the debt securities or by us, if the debt securities are offered and sold directly by us.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee for the global security or by Participants or persons that hold through Participants.
The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in certificated form. Those laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in global securities.
So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture. Payment of principal of, and premium and interest, if any, on debt securities will be made to the depositary or its nominee as the registered owner or bearer as the case may be of the global security representing the debt securities. Each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if the person is not a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. If we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to give any notice or take any action a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary will authorize the Participants to give the notice or take the action, and Participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through the Participants to give the notice or take the action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners owning through them.
The rights of any holder of a debt security to receive payment of principal and premium of, if any, and interest, on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in the debt security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the applicable date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of the holders.
Neither we, the trustee, any paying agent nor the security registrar for a debt security will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the global security for the debt security or for maintaining, supervising or receiving any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest, will credit immediately Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of the depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through the Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of the Participants.
If the depositary for a global security representing debt securities of a particular series is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and we do not appoint a successor depositary within 90 days, we will issue debt securities of the series in definitive form in exchange for the global security. In addition, we may at any time and in our sole discretion determine not to have the debt securities of a particular series represented by one or more global securities and, in that event, will issue debt securities of the series in definitive form in exchange for all of the global securities representing debt securities of the series.
Payment and Paying Agents
Unless we otherwise indicate in any applicable prospectus supplement, we will make payment of the interest on any debt securities on any interest payment date to the person in whose name the debt securities, or one or more predecessor securities, are registered at the close of business on the regular record date for the interest.
We will pay principal of and any premium and interest on the debt securities of a particular series at the office of the paying agents designated by us, except that unless we otherwise indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will make interest payments by check that we will mail to the holder or by wire transfer to certain holders. Unless we otherwise indicate in any applicable prospectus supplement, we will designate the corporate trust office of the trustee as our sole paying agent for payments with respect to debt securities of each series. We will name in any applicable prospectus supplement any other paying agents that we initially designate for the debt securities of a particular series. We will maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.
All money we pay to a paying agent or the trustee for the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on any debt securities that remains unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest has become due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holder of the debt security thereafter may look only to us for payment thereof.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act is applicable.
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
We may issue warrants for the purchase of shares of our common stock or preferred stock or of debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with other securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from any offered securities. Each series of warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the investors or a warrant agent. The following summary of material provisions of the warrants and warrant agreements is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the warrant agreement and warrant certificate applicable to a particular series of warrants. The terms of any warrants offered under a prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, as well as the complete warrant agreements and warrant certificates that contain the terms of the warrants.
General
Any applicable prospectus supplement will describe the specific terms of any warrants that we issue or offer, including:
•the title of the warrants;
•the aggregate number of warrants;
•the price or prices at which the warrants will be issued;
•the currencies in which the price or prices of the warrants may be payable;
•the designation, amount and terms of our capital stock or debt securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants;
•the designation and terms of our other securities, if any, that may be issued in connection with the warrants, and the number of warrants issued with each corresponding security;
•if applicable, the date that the warrants and the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants will be separately transferable;
•the prices and currencies for which the securities purchasable upon exercise of the warrants may be purchased;
•the date that the warrants may first be exercised;
•the date that the warrants expire;
•the minimum or maximum amount of warrants that may be exercised at any one time;
•the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreements and the warrants;
•the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;
•any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;
•information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;
•the manner in which the warrant agreements and warrants may be modified;
•a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations; and
•any other material terms of the warrants, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.
Exercise of Warrants
Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase for cash the principal amount of common stock, preferred stock or debt securities at the applicable exercise price set forth in, or determined as described in, any applicable prospectus supplement. Warrants may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date, unexercised warrants will become void.
Warrants may be exercised by delivering to the corporation trust office of the warrant agent or any other officer indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement (a) the warrant certificate properly completed and duly executed and (b) payment of the amount due upon exercise. As soon as practicable following exercise, we will forward the common stock, preferred stock or debt securities purchasable upon exercise. If less than all of the warrants represented by a warrant certificate are exercised, a new warrant certificate will be issued for the remaining warrants if the expiration date of the warrants has not occurred. If we so indicate in any applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the warrants may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for warrants.
Governing Law
Unless we provide otherwise in any applicable prospectus supplement, the warrants and warrant agreements, and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to the warrants or warrant agreements, will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
Enforceability of Rights by Holders of Warrants
Each warrant agent, if any, will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank or trust company may act as warrant agent for more than one issue of warrants. A warrant agent will have no duty or responsibility in case of any default by us under the applicable warrant agreement or warrant, including any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or otherwise, or to make any demand upon us. Any holder of a warrant may, without the consent of the related warrant agent or the holder of any other warrant, enforce by appropriate legal action its right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants.
Outstanding Warrants
As of December 31, 2022, there were no warrants to purchase shares of our common stock outstanding.
DESCRIPTION OF UNITS
The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the units that we may offer under this prospectus. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any units that we may offer under this prospectus, we will describe the particular terms of any series of units in more detail in any applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus. The terms of any units offered under an applicable prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. However, no prospectus supplement will fundamentally change the terms that are set forth in this prospectus or offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.
We will file as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, or will incorporate by reference from reports that we file with the SEC, the form of unit agreement that describes the terms of the series of units we are offering, and any supplemental agreements, before the issuance of the related series of units. The following summaries of material terms and provisions of the units are subject to, and qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the unit agreement and any supplemental agreements applicable to a particular series of units. We urge you to read the applicable prospectus supplements related to the particular series of units that we sell under this prospectus, as well as the complete unit agreement and any supplemental agreements that contain the terms of the units.
General
We may issue units comprised of one or more debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants and/or rights in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder of each security included in the unit. Thus, the holder of a unit will have the rights and obligations of a holder of each included security. The unit agreement under which a unit is issued may provide that the securities included in the unit may not be held or transferred separately, at any time or at any time before a specified date.
We will describe in any applicable prospectus supplement the terms of the series of units, including:
•the designation and terms of the units and of the securities comprising the units, including whether and under what circumstances those securities may be held or transferred separately;
•any provisions of the governing unit agreement that differ from those described below; and
•any provisions for the issuance, payment, settlement, transfer or exchange of the units or of the securities comprising the units.
The provisions described in this section, as well as those described under “Description of Capital Stock,” “Description of Debt Securities,” “Description of Warrants,” and “Description of Rights” will apply to each unit and to any common stock, preferred stock, debt security, warrant or right included in each unit, respectively.
Issuance in Series
We may issue units in the amounts and in 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.
Title
We, the 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 purposes and as the person entitled to exercise the rights attaching to the units, despite any notice to the contrary.
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS
We may issue rights to purchase shares of our common stock, preferred stock, or warrants in one or more series. Rights may be issued independently or together with any other offered security and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights. In connection with any rights offering to our stockholders, we may enter into a standby underwriting arrangement with one or more underwriters pursuant to which the underwriters will purchase any of the offered securities remaining unsubscribed after the expiration of the rights offering. In connection with a rights offering to our stockholders, we will distribute certificates evidencing the rights and an applicable prospectus supplement to our stockholders on the record date that we set for receiving rights in the rights offering.
An applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of rights in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
•the title of the rights;
•the securities for which the rights are exercisable;
•the exercise price for the rights;
•the currencies in which the price or prices of the rights may be payable;
•the date of determining the security holders entitled to the rights distribution;
•the number of the rights issued to each security holder;
•the extent to which the rights are transferable;
•if applicable, a discussion of the material United States federal income tax considerations applicable to the issuance or exercise of the rights;
•the date on which the right to exercise the rights shall commence, and the date on which the rights shall expire (subject to any extension);
•the conditions to completion of the rights offering;
•any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the rights;
•the extent to which the rights include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;
•if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or other purchase arrangement that we may enter into in connection with the rights offering; and
•any other terms of the rights, including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the rights.
Each right will entitle the holder to purchase for cash the amount of securities, at the exercise price. Rights may be exercised at any time up to the close of business on the expiration date of the rights. After the close of business on the expiration date, all unexercised rights will become void. The manner in which rights may be exercised will be described in any applicable prospectus supplement. Upon receipt of payment and the proper completion and due execution of the rights certificate at the designated office of the rights agent or any other office indicated in any applicable prospectus supplement, we or the transfer agent will forward, as soon as practicable, the securities purchased through upon the exercise of the rights. We may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of the methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting arrangements, as set forth in any applicable prospectus supplement.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the securities offered by this prospectus in any one or more of the following ways from time to time:
•through agents;
•to or through underwriters;
•to or through brokers or dealers;
•directly to investors, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process;
•directly to agents;
•through a combination of any such methods of sale; or
•by any other method permitted pursuant to applicable law.
The distribution of securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including block transactions and transactions on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other organized market where the shares may be traded. The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us, or from the purchasers of the securities. Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts.
Agents may from time to time solicit offers to purchase the securities. If required, any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities will be named, and any compensation payable to the agent will be described, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities.
If underwriters are used in a sale, securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale, or under delayed delivery contracts or other contractual commitments. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by one or more managing underwriters or directly by one or more firms acting as underwriters. If an underwriter or underwriters are used in the sale of securities, an underwriting agreement will be executed with the underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for the sale is reached. The underwriter may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions from the purchasers for which they may act as agent. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriter or underwriters, with respect to a particular underwritten offering of securities, and will set forth the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers and the public offering price, if applicable. Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, an agent will be acting on a best efforts basis and a dealer will purchase securities as a principal, and may then resell the securities at varying prices to be determined by the dealer. The prospectus and prospectus supplement will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.
If a dealer is used in the sale of the securities, we or an underwriter will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale. To the extent required, the name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions will be set forth in the prospectus supplement.
We may directly solicit offers to purchase the securities and we may make sales of securities directly to institutional investors or others. These persons may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale of the securities. To the extent required, the prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction process, if used.
Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against specified liabilities, including liabilities incurred under the Securities Act, or to contribution by us to payments it may be required to make in respect of such liabilities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms and conditions of such indemnification or contribution. Some of the agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.
Under the securities laws of some states, the securities offered by this prospectus may be sold in those states only through registered or licensed brokers or dealers.
Any person participating in the distribution of common stock registered under the registration statement that includes this prospectus will be subject to applicable provisions of the Exchange Act and the applicable SEC rules and regulations, including, among others, Regulation M, which may limit the timing of purchases and sales of any of common stock by any such person. Furthermore, Regulation M may restrict the ability of any person engaged in the distribution of common stock to engage in market-making activities with respect to common stock. These restrictions may affect the marketability of common stock and the ability of any person or entity to engage in market-making activities with respect to common stock.
Certain persons participating in the offering may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short-covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the offered securities. For a description of these activities, see the information under the heading “Underwriting” in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We may engage in at-the-market offerings into an existing trading market in accordance with Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act. In addition, we may enter into derivative transactions with third parties, or sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. If the applicable prospectus supplement so indicates, in connection with those derivatives, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, including in short sale transactions. If so, the third party may use securities pledged by us or borrowed from us or others to settle those sales or to close out any related open borrowings of stock, and may use securities received from us in settlement of those derivatives to close out any related open borrowings of stock. The third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and, if not identified in this prospectus, will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement (or a post-effective amendment). In addition, we may otherwise loan or pledge securities to a financial institution or other third party that in turn may sell the securities short using this prospectus and an applicable prospectus supplement. Such financial institution or other third party may transfer its economic short position to investors in our securities or in connection with a concurrent offering of other securities.
The specific terms of any lock-up provisions in respect of any given offering will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with us, or perform services for us, in the ordinary course of business for which they receive compensation.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the securities offered by this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement thereto will be passed upon for us by O’Melveny & Myers LLP. Additional legal matters may be passed upon for us or any underwriters, dealers or agents, by counsel that we name in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits and schedules, under the Securities Act, with respect to the shares of common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits. For further information with respect to us and the securities being offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed thereto. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including documents that we have incorporated by reference, regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements. You may obtain copies of the registration statement and its exhibits via the SEC’s EDGAR database.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC under the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including our company, that file electronically with the SEC. You may obtain documents that we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
We also make these documents available on our website at www.evolus.com. Our website and the information contained or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and you should not consider it part of this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing us at 520 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1200, Newport Beach, California 92660, Attention: General Counsel or telephoning us at (949) 284-4555.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain of the information we file with the SEC. This means we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that has been filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:
•our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023; and
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the completion or termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus. These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements. We will not, however, incorporate by reference in this prospectus any documents or portions thereof that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished
pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K after the date of this prospectus unless, and except to the extent, specified in such Current Reports. Any statements contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference into this prospectus are deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including exhibits to these documents. You should direct any requests for documents to us at the address or telephone referenced above under “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” You may also access the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus through our website at www.evolus.com. Except for the specific incorporated documents listed above, no information available on or through our website shall be deemed to be incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
$250,000,000
Common Stock
Preferred Stock
Debt Securities
Warrants
Units
Rights
PROSPECTUS
, 2023
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may not sell these securities or accept an offer to buy 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 it is not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any state where such offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MARCH 8, 2023
PROSPECTUS
Up to $50,000,000
Common Stock
_____________________________
We have entered into a sales agreement, the Sales Agreement, with SVB Securities LLC, or SVB Securities, relating to the sale of our common stock offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the Sales Agreement, under this prospectus we may offer and sell our common stock, par value $0.00001 per share, having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 from time to time through SVB Securities, acting as our agent.
Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus will be made by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. SVB Securities is not required to sell any specific amount, but will act as our sales agent using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
The compensation to SVB Securities for sales of shares of our common stock will be 3.0% of the gross price per share sold. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-11 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to SVB Securities. In connection with the sale of the shares of common stock on our behalf, SVB Securities will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of SVB Securities will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to SVB Securities with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.
Our common stock is listed on the Nasdaq Global Market, or Nasdaq, under the trading symbol “EOLS.”
We are an “emerging growth company” under the federal securities laws and, as such, are subject to reduced public company reporting requirements. See “About the Company—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company” in this prospectus.
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Please read “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus and the risk factors in the documents filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and incorporated by reference herein to read about certain factors you should consider before investing in our common stock.
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.
SVB Securities
The date of this prospectus is ,2023
TABLE OF CONTENTS
| | | | | | | | |
| | Page |
| PROSPECTUS |
| ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS | | |
| PROSPECTUS SUMMARY | | |
| RISK FACTORS | | |
| CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS | | |
| USE OF PROCEEDS | | |
| DILUTION | | |
| PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION | | |
| LEGAL MATTERS | | |
| EXPERTS | | |
| WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION | | |
| INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE | | |
In making your investment decision, you should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. Neither we nor SVB Securities have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. Neither we nor SVB Securities take responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you.
The information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us is current only as of the date of the applicable document, regardless of its time of delivery or any sale of shares of our common stock. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
For investors outside the United States: Neither we nor SVB Securities have done anything that would permit this offering or possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the shares of common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. The $50,000,000 of common stock that may be offered, issued and sold under this prospectus is included in the $250,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us pursuant to the registration statement.
This prospectus provides certain information to you about this offering of shares of our common stock. If information in this prospectus is inconsistent with documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus filed prior to the date of this prospectus, you should rely on this prospectus. However, if any statement in one of these documents is inconsistent with a statement in another document having a later date — for example, a document incorporated by reference in this prospectus —the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement as our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since the earlier dates.
You should rely only on the information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, this prospectus and in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering. We have not, and SVB Securities has not, authorized any other person to provide you with different or inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and in any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, is accurate only as of the date of each respective document. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates. You should read this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and any free writing prospectus that we may authorize for use in connection with this offering, in their entirety before making an investment decision. You should also read and consider the information in the documents to which we have referred you in the sections of this prospectus entitled “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference.”
You should not consider any information in this prospectus or any free writing prospectus to which we have referred you to be investment, legal or tax advice. You should consult your own counsel, accountants and other advisors for legal, tax, business, financial and related advice regarding the purchase of any of the shares of common stock offered hereby.
We are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of common stock only in jurisdictions where offers and sales are permitted. The distribution of this prospectus and the offering of the common stock in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, the offering of the common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States. This prospectus does not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, any securities offered by this prospectus by any person in any jurisdiction in which it is unlawful for such person to make such an offer or solicitation.
EVOLUS® and Jeuveau® are two of our trademarks that are used in this prospectus. Jeuveau® is the trade name in the United States for our approved product with non-proprietary name, prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs. The product has different trade names outside of the United States, but is referred to throughout this prospectus as Jeuveau®. This prospectus also includes trademarks, trade names and service marks that are the property of other organizations, such as BOTOX® and BOTOX® Cosmetic, which we refer to throughout this prospectus as BOTOX. Solely for convenience, trademarks and trade names referred to in this prospectus appear without the ® and ™ symbols, but those references are not intended to indicate that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights, or that the applicable owner will not assert its rights, to these trademarks and trade names. We do not intend our use or display of other companies’ trade names or trademarks to imply a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, any other companies.
PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein. This summary does not contain all of the information you should consider before investing in our common stock. You should read this entire prospectus carefully, especially the risks of investing in our common stock discussed under "Risk Factors" beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus and in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2022, along with our consolidated financial statements and notes to those consolidated financial statements and the other information incorporated by reference in this prospectus, before making an investment decision. Unless the context requires otherwise, references in this prospectus to “Evolus,” “our company,” “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Evolus, Inc.
Our Business
Overview
We are a performance beauty company with a customer-centric approach to delivering breakthrough products in the self-pay aesthetic market.
Our first commercial product is Jeuveau®, which is a proprietary 900 kilodalton, or kDa, purified botulinum toxin type A formulation indicated for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines, also known as “frown lines,” in adults. Our primary market is the self-pay aesthetic market, which includes medical products purchased by physicians and other customers that are then sold to consumers or used in procedures for aesthetic indications that are not reimbursed by any third-party payor, such as Medicaid, Medicare or commercial insurance. We believe we offer customers and consumers a compelling value proposition with Jeuveau®. Currently, BOTOX (onabotulinumtoxinA) is the neurotoxin market leader, and prior to the approval of Jeuveau®, was the only known 900 kDa botulinum toxin type A complex approved in the United States. We believe aesthetic physicians generally prefer the performance characteristics of the complete 900 kDa neurotoxin complex and are accustomed to injecting this formulation.
United States
In February 2019, we received the approval of our first product Jeuveau® (prabotulinumtoxinA-xvfs) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA. In May 2019, we commercially launched Jeuveau® in the United States.
In November 2021, we announced the initiation of a Phase II clinical trial designed to investigate a higher strength dose of Jeuveau® in the glabellar lines. We completed our patient enrollment in the clinical study evaluating the “extra-strength” dose in the second quarter of 2022 and the trial is expected to be completed in the first half of 2023. If this indication is approved by the FDA after our completion of all necessary clinical trials and regulatory submissions (including a Phase III clinical trial), we will have the opportunity to offer an extra-strength dosage option, which may make Jeuveau® the first multi-strength neurotoxin and give customers and consumers increased treatment options.
International
In August 2018, we received approval from Health Canada for the temporary improvement in the appearance of moderate to severe glabellar lines in adult patients under 65 years of age. We began marketing Jeuveau® in Canada in October 2019 through our distribution partner, Clarion Medical Technologies, Inc., or Clarion.
In September 2019, we received approval from the European Commission, to market Jeuveau® in all 27 European Union, or EU, member states plus the United Kingdom, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein. In January 2021, we received a positive decision from the European Commission to add the 50 unit product to the existing approval obtained in September 2019. We commercially launched Jeuveau® in Great Britain in September 2022, in Germany and Austria in February 2023, and we are finalizing plans for entering additional countries in Europe as part of a phased rollout.
In January 2023, we received approval from the Australian Therapeutics Good Administration, or TGA, for regulatory approval of our neurotoxin in Australia.
Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company
We currently qualify as an “emerging growth company,” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. For as long as we remain an emerging growth company, we may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies. These provisions include, but are not limited to:
•being permitted to have only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of related selected financial data and management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations disclosure;
•an exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirement in the assessment of our internal control over financial reporting pursuant to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;
•reduced disclosure about executive compensation arrangements in our periodic reports, registration statements and proxy statements; and
•exemptions from the requirements to seek non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements.
In addition, the JOBS Act permits emerging growth companies to take advantage of an extended transition period to comply with new or revised accounting standards applicable to public companies. We have elected to “opt out” of this provision and to comply with new or revised accounting standards as required of publicly-traded companies generally. This decision to opt out of the extended transition period is irrevocable.
A company that qualifies as an emerging growth company at the time of its initial public offering remains an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the initial public offering, (ii) the first fiscal year after our annual gross revenues are $1.235 billion or more, (iii) the date on which we have, during the immediately preceding three-year period, issued more than $1.0 billion in non-convertible debt securities or (iv) the end of any fiscal year in which the market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates is $700 million or more as of the end of the second quarter of that fiscal year. We will cease being an emerging growth company on December 31, 2023.
Company Information
We were incorporated in the State of Delaware in November 2012. Our principal executive offices are located at 520 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1200, Newport Beach, California 92660, and our telephone number is (949) 284-4555. Our website address is www.evolus.com. We do not incorporate the information on or accessible through our website into this prospectus. Information found on, or accessible through, our website is not a part of, and is not incorporated into, this prospectus. Our website address is included in this prospectus as an inactive textual reference only.
THE OFFERING
| | | | | | | | |
| Common stock offered by us | | Common stock having an aggregated offering price of up to $50,000,000 |
| | |
| Common stock to be outstanding after this offering | | Up to 61,713,132 shares assuming sales of 5,452,562 shares of our common stock in this offering at an offering price of $9.17 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on The Nasdaq Global Market on March 7, 2023. The actual number of shares issued will vary depending on the sales price under this offering. |
| | |
| Manner of offering | | We will sell the shares of our common stock offered hereby by any method permitted that is deemed an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415(a)(4) under the Securities Act, through our agent SVB Securities. See the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” on page S-11 of this prospectus. |
| | |
| Use of proceeds | | We currently plan to use the net proceeds from this offering for business development, working capital and other general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds” for more information. |
| | |
| Nasdaq Global Market symbol | | “EOLS” |
| | |
| Risk factors | | Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-5 of this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a discussion of certain factors to consider carefully before deciding to purchase any shares of our common stock. |
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 56,260,570 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022, and excludes as of that date:
•4,769,521 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options under our Evolus, Inc. 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the "2017 Plan") at a weighted average exercise price of $9.24 per share, and 169,158 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding inducement stock options outside the 2017 Plan at a weighted average exercise price of $9.06 per share;
•2,696,457 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units outstanding under the 2017 Plan and 36,443 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of inducement restricted stock units outside of the 2017 Plan;
•3,515,904 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2017 Plan.
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before deciding to invest in our common stock, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information contained in this prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference herein, including the risks described in the “Risk Factors” section of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the SEC in the future, including subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. If any of these risks actually occur, our business, prospects, operating results and financial condition could suffer materially. In such event, the trading price of our common stock could decline and you might lose all or part of your investment.
Risks Related to this Offering
If you purchase our common stock sold in this offering, you may experience immediate and substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of your common stock. In addition, we may issue additional equity or convertible debt securities in the future, which may result in additional dilution to you.
The price per share of our common stock being offered may be higher than the net tangible book value per share of our outstanding common stock prior to this offering. Assuming that an aggregate of 5,452,562 shares of common stock are sold at a price of $9.17 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on March 7, 2023, for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $50,000,000, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, new investors in this offering would incur immediate dilution of $9.22 per share. For a more detailed discussion of the foregoing, see the section entitled “Dilution” below. To the extent outstanding stock options are exercised or restricted stock units are settled, there would be further dilution to new investors. In addition, to the extent we raise additional capital in the future and we issue additional shares of common stock or securities convertible or exchangeable for our common stock, our then existing stockholders may experience dilution and the new securities may have rights senior to those of our common stock offered in this offering.
Our management will have broad discretion over the actual amounts and timing of the expenditure of the proceeds from this offering, if any, and might not apply the proceeds in ways that enhance our operating results or increase the value of your investment.
We currently plan to use the net proceeds from this offering, if any, for business development, working capital and other general corporate purposes. Our management will have broad discretion over the actual amounts and timing of the expenditure of the net proceeds from this offering within those categories, and accordingly, investors in this offering will need to rely upon the judgment of our management with respect to the use of proceeds, with only limited information concerning management’s specific intentions. Our management might not apply the proceeds in ways that enhance our operating results or increase the value of your investment. Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we plan to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.
The actual number of shares of common stock we will issue under the Sales Agreement, at any one time or in total, is uncertain.
Subject to certain limitations in the Sales Agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to SVB Securities at any time throughout the term of the Sales Agreement. The per share price of the shares of common stock that are sold by SVB Securities after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period and limits we set with SVB Securities. Because the price per share of each share of common stock sold will fluctuate based on the market price of our common stock during the sales period, it is not possible at this stage to predict the number of shares of common stock that will be ultimately issued.
The common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings,” and investors who buy shares of common stock at different times will likely pay different prices.
Investors who purchase shares of common stock in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the
timing, prices, and number of shares of our common stock sold, and there is no minimum or maximum sales price required by the Sales Agreement, although our Board of Directors may from time to time establish a minimum sales price at which we may sell shares of our common stock in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of their common stock as a result of common stock sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein may contain or incorporate forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements, including statements about future events, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects, our industry and the regulatory environment in which we operate, are subject to risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained herein, in the accompanying prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein that are not statements of historical or current facts are forward-looking statements. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative of those terms, or other comparable terms intended to identify statements about the future. The forward-looking statements included herein are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections, which we believe to be reasonable, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict accurately and many of which are beyond our control, include, but are not limited to, the following:
•We currently depend entirely on the successful commercialization of our only product, Jeuveau®. If we are unable to successfully market and sell Jeuveau®, we may not generate sufficient revenue to continue our business.
•We have a limited operating history and have incurred significant losses since our inception and anticipate that we will continue to incur losses for the foreseeable future. We have only one approved product, which, together with our limited operating history, makes it difficult to assess our future viability.
•We may require additional financing to fund our future operations, and a failure to obtain additional capital when so needed on acceptable terms, or at all, could force us to delay, limit, reduce or terminate our operations.
•If we or our counterparties do not comply with the terms of our settlement agreements with Medytox, Inc., or Medytox, we may face litigation or lose our ability to market and sell Jeuveau®, which would materially and adversely affect our ability to carry out our business and our financial condition and ability to continue as a going concern.
•The terms of the Settlement Agreement with Medytox will reduce our profitability and may affect the extent of any discounts we may offer to our customers.
•Our business, financial condition and operations have been, and may in the future be, adversely affected by the COVID-19 outbreak or other similar outbreaks.
•We rely on the license and supply agreement, as amended, with Daewoong, which we refer to as the Daewoong Agreement, to provide us with exclusive rights to distribute Jeuveau® in certain territories. Any termination or loss of significant rights, including exclusivity, under the Daewoong Agreement would materially and adversely affect our development and commercialization of Jeuveau®.
•Our failure to successfully in-license, acquire, develop and market additional product candidates or approved products would impair our ability to grow our business.
•Jeuveau® faces, and any of our future product candidates will face, significant competition and our failure to effectively compete may prevent us from achieving significant market penetration and expansion.
•Jeuveau® may fail to achieve the broad degree of physician adoption and use or consumer demand necessary for commercial success.
•Our ability to market Jeuveau® is limited to use for the treatment of glabellar lines, and if we want to expand the indications for which we market Jeuveau®, we will need to obtain additional regulatory approvals, which will be expensive and may not be granted.
•Third party claims of intellectual property infringement may prevent or delay our commercialization efforts and interrupt our supply of products.
•If we or any of our current or future licensors, including Daewoong, are unable to maintain, obtain or protect intellectual property rights related to Jeuveau® or any of our future product candidates, we may not be able to compete effectively in our market.
•We may need to increase the size of our organization, including our sales and marketing capabilities in order to further market and sell Jeuveau® and we may experience difficulties in managing this growth.
•We rely on our digital technology and applications and our business and operations would suffer in the event of computer system failures or breach.
•We are subject to extensive government regulation, and we may face delays in or not obtain regulatory approval of our product candidates and our compliance with ongoing regulatory requirements may result in significant additional expense, limit or delay regulatory approval or subject us to penalties if we fail to comply.
•The anticipated use of proceeds from this offering, if any.
These risks and uncertainties are described in more detail in Item 1A “Risk Factors” included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K. You should carefully consider these risks, as well as the additional risks described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus and in other documents we file with the SEC in the future, including subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which may from time to time amend, supplement or supersede the risks and uncertainties we disclose. We also operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks emerge from time to time and it is not possible for our management to predict all risks, nor can we assess the impact of all factors on our business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements.
The forward-looking statements included herein or incorporated herein by reference are based on current expectations of management based on available information and are believed to be reasonable. In light of the significant risks and uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein or incorporated herein by reference, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation by us or any other person that such results will be achieved, and investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. You should read this prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein with the understanding that our actual future results, levels of activity, performance and achievements may be materially different from what we expect. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by the cautionary statements referenced above.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will retain broad discretion over the use of the net proceeds from the sale of the securities offered hereby. We may issue and sell common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $50,000,000 from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to complete this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time.
We currently plan to use the net proceeds from this offering for business development, working capital and other general corporate purposes. Our management will have broad discretion over the actual amounts and timing of the expenditure of the net proceeds from this offering within those categories, and accordingly, investors in this offering will need to rely upon the judgment of our management with respect to the use of proceeds. We may also use a portion of the net proceeds to acquire or invest in businesses, products and technologies that are complementary to our own, although we have no current commitments or agreements with respect to any acquisitions as of the date of this prospectus.
Pending our use of the net proceeds from this offering, we plan to invest the net proceeds in a variety of capital preservation investments, including short and intermediate-term, interest-bearing obligations, investment-grade instruments, certificates of deposit or direct or guaranteed obligations of the U.S. government.
DILUTION
If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your ownership interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the price per share you pay in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share of our common stock immediately after this offering.
Our net tangible book value (deficit) as of December 31, 2022 was approximately $(51.3) million or $(0.91) per share of common stock. Our net tangible book value (deficit) is the amount of our total tangible assets less our liabilities and our net tangible book value (deficit) per share is our net tangible book value (deficit) divided by the number of shares of common stock outstanding, in each case as of the date specified.
After giving effect to the sale by us of shares of our common stock in this offering in the aggregate amount of $50.0 million, at an assumed offering price of $9.17 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on March 7, 2023, and after deducting commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our as adjusted net tangible book value (deficit) as of December 31, 2022 would have been $(2.91) million, or $(0.05) per share. This amount represents an immediate increase in as adjusted net tangible book value of $0.86 per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution of $9.22 in net tangible book value (deficit) to new investors purchasing shares of common stock in this offering. Dilution per share to new investors is determined by subtracting as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering from the assumed offering price per share paid by new investors.
The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis. The as adjusted information is illustrative only and will adjust based on the actual price to the public, the actual number of shares sold and other terms of the offering determined at the time shares of our common stock are sold pursuant to this prospectus. The as adjusted information also assumes that all of our common stock in the aggregate amount of $50.0 million is sold at an assumed offering price of $9.17 per share, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the Nasdaq Global Market on March 7, 2023. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| Assumed public offering price per share | | | $9.17 |
| Net tangible book value (deficit) per share as of December 31, 2022 | $ | (0.91) | | | |
| Increase in net tangible book value (deficit) per share attributable to this offering | $ | 0.86 | | |
| As adjusted net tangible book value (deficit) per share after this offering | | | (0.05) | |
| Dilution per share to investors purchasing in this offering | | | $ | 9.22 |
The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on 56,260,570 shares of common stock outstanding as of December 31, 2022, and excludes as of that date:
•4,769,521 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding stock options under our 2017 Plan at a weighted average exercise price of $9.24 per share, and 169,158 shares of our common stock issuable upon the exercise of outstanding inducement stock options outside the 2017 Plan at a weighted average exercise price of $9.06 per share;
•2,696,457 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of restricted stock units outstanding under the 2017 Plan and 36,443 shares of our common stock issuable upon the vesting and settlement of inducement restricted stock units outside of the 2017 Plan;
•3,515,904 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under the 2017 Plan.
Furthermore, we may choose to raise additional capital through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities due to market conditions or strategic considerations even if we believe we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. To the extent that any outstanding stock options are exercised, outstanding restricted stock units are settled, new stock options or restricted stock units are issued under the 2017 Plan or we issue additional shares of common stock or other equity or convertible debt securities in the future, there will be further dilution to investors purchasing in this offering.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We have entered into a Sales Agreement with SVB Securities, as sales agent, under which we may issue and sell shares of common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $50,000,000 from time to time through SVB Securities as our sales agent. Sales of shares of common stock, if any, under this prospectus will be made at market prices by any method that is deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering, as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including sales made directly on the Nasdaq Global Market or any other trading market for our common stock. If authorized by us in writing, SVB Securities may purchase shares of our common stock as principal.
SVB Securities will offer shares of our common stock subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement on a daily basis or as otherwise agreed upon by us and SVB Securities. We will designate the maximum amount of common stock to be sold through SVB Securities on a daily basis or otherwise determine such maximum amount together with SVB Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, SVB Securities will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell on our behalf all of the shares of common stock requested to be sold by us. We may instruct SVB Securities not to sell shares of common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any such instruction. SVB Securities or we may suspend the offering of shares of our common stock being made through SVB Securities under the Sales Agreement upon proper notice to the other party. SVB Securities and we each have the right, by giving written notice as specified in the Sales Agreement, to terminate the Sales Agreement in each party's sole discretion at any time. The offering of shares of our common stock pursuant to the Sales Agreement will otherwise terminate upon the termination of the Sales Agreement as provided therein.
The aggregate compensation payable to SVB Securities as sales agent will be an amount equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds of any shares sold through it pursuant to the Sales Agreement. We have also agreed to reimburse SVB Securities up to $50,000 of actual outside legal expenses incurred by SVB Securities in connection with this offering. We have also agreed to reimburse SVB Securities for certain ongoing fees of its legal counsel. We estimate that the total expenses of the offering payable by us, excluding commissions payable to SVB Securities under the Sales Agreement, will be approximately $100,000.
SVB Securities will provide written confirmation to us following the close of trading on the Nasdaq Global Market on each day in which shares of common stock are sold through it as sales agent under the Sales Agreement. Each confirmation will include the number of shares of common stock sold through it as sales agent on that day, the volume weighted average price of the shares of common stock sold, the percentage of the daily trading volume and the net proceeds to us.
Settlement for sales of shares of common stock will occur, unless the parties agree otherwise, on the second business day that is also a trading day following the date on which any sales were made in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.
We will report at least quarterly the number of shares of common stock sold through SVB Securities under the Sales Agreement, the net proceeds to us and the compensation paid by us to SVB Securities in connection with the sales of shares of common stock during the relevant period.
In connection with the sales of shares of common stock on our behalf, SVB Securities will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act, and the compensation paid to SVB Securities will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed in the Sales Agreement to provide indemnification and contribution to SVB Securities against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. As sales agent, SVB Securities will not engage in any transactions that stabilize our common stock.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by O’Melveny & Myers LLP. Goodwin Procter LLP, is acting as counsel for SVB Securities in connection with this offering.
EXPERTS
Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, has audited our consolidated financial statements included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement. Our financial statements are incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits and schedules, under the Securities Act, with respect to the shares of common stock offered hereby. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and its exhibits. For further information with respect to us and the common stock offered hereby, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed thereto. Statements contained in this prospectus, including documents that we have incorporated by reference, regarding the contents of any contract or any other document that is filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement are not necessarily complete, and each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the full text of such contract or other document filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement. You should review the complete document to evaluate these statements. You may obtain copies of the registration statement and its exhibits via the SEC’s EDGAR database.
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other documents with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers, including our company, that file electronically with the SEC. You may obtain documents that we file with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
We also make these documents available on our website at www.evolus.com. Our website and the information contained or connected to our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus. The information contained in, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of this prospectus. The prospectus included in this filing is part of a registration statement filed by us with the SEC. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing us at 520 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1200, Newport Beach, California 92660, Attention: General Counsel or telephoning us at (949) 284-4555.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain of the information we file with the SEC. This means we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that has been filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede information contained in this prospectus. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below that we have previously filed with the SEC:
•our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the SEC on March 8, 2023; and
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act prior to the completion or termination of the offering of the securities described in this prospectus. These documents include periodic reports, such as Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as proxy statements. We will not, however, incorporate by reference in this prospectus any documents or portions thereof that are not deemed "filed" with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of our Current Reports on Form 8-K after the date of this prospectus unless, and except to the extent, specified in such Current Reports. Any statements contained in a previously filed document incorporated by reference into this prospectus are deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus, or in a subsequently filed document also incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes that statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
We will furnish without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom this prospectus is delivered, on written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, including exhibits to these documents. You should direct any requests for documents to us at the address or telephone referenced above under “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” You may also access the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus through our website at www.evolus.com. Except for the specific incorporated documents listed above, no information available on or through our website shall be deemed to be incorporated into this prospectus or the registration statement of which it forms a part.
$50,000,000
Common Stock
PROSPECTUS
SVB Securities
, 2023
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
Set forth below are estimates of the fees and expenses payable by the registrant in connection with the registration of the offered securities. All the amounts shown are estimates, except for the SEC registration fee.
| | | | | | | | |
| SEC Registration Fee | | $ | 27,550.00 |
| Printing Fees and Expenses | | * |
| Legal Fees and Expenses | | * |
| Accounting Fees and Expenses | | * |
| Transfer Agent or Trustee Expenses | | * |
| Miscellaneous Expenses | | * |
| Total Expenses: | | * |
* These fees and expenses depend on the types of securities offered and the number of offerings, and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a Delaware corporation may indemnify any persons who were, are, or are threatened to be made, parties to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was an officer, director, employee or agent of such corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such corporation as an officer, director, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise. Except in the case of an action by or in the right of the corporation (i.e., a derivative action), the indemnity may include expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was illegal. With respect to an action by or in the right of the corporation, the indemnity may only include expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the corporation’s best interests except that no indemnification is permitted without judicial approval if such person is adjudged to be liable, unless the Delaware Court of Chancery, or the court in which such action or suit was brought, determines that despite the adjudication of liability, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses. Where a present or former officer or director is successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to above, the corporation must indemnify him or her against the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) by him or her in connection therewith.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws provide for the indemnification of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL.
Section 102(b)(7) of the DGCL permits a corporation to provide in its certificate of incorporation that a director of the corporation shall not be personally liable to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, except for liability for any:
•transaction from which the director derives an improper personal benefit;
•act or omission not in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;
•willful or negligent violations of Delaware law governing the authorizations of dividends, stock repurchases, and redemptions, as provided in Section 174 of the DGCL; or
•breach of a director’s duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation includes such a provision. Expenses incurred by any of our officers or directors in defending any such action, suit or proceeding in advance of its final disposition shall be paid by us upon delivery to us of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by us.
Section 174 of DGCL provides, among other things, that a director who willfully or negligently approves of an unlawful payment of dividends or an unlawful stock purchase or redemption, may be held liable for such actions. A director who was either absent when the unlawful actions were approved or dissented at the time may avoid liability by causing his or her dissent to such actions to be entered in the books containing minutes of the meetings of the board of directors at the time such action occurred or immediately after such absent director receives notice of such action.
We have entered into separate indemnification agreements with our directors and officers. These indemnification agreements may require us, among other things, to indemnify our directors and officers for some expenses, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts incurred by such director or officer in any action or proceeding arising out of his or her service as one of our directors or officers, or as a director, officer, employee or agent of any of our subsidiaries or any other company or enterprise to which the person provides services at our request.
At present, there is no pending litigation or proceeding known to us involving any of our directors or executive officers as to which indemnification is required or permitted, and we are not aware of any threatened litigation or proceeding that may result in a claim for indemnification.
We maintain a general liability insurance policy that covers certain liabilities of directors and officers of our corporation arising out of claims based on acts or omissions in their capacities as directors or officers and we intend to maintain such insurance coverage.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been 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 16. Exhibits
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Exhibit Number | | Exhibit Description | | Form | | File No. | | Exhibit | | Filing Date | | Filed Herewith (X) |
| 1.1* | | Form of Underwriting Agreement | | | | | | | | | | |
| 1.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 4.1 | | | | S-1/A | | 333-222478 | | 4.1 | | 1/25/18 | | |
| 4.2* | | Form of Preferred Stock Certificate | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4.3* | | Form of Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4.4 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 4.5* | | Form of Debt Security | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4.6* | | Form of Warrant Agreement (including form of Warrant Certificate) | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4.9* | | Form of Unit Agreement and Unit Certificate, if any | | | | | | | | | | |
| 4.10* | | Form of Rights Agreement and Rights Certificate, if any | | | | | | | | | | |
| 5.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 23.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| 23.2 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 24.1 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| 25.1** | | Statement of Eligibility of Trustee on Form T-1 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended | | | | | | | | | | |
| 107 | | | | | | | | | | | | X |
| | | | | |
| * | To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or pursuant to a report to be filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, if applicable, and incorporated herein by reference. |
| ** | To be filed pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. |
| † | The Registrant has received confidential treatment with respect to certain omitted portions of this exhibit. |
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(a)To file during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;
(iii)To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(i), (a)(ii) and (a)(iii) of this section do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(b)That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)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.
(d)That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i)Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in this registration statement; and
(ii)Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5), or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii), or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As
provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date;
(e)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.
(f)That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(g)Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(h)To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Newport Beach, State of California, on March 8, 2023.
EVOLUS, INC.
By: /s/ David Moatazedi
David Moatazedi,
President and Chief Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS that each individual whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints David Moatazedi and Sandra Beaver and each of them, as his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post-effective amendments, to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for the same offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, increasing the number of securities for which registration is sought, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents in connection therewith, making such changes in this registration statement as such attorney-in-fact and agent so acting deem appropriate, with the SEC, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done with respect to the offering of securities contemplated by this registration statement, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agent or any of them, or his, her or their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done or by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement on Form S-3 has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated:
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Signature | | Title | | Date |
| | | | |
| /s/ David Moatazedi | | President, Chief Executive Officer and Member of the Board of Directors (Principal Executive Officer) | | March 8, 2023 |
| David Moatazedi | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Sandra Beaver | | Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) | | March 8, 2023 |
| Sandra Beaver | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Vikram Malik | | Chairman of the Board of Directors | | March 8, 2023 |
| Vikram Malik | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Simone Blank | | Director | | March 8, 2023 |
| Simone Blank | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Robert Hayman | | Director | | March 8, 2023 |
| Robert Hayman | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ David Gill | | Director | | March 8, 2023 |
| David Gill | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Peter C. Farrell, Ph.D., AM. | | Director | | March 8, 2023 |
| Peter C. Farrell, Ph.D., AM. | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Karah Parschauer | | Director | | March 8, 2023 |
| Karah Parschauer | | |
| | | | |
| /s/ Brady Stewart | | Director | | March 8, 2023 |
| Brady Stewart | | |
Exhibit 1.2
Execution Version
EVOLUS, INC.
Shares of Common Stock
($0.00001 par value per share)
SALES AGREEMENT
March 8, 2023
SVB SECURITIES LLC
1301 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor
New York, New York 10019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Evolus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with SVB Securities LLC (the “Agent”), as follows:
1. Issuance and Sale of Shares. The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through the Agent up to $50.0 million of shares of common stock, $0.00001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”), subject to the limitations set forth in Section 5(c) (the “Placement Shares”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that
compliance with the limitation set forth in this Section 1 on the aggregate gross sales price of Placement Shares that may be issued and sold under this Agreement from time to time shall be the sole responsibility
of the Company, and that the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of Placement Shares through the Agent will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) to be filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on or about the date hereof and after the Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission, although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to issue any Placement Shares.
The Company has prepared and will file, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3, including (a) a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Common Stock, to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) and (b) a prospectus specifically relating to the Placement Shares to be issued from time to time pursuant to this Agreement (the “ATM Prospectus”). The Company will furnish to the Agent, for use by the Agent, copies of the ATM Prospectus included as part of such registration statement at the time it becomes effective. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, as amended at the time of its effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Securities Act, as such section applies to the Agent, including all documents incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act at such effective
time, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The ATM Prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be further supplemented by a prospectus supplement specifically related to the Placement Shares to be issued from time to time pursuant to this Agreement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or any prospectus supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, together with any “issuer free writing prospectus” (as used herein, as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (“Rule 433”)), relating to the Placement Shares that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company or (ii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i), in each case, in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g), is herein called the “Prospectus.”
Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, that are or are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”). Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any issuer free writing prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act on or after the most-recent effective date of the Registration Statement, or the respective dates of the Prospectus or such issuer free writing prospectus, as the case may be, and incorporated therein by reference. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the most recent copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System or, if applicable, the Interactive Data Electronic Application system when used by the Commission (collectively, “EDGAR”).
2. Placements. During the term of this Agreement and at any time after the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission, the Company may issue and sell Placement Shares through the Agent hereunder (each, a “Placement”). Each time that the Company wishes to make a Placement, it will notify the Agent by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) (each such notice, a “Placement Notice”) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires such Placement Shares to be sold, which at a minimum shall include the maximum number or amount of Placement Shares to be sold, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number or amount of Placement Shares that may be sold in any one Trading Day (as defined in Section 3) and any minimum price below which sales may not be made, a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Notice must originate from one of the individuals authorized to act on behalf of the Company and set forth on Schedule 2 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such Schedule 2), and shall be addressed to each of the recipients from the Agent set forth on Schedule 2, as such Schedule 2 may be updated by either party from time to time by sending a written notice containing a revised Schedule 2 to the other party in the manner provided in Section 12 (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the Company set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply). The Placement Notice shall be effective upon confirmation of receipt by the Agent (including by email or telephone) to the individual(s) of the Company set forth on Schedule 2 who submitted the Placement Notice, unless and until (i) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, the Agent declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, within one Trading Day of the date the Agent receives the Placement Notice, (ii) the entire amount of the Placement Shares has been sold pursuant to this Agreement, (iii) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, the Company suspends sales under or terminates the Placement Notice for any reason in its sole discretion, (iv) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice and explicitly indicates that its parameters supersede those contained in the earlier dated Placement Notice or (v) this Agreement has been terminated pursuant to the provisions of Section 11. The amount of any discount, commission or
other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Agent in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares effected through the Agent shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 3. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agent and such Placement Notice has been confirmed by the Agent pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control with respect to the matters covered thereby.
3. Sale of Placement Shares by the Agent. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, including Section 5(c), upon the Agent’s confirmation of the terms of a Placement Notice as provided in Section 2, and unless the sale of the Placement Shares described therein has been declined, suspended or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the Nasdaq to sell such Placement Shares up to the number or amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, such Placement Notice. The Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the Company set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) following the close of trading on Nasdaq (as defined in Section 6(q)) on the Trading Day (as defined below) on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder setting forth the number or amount of Placement Shares sold on such Trading Day, the volume-weighted average price of the Placement Shares sold, the commission payable to the Agent with respect to such Placement Shares sold and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company. Unless otherwise specified by the Company in a Placement Notice, the Agent may sell Placement Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act (which may include block transactions), including sales made directly on or through Nasdaq, on or through any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker. If expressly authorized by the Company (including in a Placement Notice), the Agent may also sell Placement Shares in privately negotiated transactions. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6(tt), except as may be otherwise agreed by the Company and the Agent, the Agent shall not purchase Placement Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement unless the Company and the Agent enter into a separate written agreement setting forth the terms of such sale. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Agent will be successful in selling Placement Shares, (ii) the Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of Nasdaq to sell such Placement Shares as required under this Agreement and (iii) the Agent shall be under no obligation to purchase Placement Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement unless the Company and the Agent enter into a separate written agreement setting forth the terms of such sale. For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which the Common Stock is purchased and sold on Nasdaq.
4. Suspension of Sales.
(a) The Company or the Agent may, upon notice sent by one of the individuals named on Schedule 2 hereto to the to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party
set forth on Schedule 2), suspend any sale of Placement Shares; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice (including with respect to Placement Shares sold that have not yet settled). Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the other party unless notice is sent by one of the individuals named on Schedule 2 hereto to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply).
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Company is in possession of material non-public information, the Company and the Agent agree that (i) no sale of Placement Shares will take place (other than Placement Shares sold while the Company was not in possession of material non-public information that have not yet settled), (ii) the Company shall not request the sale of any Placement Shares and shall cancel any effective Placement Notices instructing the Agent to make any sales and (iii) the Agent shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Placement Shares.
5. Settlement and Delivery of the Placement Shares.
(a) Settlement of Placement Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the second Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice or as is required for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate gross sales price received by the Agent at which such Placement Shares were sold, after deduction of (i) the Agent’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, and (ii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.
(b) Delivery of Placement Shares. On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will issue the Placement Shares being sold on such date and will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer such Placement Shares by crediting the Agent’s or its designee’s account (provided the Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DWAC”) or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto, which in all cases shall be duly authorized, freely tradeable, transferable, registered shares of Common Stock in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, the Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on or prior to the Settlement Date. The Agent shall be responsible for providing DWAC instructions or other instructions for delivery by other means with regard to the transfer of the Placement Shares being sold. In addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 9(a) hereto, the Company agrees that if the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver duly authorized, freely tradeable, transferable, registered Placement Shares in good deliverable form by 2:30 P.M., New York City time, or such other time as mutually agreed upon, on a Settlement Date (other than as a result of a failure by the Agent to provide instructions for delivery), the Company will (i) take all necessary action to cause the full amount of any Net Proceeds that were delivered to the Company’s account with respect to such settlement, together with any costs incurred by the Agent and/or its clearing firm in connection with recovering such Net Proceeds, to be immediately returned to the Agent or its clearing firm no later than 5:00 P.M., New York City time, or such other time as mutually agreed upon, on such Settlement Date, by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account designated by the Agent or its clearing firm, (ii) indemnify and hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) and (ii) pay to the
Agent any commission, discount or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.
(c) Limitations on Offering Size. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Placement Shares, the aggregate number or gross sales proceeds of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of: (i) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock registered pursuant to, and available for offer and sale under, the Registration Statement pursuant to which the offering of Placement Shares is being made, (ii) the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock of the Company (less shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise, conversion or exchange of any outstanding securities of the Company or otherwise reserved from the Company’s authorized capital stock), (iii) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock permitted to be offered and sold by the Company under Form S-3 (including General Instruction I.B.6. thereof, if such instruction is applicable), (iv) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock that the Company’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof is authorized to issue and sell from time to time pursuant to this Agreement, and notified to the Agent in writing, or (v) the dollar amount of shares of Common Stock for which the Company has filed the ATM Prospectus. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request, or the Agent effect, the offer or sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Agent in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto acknowledge and agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 5(c) on the number or dollar amount of Placement Shares that may be issued and sold under this Agreement from time to time (but not any minimum price authorized with respect to the offer or sale of any Placement Shares of which the Agent has been notified in writing) shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and that the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.
6. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Agent that as of the date of this Agreement, and as of (i) each Representation Date (as defined in Section 7(m)), (ii) each date on which a Placement Notice is given, (iii) the date and time of each sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement (each, the “Time of Sale”) and (iv) each Settlement Date (each such time or date referred to in clauses (i) through (iv), an “Applicable Time”):
(a) The Company and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements for and comply with the conditions for the use of Form S-3 (including General Instructions I.A and I.B.1.) under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement will be filed on the date of this Agreement with the Commission and will be declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act prior to the issuance of any Placement Notices by the Company. At the time the Registration Statement was filed with the Commission and at the time the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 was filed with the Commission, the Company met the then-applicable requirements for use of Form S-3 (including General Instructions I.A and I.B.1.) under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of Placement Shares as contemplated hereby comply with, the requirements of Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the Securities Act. The Agent is named as the agent engaged by the Company in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus. The Company has not received, and has no notice from the Commission of, any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(1) under the Securities Act objecting to the use of the shelf registration statement form. No stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the base prospectus or the Prospectus, or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, has been issued, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission. At the time of the initial filing of the Registration Statement, the Company paid, or will pay, the required Commission filing fees relating to the securities covered by the Registration Statement, including the Shares that may be sold
pursuant to this Agreement, in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. Copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any such amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing and all Incorporated Documents that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered, or are available through EDGAR, to the Agent and its counsel
(b) Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became or becomes effective, at each deemed effective date with respect to the Agent pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Securities Act and as of each Time of Sale and Settlement Date, complied, complies and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and did not, does not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this sentence do not apply to Agent’s Information (as defined below). The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, when so filed with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, complied and as of each Time of Sale and Settlement Date will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, and each Prospectus Supplement, Prospectus or issuer free writing prospectus (or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing) furnished to the Agent for use in connection with the offering of the Placement Shares was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and as of the Time of Sale and the Settlement Date, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this sentence do not apply to Agent’s Information. Each Incorporated Document heretofore filed, when it was filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement and (ii) at the time of the execution of this Agreement (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.
(d) Each issuer free writing prospectus, as of its issue date and as of each Applicable Time, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any Incorporated Document deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. Each issuer free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433 or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act.
(e) The Company has not distributed any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below).
(f) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).
(g) The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(h) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or waived, there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement nor, to have any equity or debt securities, or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into such securities, registered for sale on any other registration statement to be filed by the Company.
(i) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus: (i) there has been no change or any development that could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect (as hereinafter defined), (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, including without limitation any losses or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood, earthquakes, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any strike, labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, that are material, individually or in the aggregate, to the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, or has entered into any transactions not in the ordinary course of business, and (iii) there has not been any material decrease in the capital stock or any material increase in any short-term or long-term indebtedness of the Company or its subsidiaries and there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or by any of the Company’s subsidiaries on any class of capital stock, or any repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(j) Ernst & Young LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference as a part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, and the rules of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”).
(k) The consolidated financial statements filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference as a part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and any free writing prospectus, that constitute non-GAAP financial measures (as defined by the rules and regulations under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act) comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable. To the Company’s knowledge, no person who has been suspended or barred from being associated with a registered public accounting firm, or who has failed to comply with any sanction pursuant to Rule 5300 promulgated by the PCAOB, has participated in or otherwise aided the preparation of, or audited, the financial statements or other financial data filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(l) The Company and each of its subsidiaries make and keep books and records that are accurate in all material respects and maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(m) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act, which (i) are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, if any, are made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities, and (ii) are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established, in each case, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there have been no significant deficiencies or material weaknesses in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any change in its internal control over financial reporting that has occurred during its most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(n) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in the State of California and each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties, operations, assets, liabilities or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
(o) Each of the Company’s “subsidiaries” (for purposes of this Agreement, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may be, and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the power and authority (corporate or other) to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be in good standing or have such power and authority would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company’s subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the
issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity or ownership interests of each of the Company’s subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or adverse claim, except as otherwise would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) The Common Stock conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock was issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company.
(q) The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed on The Nasdaq Global Market (“Nasdaq”), and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from Nasdaq, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or Nasdaq is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. To the Company’s knowledge, it is in compliance with all applicable listing requirements of Nasdaq.
(r) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational documents, as applicable, or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, loan, credit agreement, note, lease, license agreement, contract, franchise or other instrument (including, without limitation, any pledge agreement, security agreement, mortgage or other instrument or agreement evidencing, guaranteeing, securing or relating to indebtedness) to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of their respective properties or assets are subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except for such violations or Defaults as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational documents, as applicable, of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, which consent has not been obtained by the Company, and (iii) will not result in any violation of any Law applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries (including, without limitation, those promulgated by the United States Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) or by any Governmental Authority (as defined herein) performing functions similar to those performed by the FDA), except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens, charges, encumbrances or violations that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any Governmental Authority is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act and such as may be required under Securities Act, the rules of the Nasdaq, applicable state securities or blue sky laws or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of
indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(s) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) has been at all times and is in compliance with all applicable laws, including, without limitation, all laws applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, marketing, labeling, promotion, sale, offer for sale, storage, import, export or disposal of any product manufactured or distributed by the Company or its subsidiaries (“Healthcare Product Laws”), except where failure to be so in compliance would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) has not received any FDA Form 483, notice of adverse finding, warning letter, untitled letter or other correspondence or notice from the FDA or any other Governmental Authority alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Healthcare Product Laws or any licenses, certificates, approvals, clearances, authorizations, orders, permits, supplements or amendments required by any Healthcare Product Law (“Permits”), (iii) has not received notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action from any Governmental Authority or third party alleging that any product, operation or activity is in violation of any Healthcare Product Law or Permit, and has no knowledge that any Governmental Authority or third party has threatened any such claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration or other action, (iv) has filed, obtained, maintained and submitted all material filings, listings, registrations, reports, declarations, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions, supplements, amendments or other documents as required by any Healthcare Product Law or Permit, and all such filings, listings, registrations, reports, declarations, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions, supplements, amendments or other documents were complete and correct on the date filed in all material respects, (v) have at all times complied in all material respects with all applicable laws, rules and regulations relating to privacy, data protection, and the collection and use of personal information, and (vi) has not, either voluntarily or involuntarily, initiated, conducted, or issued or caused to be initiated, conducted or issued, any recall, market withdrawal or replacement, safety alert, post-sale warning, “dear doctor” letter, or other notice or action relating to the alleged lack of safety or efficacy of any product or any alleged product defect or violation and, to the Company’s and each subsidiary’s knowledge, no third party has initiated, conducted or intends to initiate any such notice or action.
(t) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation brought by or before any Governmental Authority now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which would reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (ii) the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or of which any of their respective properties or assets is the subject, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, if any such matters are determined adversely to the Company or the other defendants thereof, would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or, to the Company’s knowledge, with the employees of any principal supplier, manufacturer, customer or contractor of the Company, exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent.
(u) The Company and its subsidiaries own, or have obtained and maintain valid and enforceable licenses for, the inventions, patent applications, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, service names, domain names, copyrights, technology, know-how, trade secrets and other intellectual property described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as being owned or licensed by them or which are necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently
conducted or as currently proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (collectively, “Intellectual Property”), and the Company is unaware of any claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other person to the rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Intellectual Property. To the Company’s knowledge, and except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) there are no third parties who have rights to any Intellectual Property, except for customary reversionary rights of third-party licensors with respect to Intellectual Property that is disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as licensed to the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries, and (ii) there is no infringement, misappropriation or other violation by third parties of any Intellectual Property. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, litigation, arbitration, proceeding or claim by others: (A) challenging the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ rights in or to (or use of) any Intellectual Property and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, litigation, arbitration, proceeding or claim; (B) challenging the validity, enforceability or scope of any Intellectual Property and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, litigation, arbitration, proceeding or claim; or (C) asserting that the Company or any of its subsidiaries infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates, or would, upon the commercialization of any product or service described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate, any patent, trademark, service mark, trade name, service name, copyright, know-how, trade secret or other intellectual property or proprietary rights of others and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such action, suit, litigation, arbitration, proceeding or claim. The Company and its subsidiaries (and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto) have complied (and are in compliance) in all material respects with the terms of each agreement pursuant to which Intellectual Property has been licensed to the Company or any subsidiary, no counterparty thereto has asserted the existence of any default thereunder by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and all such agreements are in full force and effect and are valid, binding upon, and enforceable by or against the Company or such subsidiary (and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto), as applicable, in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and general equitable principles. None of the technology or other intellectual property employed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, upon any officers, directors or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and to the Company’s knowledge, none of its or its subsidiaries’ employees are in or have ever been in violation of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement, invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s breach of a confidentiality obligation, obligation to assign intellectual property to an employer, or obligation not to use third-party intellectual property or other proprietary rights of a third party, except for any such violations as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. The product described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus falls within the scope of the Intellectual Property owned by, or exclusively licensed in certain jurisdictions as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus to, the Company or any subsidiary. The Company and its subsidiaries have taken reasonable steps to protect and maintain the confidentiality of their trade secrets and other confidential Intellectual Property. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual Property of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not described therein.
(v) The Company and its subsidiaries own or have a valid right to access and use all material computer systems, networks, hardware, software, databases, websites, and equipment used to process,
store, maintain and operate data, information, and functions used in connection with the business of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company IT Systems”). The Company IT Systems (i) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, and (ii) are free of any viruses, “back doors,” “Trojan horses,” “time bombs,” “worms,” “drop dead devices” or other software or hardware components that are designed to interrupt use of, permit unauthorized access to, or disable, damage or erase, any software material to the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except in the case of (i) and (ii) as would not be reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable backup, security and disaster recovery technology consistent in all material respects with applicable regulatory standards and customary industry practices. To the knowledge of the Company, no third party has breached or compromised the integrity or security of the Company IT Systems in a manner which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have at all times complied in all material respects with all applicable laws relating to privacy, data protection, and the collection and use of personal information collected, used, or held for use by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the conduct of its business. No claims have been asserted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any subsidiary alleging a violation of any person’s privacy or personal information or data rights, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not breach or otherwise cause any violation of any Law related to privacy, data protection, or the collection and use of personal information collected, used, or held for use by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the conduct of its business, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company and its subsidiaries take reasonable measures to ensure that such information is protected against unauthorized access, use, modification, or other misuse.
(w) The Company and each of its subsidiaries possesses, or qualify for applicable exemptions to, all material Permits required by any Healthcare Product Law or Governmental Authority to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including, without limitation, any Investigational New Drug Application (“IND”), New Drug Application (“NDA”), or Biologics License Application (“BLA”) as required by the FDA or other Permits issued by any Regulatory Agency (as defined below). For the purposes of this agreement, “Regulatory Agency” shall mean any Governmental Authority, including, without limitation, the FDA, the European Medicines Agency (the “EMA”) and Health Canada, any institutional review board, or other regulatory body engaged in or responsible for the regulation or oversight of pharmaceuticals and biological products such as those being licensed, developed, tested, marketed and sold by the Company and its subsidiaries. Each such Permit is valid and in full force and effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor its subsidiaries have failed to file with any applicable Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Authority any required filings, listings, registrations, reports, declarations, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions, supplements, amendments or other documents; each such filing, listing, registration, report, declaration, form, notice, application, record, claim, submission, supplement, amendment or other document was complete, correct and compliant in all material respects with all Healthcare Product Laws when filed; and no material deficiencies have been asserted by any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Authority with respect to any such filings or submissions. Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of, or in default under, any of the Permits, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration, action or other proceedings or threatened proceedings alleging or relating to the revocation, termination, modification, limitation, suspension or impairment of rights of, or non-compliance with, any such Permit, and has no knowledge that any Governmental Authority or other third party is considering any such claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, investigation, arbitration, action or other proceedings.
(x) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all of the real and personal property and other assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 6(k) above, in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, adverse claims and other defects, other than as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the Company or any of its subsidiaries are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such subsidiary.
(y) The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or have properly requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them except as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in Section 6(k) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined.
(z) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by recognized and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as the Company reasonably deems adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes and policies covering the Company and its subsidiaries for product liability claims and clinical trial liability claims. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been denied any material insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
(aa) Except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Law, including any Law relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, Laws relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance in all material respects with their requirements, (iii) there are no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and (iv) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit
or proceeding by any private party or Governmental Authority, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.
(bb) The Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, any member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”) of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, none of the following exists: (i) no “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates; (ii) no “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA); (iii) neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (x) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (y) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code; and (iv) each employee benefit plan established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(cc) The Company is not required to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).
(dd) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Placement Shares or of any “reference security” (as defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act (“Regulation M”)) with respect to the Placement Shares, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement Shares or otherwise, and has taken no action which would directly or indirectly violate Regulation M.
(ee) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(ff) There are no business relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
(gg) [Reserved]
(hh) All statistical, demographic and market-related data included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate. To the extent required, the Company has obtained the written consent to the use of such data from such sources.
(ii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity, (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any domestic government official, “foreign official” (as defined in the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”)) or employee from corporate funds, (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the FCPA, or any applicable Law implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any applicable non-U.S. anti-bribery Law, or (iv) made, offered, agreed, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful or improper bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment or benefit, to any domestic government official, such foreign official or employee; and the Company and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s affiliates have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA and any other applicable non-U.S. anti-bribery Law and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
(jj) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are, and have been conducted at all times, in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including, those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering Laws of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Authority (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Authority involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(kk) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to or the target of any economic or financial sanctions administered by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of Statement and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, or His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant Governmental Authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or target of Sanctions, including, without limitation the Crimea Region and the non-government controlled areas of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson Regions of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of this offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, or any joint venture partner or other person or entity (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or target of Sanctions, in violation of applicable Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country in violation of applicable Sanctions or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of applicable Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not engaged in, are not now engaged in any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country in violation of applicable Sanctions.
(ll) Other than the Agent, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(mm) Each financial or operational projection or other “forward-looking statement” (as defined by Section 27A of the Securities Act or Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (i) was so included by the Company in good faith and with reasonable basis after due consideration by the Company of the underlying assumptions, estimates and other applicable facts and circumstances and (ii) is accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying those factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in such forward-looking statement. No such statement was made with the knowledge of an executive officer or director of the Company that it was false or misleading.
(nn) The research, preclinical tests and clinical trials, and other studies (collectively, “studies”) conducted by, on behalf of, sponsored by or being relied upon by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including those described in, or the results of which are referred to in, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, were conducted in all material respects in accordance with the protocols, procedures and controls designed and approved for such studies, all Permits, all Healthcare Product Laws, including, without limitation, 21 C.F.R. Parts 50, 54, 56, 58, 312 and 812, all applicable professional and scientific standards, and all applicable requirements of the FDA, the EMA and other Regulatory Agencies, including any applicable institutional review board. Each description of such studies and the results therefrom in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is accurate and complete in all material respects and fairly presents in all material respects the data derived from such studies, and the Company and its subsidiaries have no knowledge of any other studies the results of which are inconsistent with, or otherwise call into question, the results described or referred to in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
(oo) The Company and each of its subsidiaries is, and at all times has been, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable Health Care Laws, and has not engaged in activities which are, as applicable, cause for false claims liability, civil penalties, or mandatory or permissive exclusion from Medicare, Medicaid, or any other state health care program or federal health care program. For purposes of this Agreement, “Health Care Laws” means: (i) the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, (ii) all applicable federal, state, local and foreign health care related fraud and abuse Laws, including, without limitation, the U.S. Anti-Kickback Statute (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(b)), the U.S. Physician Payment Sunshine Act (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7h), the U.S. Civil False Claims Act (31 U.S.C. Section 3729 et seq.), the criminal False Claims Law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7b(a)), all criminal Laws relating to health care fraud and abuse, including but not limited to 18 U.S.C. Sections 286 and 287, and the health care fraud criminal provisions under the U.S. Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (“HIPAA”) (42 U.S.C. Section 1320d et seq.) as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (42 U.S.C. Section 17921 et seq.), the exclusion laws (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7), the civil monetary penalties law (42 U.S.C. Section 1320a-7a), (iii) Medicare (Title XVIII of the Social Security Act); (iv) Medicaid (Title XIX of the Social Security Act), (v) the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. Sections 801 et seq.), (vi) Healthcare Product Laws, including but not limited to HIPAA, relating to data privacy and the protection of personal information, including personal health information, and (vii) any and all other applicable health care laws and regulations. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received written notice of any claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, audit, investigation, arbitration or other action from any court, arbitrator, other Governmental Authority or third party alleging that any product, operation or activity of the Company or a subsidiary is in material violation of any Health Care Laws, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no such claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement, audit, investigation, arbitration or other action is threatened. Neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are a party to or have any ongoing reporting obligations pursuant to any corporate integrity agreements, deferred prosecution agreements, monitoring agreements, consent decrees, settlement orders, plans of correction or similar agreements with or imposed by any Regulatory Agency or other Governmental Authority. Neither the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any of their respective directors, officers, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of their respective employees or agents has been excluded, suspended or debarred from participation in any U.S. federal health care program or human clinical research or, to the knowledge of the Company, is subject to an inquiry, investigation, proceeding, or other similar action by any Governmental Authority that would reasonably be expected to result in debarment, suspension, or exclusion.
(pp) The sale of the Placement Shares as contemplated hereby will not cause any holder of any shares of capital stock, securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for capital stock or options, warrants or other rights to purchase capital stock or any other securities of the Company to have any right to acquire any shares of preferred stock of the Company.
(qq) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the contracts or agreements referred to or described in the Prospectus or any free writing prospectus, or referred to or described in, or filed as an exhibit to, the Registration Statement, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party to any such contract or agreement, which threat of termination or non-renewal has not been rescinded as of the date hereof, in each case except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(rr) No subsidiary of the Company is prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly, from paying dividends to the Company, or from making any other distribution with respect to such subsidiary’s equity securities or from repaying to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company any amounts that may from time to time become due under any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any property or assets to the Company or to any other subsidiary.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Agent or its counsel in connection with the offering of the Placement Shares shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to the Agent.
7. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Agent that:
(a) Registration Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which the Prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or a similar rule); (i) the Company will notify the Agent promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than Incorporated Documents, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus, other than Incorporated Documents, relating to the Placement Shares has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information relating to the offering of Placement Shares; (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Agent’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Agent’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by the Agent (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy the
Agent shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to make such filing (but without limiting the Agent’s rights under Section 9 hereof) will be to cease making sales under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than Incorporated Documents, relating to the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Agent within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Agent has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the Company’s making such filing notwithstanding the Agent’s objection (but without limiting the Agent’s rights under Section 9 hereof) will be to cease making sales under this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to the Agent at the time of filing thereof a copy of any Incorporated Document, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than Incorporated Documents, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act.
(b) Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise the Agent, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued.
(c) Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes. During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act with respect to the offer and sale of the Placement Shares (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or a similar rule), the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and will file on or before their respective due dates (taking into account any extensions available under the Exchange Act) all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Agent to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(d) Listing of Placement Shares. During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act with respect to the offer and sale of the Placement Shares (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act or a similar rule), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on Nasdaq.
(e) Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Agent and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all Incorporated Documents) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during any period in which the
Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all Incorporated Documents filed with the Commission during such period), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request and, at the Agent’s request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Shares may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to the Agent to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.
(f) Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Agent as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of and Rule 158 under the Securities Act.
(g) Expenses. The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 hereunder, will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including expenses relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and each amendment and supplement thereto, of the Prospectus and of each amendment and supplement thereto and of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares, (ii) the preparation, issuance, sale and delivery of the Placement Shares and any taxes due or payable in connection therewith, (iii) the qualification of the Placement Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(w) of this Agreement, including filing fees (provided, however, that any fees or disbursements of counsel for the Agent in connection therewith shall be paid by the Agent), (iv) the printing and delivery to the Agent and its counsel of copies of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and of this Agreement, (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing or qualification of the Placement Shares for trading on Nasdaq, (vi) the filing fees and expenses, if any, owed to the Commission or FINRA and the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (vii) the fees and associated expenses of the Agent’s outside legal counsel for filings with the FINRA Corporate Financing Department in an amount not to exceed $10,000 (excluding FINRA filing fees referred to in clause (vi) above and subject to the aggregate cap on fees and disbursements referred to in clause (viii) below), and (viii) the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agent’s outside legal counsel (A) in an amount not to exceed $50,000 (inclusive of the fees and associated expenses referred to in clause (vii) above) arising out of executing this Agreement and the Company’s delivery of the initial certificate pursuant to Section 7(m) and (B) in an amount not to exceed $10,000 in connection with each Representation Date (as defined below) on which the Company is required to provide a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m).
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”
(i) Notice of Other Sales. Without the prior written consent of the Agent, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire shares of Common Stock during the period beginning on the fifth Trading Day immediately prior to the date on which any Placement Notice is delivered to Agent hereunder and ending on the first Trading Day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Shares sold pursuant to such Placement Notice (or, if the Placement Notice has been terminated or suspended prior to the sale of all Placement Shares covered by a Placement Notice, the date of such suspension or termination); and will not directly or indirectly in any other “at the market offering”
or continuous equity transaction offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, shares of Common Stock prior to the later of the termination of this Agreement and the thirtieth day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Shares sold pursuant to such Placement Notice; provided, however, that such restrictions will not be required in connection with the Company’s issuance or sale of (i) shares of Common Stock, options to purchase shares of Common Stock, other securities under the Company’s existing equity incentive plans, or shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or vesting of other securities, pursuant to any employee or director stock option , incentive or benefits plan, stock purchase or ownership plan, dividend reinvestment plan (but not shares of Common Stock subject to a waiver to exceed plan limits in its dividend reinvestment plan), inducement award under the rules of Nasdaq or other compensation plan of the Company whether now in effect or hereafter implemented, (ii) shares of Common Stock issuable upon exchange, conversion or redemption of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding, and disclosed in filings by the Company available on EDGAR or otherwise in writing to the Agent and (iii) shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock as consideration for mergers, acquisitions, other business combinations, joint ventures or strategic alliances occurring after the date of this Agreement which are not issued for capital raising purposes.
(j) Change of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during a fiscal quarter in which the Company intends to tender a Placement Notice or sell Placement Shares, advise the Agent as promptly as reasonably practicable prior to the delivery of such Placement Notice or sale of Placement Shares of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided or required to be provided to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
(k) Due Diligence Cooperation. During the term of this Agreement, the Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Agent, its affiliates agents and counsel from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as the Agent may reasonably request.
(l) Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Shares. The Company agrees that on or prior to such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the number or amount of Placement Shares sold through the Agent, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent with respect to such Placement Shares, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market; provided, that, unless a prospectus supplement containing such information is required to be filed under the Securities Act, the requirement of this Section 7(l) may be satisfied by Company’s inclusion in the Company’s Form 10-K or Form 10-Q, as applicable, of the number or amount of Placement Shares sold through the Agent, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent with respect to such Placement Shares during the relevant period.
(m) Representation Dates; Certificate. On or prior to the date on which the Company first delivers a Placement Notice pursuant to this agreement (the “First Placement Notice Date”) and each time the Company:
(i) amends or supplements the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares (other than a prospectus supplement filed in accordance with Section 7(l) of this Agreement) by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker or supplement but not by means of incorporation of document(s) by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares;
(ii) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act (including any Form 10-K/A containing amended financial information or a material amendment to the previously filed Form 10-K but other than an amendment thereto, if any, containing the information required by Part III of such previously filed Form 10-K);
(iii) files a quarterly report on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or
(iv) files a current report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than an earnings release that is “furnished” pursuant to Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K) under the Exchange Act (each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish the Agent (but in the case of clause (iv) above only if (1) a Placement Notice is pending or in effect and (2) the Agent requests such certificate within three Business Days after the filing of such Form 8-K with the Commission) with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m) (modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented), within two Trading Days of any Representation Date. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(m) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending or in effect, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of (1) the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and (2) the next occurring Representation Date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Representation Date on which the Company relied on the waiver referred to in the previous sentence and did not provide the Agent with a certificate under this Section 7(m), then before the Company delivers a Placement Notice or the Agent sells any Placement Shares pursuant thereto, the Company shall provide the Agent with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m), dated the date of such Placement Notice. Within two Trading Days of each Representation Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such further information, certificates and documents as the Agent may reasonably request.
(n) Legal Opinions. On or prior to the First Placement Notice Date and on any date which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agent the written opinion and negative assurance letter of O’Melveny & Myers LLP, counsel to the Company, or such other counsel satisfactory to the Agent (“Company Counsel”), in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion and negative assurance letter are required to be delivered, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinion and negative assurance letter for subsequent Representation Dates, Company Counsel may furnish the Agent with a letter to the effect that the Agent may rely on a prior opinion or negative assurance letter delivered by such counsel under this Section 7(n) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion or negative assurance letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).
(o) Comfort Letter. On or prior to the First Placement Notice Date and on any date which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause its independent registered public accounting firm (and any other
independent accountants whose report is included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus) to furnish the Agent letters (the “Comfort Letters”), provided, that if requested by the Agent, the Company shall cause a Comfort Letter to be furnished to the Agent within 10 Trading Days of the occurrence of any material transaction or event that necessitates the filing of additional, pro forma, amended or revised financial statements (including any restatement of previously issued financial statements) dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, which shall meet the requirements set forth in this Section 7(o). Each Comfort Letter shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and each Comfort Letter from the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm shall (i) confirm that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the PCAOB, (ii) state, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) update the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.
(p) Market Activities. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, and will cause its officers, directors and subsidiaries not to (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of shares of Common Stock or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase shares of Common Stock in violation of Regulation M, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Placement Shares other than the Agent; provided, however, that the Company may bid for and purchase shares of Common Stock in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act.
(q) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable and customary for the business for which it is engaged.
(r) Compliance with Laws. The Company and each of its subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, all material environmental certificates, authorizations or permits required by federal, state and local law in order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus (collectively, “Permits”), and the Company and each of its subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause their businesses to be conducted, in substantial compliance with such Permits and with applicable Environmental Laws, except where the failure to maintain or be in compliance with such Permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(s) Investment Company Act. The Company will not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Placement Shares in such a manner so as to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.
(t) Securities Act and Exchange Act. The Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the sales of, or dealings in, the Placement Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.
(u) [Reserved]
(v) Blue Sky and Other Qualifications. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts, in cooperation with the Agent, to qualify the Placement Shares for offering and sale, or to obtain
an exemption for the Placement Shares to be offered and sold, under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Agent may designate and to maintain such qualifications and exemptions in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement); provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Placement Shares have been so qualified or exempt, the Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification or exemption, as the case may be, in effect for so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares (but in no event for less than one year from the date of this Agreement).
(w) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting its assets and maintain internal accounting controls in a manner designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Company’s financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (iii) that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with management’s and the Company’s directors’ authorization, and (iv) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company will maintain disclosure controls and other procedures, including, without limitation, those required by Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the applicable regulations thereunder that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known to it by others within the Company, particularly during the period in which such periodic reports are being prepared..
(x) Emerging Growth Company. The Company will cease to be an Emerging Growth Company on December 31, 2023.
(y) Renewal of Registration Statement. If, immediately prior to the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement (the “Renewal Date”), any of the Placement Shares remain unsold and this Agreement has not been terminated, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Date, file a new shelf registration statement or, if applicable, an automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Common Stock that may be offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement (which shall include a prospectus reflecting the number or amount of Placement Shares that may be offered and sold pursuant to this Agreement), in a form satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, and, if such registration statement is not an automatic shelf registration statement, will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Date. The Company will take all other reasonable actions necessary or appropriate to permit the public offer and sale of the Placement Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement and this Agreement. From and after the effective date thereof, references herein to the “Registration Statement” shall include such new shelf registration statement or such new automatic shelf registration statement, as the case may be.
(z) General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3. If, from and after the date of this Agreement, the Company is no longer eligible to use Form S-3 (including pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6.) at the time it files with the Commission an annual report on Form 10-K or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, then it shall promptly notify the Agent and, within two Business Days after the date of filing of such annual report on Form 10-K or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Company shall file a new prospectus supplement with the Commission reflecting the number of shares of Common Stock available to be offered and sold by the Company under this Agreement pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3; provided, however, that the Company may delay the filing of any such prospectus supplement for up to 30 days if, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, it is in the best interest of the Company to do so, provided that no Placement Notice is in effect or pending during such time. Until such time as the Company shall have filed such prospectus supplement, the Company shall not notify the Agent to resume the offering of Placement Shares.
(aa) Tax Indemnity. The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Agent against any documentary, stamp or similar issue tax, including any interest and penalties, on the issue and sale of the Placement Shares.
(bb) Transfer Agent. The Company has engaged and will maintain, at its sole expense, a transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock.
8. Conditions to the Agent’s Obligations. The obligations of the Agent hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the due performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, to the completion by the Agent of a due diligence review satisfactory to the Agent in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by the Agent in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Statement Effective. The Registration Statement shall be effective and shall be available for all offers and sales of Placement Shares (i) that have been issued pursuant to all prior Placement Notices and (ii) that will be issued pursuant to any Placement Notice.
(b) Prospectus. The Company shall have filed with the Commission the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act not later than the Commission’s close of business on the second Business Day following the date the Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission.
(c) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the offering of the Placement Shares and that have not been complied with; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material Incorporated Document untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or Incorporated Documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, in the case of the Prospectus, so
that it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) No Misstatement or Material Omission. The Agent shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in the Agent’s opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in the Agent’s opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(e) Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change, on a consolidated basis, in the authorized capital stock of the Company or any Material Adverse Effect or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or any downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities), if any, by any rating organization, the effect of which, in the judgment of the Agent (without relieving the Company of any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(f) Company Counsel Legal Opinions. The Agent shall have received the opinions and negative assurance letters, as applicable, of Company Counsel required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n), on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinions and negative assurance letters are required pursuant to Section 7(n).
(g) Agent’s Counsel Legal Opinion. The Agent shall have received from Goodwin Procter LLP, counsel for the Agent, such opinion or opinions, on or before the date on which the delivery of the Company Counsel legal opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(n), with respect to such matters as the Agent may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they may request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(h) Comfort Letter. The Agent shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(o) on or before the date on which such delivery of such Comfort Letter is required pursuant to Section 7(o).
(i) Representation Certificate. The Agent shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(m) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(m).
(j) Secretary’s Certificate. On or prior to the First Placement Notice Date, the Agent shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by the Secretary of the Company and attested to by an executive officer of the Company, dated as of such date and in form and substance satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, certifying as to (i) the amended and restated certificate of incorporation of the Company, (ii) the amended and restated bylaws of the Company, and (iii) the resolutions of the board of directors of the Company or duly authorized committee thereof authorizing the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares.
(k) No Suspension. The Common Stock shall be duly listed, and admitted and authorized for trading, subject to official notice of issuance, on Nasdaq. Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended on, and the Common Stock shall not have been delisted from, Nasdaq.
(l) Other Materials. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m), the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such appropriate further information, opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Agent may have reasonably requested. All such information, opinions, certificates, letters and other documents shall have been in compliance with the provisions hereof. The Company shall have furnished the Agent with conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Agent may have reasonably requested.
(m) Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the Time of Sale with respect to any Placement Shares shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) of the Securities Act) or Rule 433, as applicable.
(n) Approval for Listing. Either (i) the Placement Shares shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Shares on Nasdaq at, or prior to, the First Placement Notice Date and Nasdaq shall have reviewed such application and not provided any objections thereto.
(o) [Reserved].
(p) No Termination Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would permit the Agent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a).
9. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent and its affiliates and their respective partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents, and each person, if any, who controls the Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any and all investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any and all amounts paid in settlement (in accordance with this Section 9), any action, suit, investigation or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party (including any governmental or self-regulatory authority, or otherwise), to which the Agent, or any such other person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on (x) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus) or in any free writing prospectus or (y) the omission or alleged omission to state in any such document a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (solely with respect to the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading; provided, however, that in each case this indemnity agreement shall not apply to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement and is caused, directly or indirectly, by an untrue statement or omission, or alleged untrue statement or omission, made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agent’s Information. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have.
(b) Agent Indemnification. The Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 9(a), but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agent’s Information.
(c) Procedure. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 9 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 9, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 9 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 9 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any other legal expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm (plus local counsel) admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly after the indemnifying party receives a written invoice relating to such fees, disbursements and other charges in reasonable detail. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 9 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (1) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding and (2) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) [Reserved]
(e) Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 9 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable or insufficient from the Company or the Agent, the Company and the Agent will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit, investigation or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than the Agent, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and the Agent may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total Net Proceeds from the sale of the Placement Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation (before deducting expenses) received by the Agent from the sale of Placement Shares on behalf of the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action, suit, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Agent, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 9(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action, suit, investigation or proceeding in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 9(e) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 9(e), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action, suit, investigation, proceeding or claim to the extent consistent with this Section 9. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(e), the Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 9(e), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, any affiliates of the Agent, and any partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents of the Agent will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 9(e), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 9(e) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to
the last sentence of Section 9(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof.
10. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 9 of this Agreement and all representations and warranties of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any of their respective officers, directors, employees or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.
11. Termination.
(a) The Agent shall have the right, by giving notice as hereinafter specified, at any time to terminate this Agreement if (i) any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, has occurred that, in the judgment of the Agent, may materially impair the ability of the Agent to sell the Placement Shares hereunder, (ii) the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder; provided, however, in the case of any failure of the Company to deliver (or cause another person to deliver) any certification, opinion or letter required under Section 7(m), Section 7(n), Section 7(o) or Section 7(p), the Agent’s right to terminate shall not arise unless such failure to deliver (or cause to be delivered) continues for more than 15 calendar days from the date such delivery was required, (iii) any other condition of the Agent’s obligations hereunder is not fulfilled, (iv) any suspension or limitation of trading in the Placement Shares or in securities generally on Nasdaq shall have occurred, (v) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of United States federal or New York authorities, or (vi) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets that, in the judgment of the Agent, may materially impair the ability of the Agent to sell Placement Shares hereunder or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If the Agent elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 11(a), the Agent shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 12.
(b) The Company shall have the right, by giving three days’ prior notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 11(f), Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) The Agent shall have the right, by giving three days’ prior notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 11(f), Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(d) Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 11, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Shares through the Agent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; provided that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 11(f), Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(e) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 11(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 11(f), Section 16 and Section 17 shall remain in full force and effect.
(f) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agent or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not be required to pay to the Agent any discount or commission with respect to any Placement Shares not otherwise sold by the Agent under this Agreement; provided, however, that the Company shall remain obligated to reimburse the Agent’s expenses pursuant to Section 7(g).
12. Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, and if sent to the Agent, shall be delivered to:
| | |
| SVB Securities LLC |
| 1301 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor |
| New York, New York 10019 |
| Attention: Peter M. Fry |
| E-mail: [***] |
with a copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
| | |
| SVB Securities LLC |
| 1301 Avenue of the Americas, 12th Floor |
| New York, New York 10019 |
| Attention: Stuart R. Nayman, Esq. |
| E-mail: [***] |
| | |
| Goodwin Procter LLP |
| 620 Eighth Avenue |
| New York, New York 10018 |
| Attention: Siavosh Salimi, Esq. |
| E-mail: [***] |
and if to the Company, shall be delivered to:
| | |
| 520 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1200 |
| Newport Beach, California 92660 |
| Attention: Chief Financial Officer |
| E-mail: [***] |
with copies (which shall not constitute notice) to:
| | |
| O’Melveny & Myers LLP |
| 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1700 |
| Newport Beach, California 92660 |
| Attention: Mark Peterson, Esq. and Shelly Heyduk, Esq. |
Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally, (ii) by Electronic Notice as set forth in the next paragraph, (iii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier or (iv) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the Nasdaq and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.
An electronic communication (“Electronic Notice”) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this Section 12 if sent to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party in Section 12. Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives actual acknowledgment of receipt from the person to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply. Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a nonelectronic form (“Nonelectronic Notice”), which shall be sent to the requesting party within 10 days of receipt of the written request for Nonelectronic Notice; provided, however, that such request for a Nonelectronic Notice shall not affect the time on which any written notice delivered pursuant to this Section 12 is deemed to be given.
13. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Agent and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers, directors and other persons referred to in Section 9 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of each such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto, the persons referred to in the preceding sentence and their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that the Agent may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate of the Agent without obtaining the Company’s consent, so long as such affiliate is a registered broker-dealer.
14. Adjustments for Share Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any share split, share dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Common Stock.
15. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability; Waiver. This Agreement (including all schedules (as amended pursuant to this Agreement) and exhibits attached hereto and Placement Notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Agent; provided, however, that Schedule 2 of this Agreement may be amended by either party from time to time by sending a notice containing a revised Schedule 2 to the other party in the manner provided in Section 12 and, upon such amendment, all references herein to Schedule 2 shall automatically be deemed to refer to such amended Schedule 2. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent
that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement. No implied waiver by a party shall arise in the absence of a waiver in writing signed by such party. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power, or privilege hereunder.
16. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
17. Consent to Jurisdiction. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to such party at the address in effect for notices under Section 12 of this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient notice of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.
18. Construction.
(a) The section and exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
(b) Words defined in the singular shall have a comparable meaning when used in the plural, and vice versa.
(c) The words “hereof,” “hereto,” “herein” and “hereunder” and words of similar import, when used in this Agreement, shall refer to this Agreement as a whole and not to any particular provision of this Agreement.
(d) Wherever the word “include,” “includes” or “including” is used in this Agreement, it shall be deemed to be followed by the words “without limitation.”
(e) References herein to any gender shall include each other gender.
(f) References herein to any law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any governmental authority shall be deemed to refer to such law, statute, ordinance, code, regulation, rule or other requirement of any governmental authority as amended, reenacted, supplemented or superseded in whole or in part and in effect from time to time and also to all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
19. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. Each of the Company and the Agent represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the other party, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, conditioned or delayed, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Placement Shares that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, or that would
otherwise constitute a free writing prospectus (as defined in Rule 405), required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Agent or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an issuer free writing prospectus, and that it has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping.
20. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) the Agent has been retained to act as sales agent in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares, the Agent has acted at arms’ length and no fiduciary or advisory relationship between the Company or any of its respective affiliates, stockholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether the Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters and the Agent has no duties or obligations to the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth herein;
(b) the Company is capable of evaluating, and understanding and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) neither the Agent nor its affiliates have provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;
(d) the Company has been advised and is aware that the Agent and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that the Agent and its affiliates have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and
(e) except in connection with any breach of Section 23 hereof, the Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Agent or its affiliates for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and agrees that the Agent and its affiliates shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees of the Company.
21. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. In the event that the Agent is a Covered Entity and becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from the Agent of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
In the event that the Agent is a Covered Entity and the Agent or a BHC Act Affiliate of the Agent becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against the Agent are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
For purposes of this Agreement, (A) “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k); (B) “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b); (C) “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable; and (D) “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
22. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile or electronic transmission. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
23. Use of Information. The Agent may not provide any information gained in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including due diligence, to any third party other than its legal counsel advising it on this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement unless expressly approved by the Company in writing.
24. Agent’s Information. As used in this Agreement, “Agent’s Information” means solely the following information in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus: the seventh paragraph under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in the ATM Prospectus.
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR. All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
All references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Shares by the Agent outside of the United States.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the Agent, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Agent.
| | | | | |
| Very truly yours, |
|
| EVOLUS, INC. |
| |
| By: | /s/ David Moatazedi |
| Name: David Moatazedi |
| Title: CEO & President |
| |
| |
| ACCEPTED as of the date |
| first-above written: |
|
| SVB SECURITIES LLC |
| |
| By: | /s/ Peter Fry |
| Name: Peter Fry |
| Title:Senior Managing Director |
SCHEDULE 1
FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE
| | | | | | | | |
| From: | [ | ] |
| [TITLE] | |
| Evolus. Inc. | |
| Cc: | [ | ] |
| To: | SVB Securities LLC | |
| Subject: | SVB Securities—At the Market Offering—Placement Notice |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Sales Agreement, dated March 8, 2023 (the “Agreement”), by and between Evolus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and SVB Securities LLC (“SVB Securities”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that SVB Securities sell up to $[●] million of shares of common stock, $0.0001 par value per share, of the Company (the “Shares”), at a minimum market price of $ per share[; provided that no more than [ ] Shares shall be sold in any one Trading Day (as such term is defined in Section 3 of the Agreement)]. Sales should begin [on the date of this Placement Notice] and end on [DATE] [until all Shares that are the subject of this Placement Notice are sold].
SCHEDULE 2
The Company
[***]
SVB Securities
[***]
SCHEDULE 3
Compensation
The Company shall pay SVB Securities compensation in cash equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sales of Placement Shares pursuant to the terms of the Sales Agreement of which this Schedule 3 forms a part.
Exhibit 7(m)
OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE
Each of [●], the duly qualified and elected Chief Executive Officer of Evolus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and [●], the duly qualified and elected Chief Financial Officer of the Company, does hereby certify in his or her respective capacity and on behalf of the Company, pursuant to Section 7(m) of the Sales Agreement, dated March 8, 2023 (the “Sales Agreement”), by and between the Company and SVB Securities LLC, that, after due inquiry, to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in Section 6 of the Sales Agreement (A) to the extent such representations and warranties are subject to qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, are true and correct on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof, and (B) to the extent such representations and warranties are not subject to any qualifications or exceptions relating to materiality or Material Adverse Effect, are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof as if made on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof.
(ii) The Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied pursuant to the Sales Agreement at or prior to the date hereof.
(iii) As of the date hereof, (A) the Registration Statement complies in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, (B) the Prospectus complies in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (C) no event has occurred as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order for clauses (A) and (B) above to be true and correct.
(iv) There has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, properties, operations, assets, liabilities or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented to the date hereof.
(v) The Company does not possess any material non-public information with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(vi) The maximum amount of Placement Shares that may be sold pursuant to the Sales Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof pursuant to a resolution or unanimous written consent in accordance with the Company’s amended and restated articles of incorporation, amended and restated bylaws and applicable law.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Sales Agreement.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned, in such individual’s respective capacity as Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer of the Company, has executed this Officers’ Certificate on behalf of the Company.
| | | | | |
| By: | |
| Name: |
| Title: Chief Executive Officer |
| Date: |
| | | | | |
| By: | |
| Name: |
| Title: Chief Financial Officer |
| Date: |
[Company Signature Page to Officers’ Certificate]
Exhibit 4.4
EVOLUS, INC.
Issuer
AND
as Trustee
INDENTURE
Dated as of , 20
Debt Securities
CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE(1)
| | | | | |
SECTION OF
TRUST INDENTURE
ACT OF 1939, AS AMENDED | SECTION(S) OF
INDENTURE |
| 310(a) | 7.9 |
| 310(b) | 7.8 |
| 311(a) | 7.13 |
| 311(b) | 7.13 |
| 312(a) | 5.1, 5.2(a) |
| 312(b) | 5.2(b) |
| 312(c) | 5.2(c) |
| 313(a) | 5.4(a) |
| 313(b) | 5.4(b) |
| 313(c) | 5.4(c) |
| 313(d) | 5.4 |
| 314(a) | 5.3, 14.12 |
| 314(c) | 14.7(a) |
| 314(e) | 14.7(b) |
| 315(a) | 7.1 |
| 315(b) | 7.14 |
| 315(c) | 7.1 |
| 315(d) | 7.1 |
| 315(e) | 6.7 |
| 316(a) | 6.6, 8.4 |
| 316(b) | 6.4 |
| 316(c) | 8.1 |
| 317(a) | 6.2 |
| 317(b) | 4.2 |
| 318(a) | 14.9 |
(1) This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Indenture and shall not have any bearing on the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Page |
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 1.1 Definitions of Terms. | | | | 1 |
| Section 1.2 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. | | | | 4 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE II | | | | |
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 2.1 Designation and Terms of Securities. | | | | 4 |
| Section 2.2 Form of Securities and Trustee’s Certificate. | | | | 6 |
| Section 2.3 Denominations; Provisions for Payment. | | | | 6 |
| Section 2.4 Execution and Authentication. | | | | 8 |
| Section 2.5 Registration of Transfer and Exchange. | | | | 8 |
| Section 2.6 Temporary Securities. | | | | 9 |
| Section 2.7 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities. | | | | 9 |
| Section 2.8 Cancellation. | | | | 10 |
| Section 2.9 Benefits of Indenture | | | | 10 |
| Section 2.10 Authenticating Agent. | | | | 10 |
| Section 2.11 Global Securities. | | | | 11 |
| Section 2.12 CUSIP and ISIN Numbers | | | | 11 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE III | | | | |
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUND PROVISIONS REDEMPTION.
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 3.1 Notice of Redemption. | | | | 12 |
| Section 3.2 Payment Upon Redemption. | | | | 12 |
| Section 3.3 Sinking Fund. | | | | 13 |
| Section 3.4 Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities. | | | | 13 |
| Section 3.5 Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. | | | | 13 |
| | | | |
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 4.1 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. | | | | 13 |
| Section 4.2 Paying Agent and Security Registrar. | | | | 14 |
| Section 4.3 Appointment to Fill Vacancy in Office of Trustee. | | | | 15 |
| Section 4.4 Compliance with Consolidation Provisions | | | | 15 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE V | | | | |
SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 5.1 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders. | | | | 15 |
| Section 5.2 Preservation of Information; Communications with Securityholders. | | | | 15 |
| Section 5.3 Reports by the Company. | | | | 16 |
| Section 5.4 Reports by the Trustee. | | | | 16 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE VI | | | | |
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 6.1 Events of Default | | | | 16 |
| Section 6.2 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee. | | | | 17 |
| Section 6.3 Application of Moneys Collected. | | | | 18 |
| Section 6.4 Limitation on Suits. | | | | 19 |
| Section 6.5 Rights and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver. | | | | 19 |
| Section 6.6 Control by Securityholders. | | | | 19 |
| Section 6.7 Undertaking to Pay Costs. | | | | 20 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Page |
Article VII
Concerning the Trustee
| | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 7.1 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee. | | | | 20 |
| Section 7.2 Certain Rights of Trustee. | | | | 21 |
| Section 7.3 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance or Securities. | | | | 22 |
| Section 7.4 May Hold Securities and Otherwise Deal With the Company. | | | | 22 |
| Section 7.5 Moneys Held in Trust. | | | | 22 |
| Section 7.6 Compensation and Reimbursement. | | | | 23 |
| Section 7.7 Reliance on Officer’s Certificate. | | | | 23 |
| Section 7.8 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests. | | | | 23 |
| Section 7.9 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility. | | | | 23 |
| Section 7.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor. | | | | 24 |
| Section 7.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor | | | | 24 |
| Section 7.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. | | | | 25 |
| Section 7.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. | | | | 26 |
| Section 7.14 Notice of Default. | | | | 26 |
| Section 7.15 Limitation of Liability | | | | 26 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE VIII | | | | |
| CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS | | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 8.1 Evidence of Action by Securityholders. | | | | 26 |
| Section 8.2 Proof of Execution by Securityholders. | | | | 26 |
| Section 8.3 Who May be Deemed Owners. | | | | 27 |
| Section 8.4 Certain Securities Owned by Company Disregarded. | | | | 27 |
| Section 8.5 Actions Binding on Future Securityholders. | | | | 27 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE IX | | | | |
| SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 9.1 Supplemental Indentures Without the Consent of Securityholders. | | | | 27 |
| Section 9.2 Supplemental Indentures With the Consent of Securityholders. | | | | 28 |
| Section 9.3 Effect of Supplemental Indentures | | | | 29 |
| Section 9.4 Securities Affected by Supplemental Indentures | | | | 29 |
| Section 9.5 Execution of Supplemental Indentures. | | | | 30 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE X SUCCESSOR ENTITY | | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 10.1 Company May Consolidate, Etc | | | | 30 |
| Section 10.2 Successor Entity Substituted. | | | | 30 |
| Section 10.3 Evidence Of Consolidation, Etc. to Trustee. | | | | 31 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE XI | | | | |
| SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 11.1 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. | | | | 31 |
| Section 11.2 Application of Trust Money. | | | | 32 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE XII | | | | |
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
| | | | |
| Section 12.1 Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance | | | | 32 |
| Section 12.2 Legal Defeasance and Discharge. | | | | 32 |
| Section 12.3 Covenant Defeasance. | | | | 33 |
| Section 12.4 Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. | | | | 33 |
| Section 12.5 Deposited Money and Government Securities to be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions | | | | 34 |
| Section 12.6 Repayment to Company. | | | | 34 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Page |
| Section 12.7 Reinstatement. | | | | 34 |
| | | | |
| ARTICLE XIII | | | | |
| IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS | | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 13.1 No Recourse. | | | | 35 |
| | | | |
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | | | | |
| | | | |
| Section 14.1 Effect on Successors and Assigns. | | | | 35 |
| Section 14.2 Actions by Successor | | | | 35 |
| Section 14.3 Surrender of Company Powers | | | | 35 |
| Section 14.4 Notices. | | | | 35 |
| Section 14.5 Governing Law/Waiver of Jury Trial | | | | 35 |
| Section 14.6 Treatment of Securities as Debt. | | | | 36 |
| Section 14.7 Compliance Certificates and Opinions. | | | | 36 |
| Section 14.8 Payments on Business Days. | | | | 36 |
| Section 14.9 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act. | | | | 36 |
| Section 14.10 Counterparts. | | | | 36 |
| Section 14.11 Severability. | | | | 36 |
| Section 14.12 Compliance Certificates. | | | | 36 |
| Section 14.13 USA Patriot Act | | | | 37 |
| Section 14.14 Consent to Jurisdiction and Service | | | | 37 |
| Section 14.15 Force Majeure | | | | 37 |
INDENTURE
INDENTURE, dated as of , 20 , among Evolus, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), and , a national banking association organized under the laws of the United States, as trustee (the “Trustee”):
WHEREAS, for its lawful corporate purposes, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of debt securities (hereinafter referred to as the “Securities”), in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as in this Indenture provided, as registered Securities without coupons, to be authenticated by the Trustee;
WHEREAS, to provide the terms and conditions upon which the Securities are to be authenticated, issued and delivered, the Company has duly authorized the execution of this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows for the equal and ratable benefit of the holders of Securities:
ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS
SECTION 1.1 DEFINITIONS OF TERMS.
The terms defined in this Section (except as in this Indenture or any Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Section and shall include the plural as well as the singular. All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or that are by reference in such Act defined in the Securities Act (except as herein or any Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of the execution of this instrument.
“Authenticating Agent” means an authenticating agent with respect to all or any of the series of Securities appointed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.10.
“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 purposes of this definition, “control,” as used with respect to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management or policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by agreement or otherwise. For purposes of this definition, the terms “controlling,” “controlled by” and “under common control with” have correlative meanings.
“Authorized Officer,” when used with respect to the Company, means the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Operating Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, the Secretary or any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President of the Company.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code, or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Board of Directors” means the Board of Directors of the Company or any duly authorized committee of such Board.
“Board Resolution” means a copy of one or more resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors, or such committee of the Board of Directors or officers of the Company to which authority to act on behalf of the Board of Directors has been delegated, and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and to be delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means, with respect to any series of Securities, any day other than a day on which federal or state banking institutions in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Company” means Evolus, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall also include its successors and assigns.
“Company Request” and “Company Order” means a written request or order signed in the name of the Company by one or more Authorized Officers of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee at which, at any particular time, this Indenture shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at ; Attention: . With respect to presentation for transfer or exchange, conversions or principal payment, such address shall be ; Attention: , or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by written notice to the Securityholders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust office of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by written notice to the Securityholders and the Company).
“Covenant Defeasance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.3.
“Custodian” means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.
“Default” means any event, act or condition that with notice or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.
“Depositary” means, with respect to Securities of any series for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to either Section 2.1 or 2.11.
“Event of Default” means, with respect to Securities of a particular series, any event specified in Section 6.1, continued for the period of time, if any, therein designated.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
“Global Security” means, with respect to any series of Securities, a Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction, all in accordance with this Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee.
“Governmental Obligations” means securities that are (a) direct obligations of the U.S. for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (b) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the U.S., the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the U.S. that, in either case, are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any such Governmental Obligation or a specific payment of principal of or interest on any such Governmental Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of such depositary receipt; provided, however, that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Governmental Obligation or the specific payment of principal of or interest on the Governmental Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
“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.
“Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more Board Resolutions or one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into in accordance with the terms hereof.
“Interest Payment Date,” when used with respect to any installment of interest on a Security of a particular series, means the date specified in such Security or in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto with respect to such series as the fixed date on which an installment of interest with respect to Securities of that series is due and payable.
“Legal Defeasance” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.2.
“Officer’s Certificate” means a certificate signed by an Authorized Officer of the Company that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof. An Officer’s Certificate given pursuant to Section 14.12 shall be signed by the principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Company but need not contain the statements provided for in Section 14.7.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion in writing subject to customary exceptions of legal counsel, who may be an employee of or counsel for the Company, that is delivered to the Trustee in accordance with the terms hereof. Each such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 14.7, if and to the extent required by the provisions thereof.
“Outstanding,” when used with reference to Securities of any series, means, subject to the provisions of Section 8.4, as of any particular time, all Securities of that series theretofore authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except
(a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee, or delivered to the Trustee or any Paying Agent for cancellation or that have previously been canceled; (b) Securities or portions thereof for the payment or redemption of which cash or Governmental Obligations in the necessary amount shall have been irrevocably deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any Paying Agent (other than the Company) or shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent); provided, however, that if such Securities or portions of such Securities are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as in Article III provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such notice; and (c) Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.7, unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.
“Paying Agent” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“Person” means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, joint-stock company, trust, unincorporated organization, limited liability company or government or other entity, and includes any syndicate or group that would be deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
“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 2.7 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed 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.
“Securities” shall have the meaning set forth in the recitals to this Indenture. “Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Securityholder,” “holder of Securities,” “registered holder,” or other similar term, means the Person or Persons in whose name or names a particular Security shall be registered on the Security Register in accordance with the terms of this Indenture.
“Security Register” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“Security Registrar” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 4.2(a).
“Stated Maturity,” when used with respect to any security or any installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified in such Security or a coupon representing such installment of interest as the fixed date on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any Person, (i) any corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding Voting Stock shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.
“Trustee” means, and, subject to the provisions of Article VII, shall also include its successors and assigns, and, if at any time there is more than one Person acting in such capacity hereunder, “Trustee” shall mean each such Person. The term “Trustee” as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall mean the trustee with respect to that series.
“Trust Indenture Act” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.
“Trust Officer” means any officer of the Trustee with direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter hereunder, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of his or her knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Uniform Commercial Code” means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.
U.S.” means the United States of America.
“USA Patriot Act” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 14.13.
“Voting Stock,” as applied to stock of any Person, means shares, interests, participations or other equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a contingency.
SECTION 1.2 INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the Trust Indenture Act, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
All Trust Indenture Act terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the Trust Indenture Act, defined by Trust Indenture Act reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
ARTICLE II
ISSUE, DESCRIPTION, TERMS, EXECUTION, REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES
SECTION 2.1 DESIGNATION AND TERMS OF SECURITIES.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series up to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of that series from time to time authorized by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or pursuant to one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series, there shall be established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:
(1)the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of that series from all other Securities);
(2)the principal amount of the Securities being offered and any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of that series);
(3)the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the series is payable, any original issue discount that may apply to the Securities of that series upon their issuance, the principal amount due at maturity, and the place(s) of payment;
(4)the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any, and whether the rate(s) are fixed or variable;
(5)the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner of determination of such Interest Payment Dates, the place(s) of payment, and the record date for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest Payment Dates or the manner of determination of such record dates;
(6)the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;
(7)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;
(8)the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, mandatory redemption, or analogous provisions (including payments made in cash in satisfaction of future sinking fund obligations) or at the option of a holder thereof 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 or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(9)the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;
(10)the form of the Securities of the series including the form of the certificate of authentication for such series;
(11)if other than minimum denominations of two thousand U.S. dollars ($2,000) or any integral multiple of one thousand
U.S. dollars ($1,000) in excess thereof, the minimum denominations and multiples in excess thereof in which the Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(12)whether the Securities are issuable as a Global Security and, in such case, the terms and the identity of the Depositary for such series;
(13)whether the Securities will be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock or other securities of the Company or any other Person or other securities and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, including the conversion or exchange price, as applicable, or how it will be calculated and may be adjusted, any mandatory or optional (at the Company’s option or the holders’ option) conversion or exchange features, and the applicable conversion or exchange period;
(14)if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.1;
(15)any additional or different Events of Default or restrictive covenants (which may but shall not be required to include, among other restrictions, restrictions on the Company’s ability or the ability of the Company’s Subsidiaries to: incur additional indebtedness; issue additional securities; create liens; pay dividends or make distributions in respect of their capital stock; redeem capital stock; in the case of such Subsidiaries, pay dividends, make distributions or transfer assets; make investments or other restricted payments; sell or otherwise dispose of assets; enter into sale leaseback transactions; engage in transactions with stockholders and affiliates; issue or sell stock of the Company’s Subsidiaries; or effect a consolidation or merger) or financial covenants (which may include, among other financial covenants, financial covenants that require the Company and its Subsidiaries to maintain specified interest coverage, fixed charge, cash flow-based, asset-based or other financial ratios) provided for with respect to the Securities of the series;
(16)if other than U.S. dollars, the coin or currency in which the Securities of the series are denominated (including, but not limited to, foreign currency);
(17)the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Company shall pay amounts in addition to the stated interest, premium, if any, and principal amounts of the Securities of the series to any Securityholder that is not a “United States person” for federal tax purposes, and the terms and conditions, if any, relating to the Company’s ability to redeem such Securities if the Company is required to pay such additional amounts;
(18)a discussion of any material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to the Securities of the series;
(19)any restrictions on transfer, sale or assignment of the Securities of the series;
(20)the terms, if any, relating to any auction or remarketing of the Securities of the series and any security for the obligations of the Company with respect to such Securities;
(21)whether the Securities of the series are secured or unsecured, and if the Securities are secured, the terms of the secured Securities;
(22)information describing any book-entry features;
(23)the identity of any guarantors and the terms of the guarantees; and
(24)any and all other terms with respect to the series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture, as amended by any Board Resolution or supplemental indenture, but which may modify or delete any provisions of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such series), including any terms which may be required by or advisable under the laws of the U.S. or regulations thereunder or advisable (as determined by the Company) in connection with the marketing of Securities of that series.
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 any such Board Resolution or in any indentures supplemental hereto.
If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution of the Company, 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 of the Company setting forth the terms of the series.
Securities of any particular series may be issued at various times, with different dates on which the principal or any installment of principal is payable, with different rates of interest, if any, or different methods by which rates of interest may be determined, with different dates on which such interest may be payable and with different redemption dates. A series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series or to establish additional terms of such Securities.
SECTION 2.2 FORM OF SECURITIES AND TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE.
The Securities of any series and the Trustee’s certificate of authentication to be borne by such Securities shall be substantially of the tenor and purport as set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, and they may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which Securities of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.
SECTION 2.3 DENOMINATIONS; PROVISIONS FOR PAYMENT.
The Securities shall be issuable as registered Securities and in the minimum denomination of two thousand U.S. dollars ($2,000) or any integral multiple of one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) in excess thereof, subject to Section 2.1(11). The Securities of a particular series shall bear interest payable on the dates and at the rate specified with respect to that series. The principal of
and the interest on the Securities of any series, as well as any premium thereon, shall be payable in the coin or currency of the
U.S. that at the time is legal tender for public and private debt, at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the United States, which shall initially be an office or agency of the Trustee. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. Interest on the Securities shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year composed of twelve 30-day months. Presentment and surrender of the Securities is required for final payment thereon.
The interest installment on any Security that is payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of that series shall be paid to the Person in whose name said Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest installment. In the event that any Security of a particular series or portion thereof is called for redemption and the redemption date is subsequent to a regular record date with respect to any Interest Payment Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date, interest on such Security will be paid upon presentation and surrender of such Security as provided in Section 3.3.
Any interest on any Security that is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for Securities of the same series (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered holder on the relevant regular record date by virtue of having been such holder; and such Defaulted Interest shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as provided in clause (1) or clause (2) below:
(1)The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (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 such Security and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be more than 15 nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such special record date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid (or, in the case of Securities held in book-entry form, by electronic transmission), to each Securityholder at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined), not less than 10 days prior to such special record date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on such special record date.
(2)The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on any Securities 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.
Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto establishing the terms of any series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the term “regular record date” as used in this Section with respect to a series of Securities and any Interest Payment Date for such series shall mean either the fifteenth day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the first day of a month, or the last day of the month immediately preceding the month in which an Interest Payment Date established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof shall occur, if such Interest Payment Date is the fifteenth day of a month, whether or not such date is a Business Day.
Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Sections 2.5 and 2.11, each Security of a series delivered under this Indenture upon transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security of such series shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, that were carried by such other Security.
SECTION 2.4 EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION.
The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Company by an Authorized Officer and, to the extent necessary, under its corporate seal. Signatures may be in the form of a manual or facsimile signature.
The Company may use the facsimile signature of any Person who shall have been an Authorized Officer thereof, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Securities shall be authenticated and delivered or disposed of such Person shall have ceased to be such an officer of the Company. To the extent a Company seal is necessary, the Company seal may be in the form of a facsimile of such seal and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. The Securities may contain such notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication by the Trustee.
A Security shall not be valid until authenticated manually by an authorized signatory of the Trustee. Such signature shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture. At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities, signed by an Authorized Officer, and the Trustee in accordance with such Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities.
In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 7.1) shall be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the form and terms thereof have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner that is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
SECTION 2.5 REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.
(a)Securities of any series may be exchanged upon presentation thereof at the office of the Security Registrar, for other Securities of such series of authorized denominations, and for a like aggregate principal amount, upon payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, all as provided in this Section. In respect of any Securities so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and such office or agency shall deliver in exchange therefor the Security or Securities of the same series that the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to receive, bearing numbers not contemporaneously outstanding.
(b)Upon surrender for transfer of any Security at the office of the Security Registrar, the Company shall execute, the Trustee shall authenticate and the Security Registrar shall deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new Security or Securities of the same series as the Security presented for a like aggregate principal amount.
All Securities presented or surrendered for exchange or registration of transfer, as provided in this Section, shall be accompanied (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar) by a written instrument or instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company or the Security Registrar, duly executed by the registered holder or by such holder’s duly authorized attorney in writing.
(c)Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.1 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, no service charge shall be made for any exchange or registration of transfer of Securities, or issue of new Securities in case of partial repurchase or redemption of any series, but the Company and the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge in relation thereto, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 2.6, Section 3.3(b) and Section 9.4 not involving any transfer.
(d)The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, exchange or register the transfer of any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of less than all the Outstanding Securities of the same series and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, nor (ii) to register the transfer of
or exchange any Securities of any series or portion thereof called for redemption, other than the unredeemed portion of any such Securities being redeemed in part.
(e)Successive registrations and registrations of transfers and exchanges as aforesaid may be made from time to time as desired, and each such registration shall be noted on the register for the Securities.
(f)The Security Registrar shall provide to the Trustee such information as the Trustee may reasonably require in connection with the delivery by such Security Registrar of Securities upon transfer or exchange of Securities.
(g)The provisions of this Section 2.5 are, with respect to any Global Security, subject to Section 2.11 hereof.
(h)The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depositary participants or beneficial owners of interests in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
(i)Neither the Trustee nor any agent shall have any responsibility or liability for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
SECTION 2.6 TEMPORARY SECURITIES.
Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities (printed, lithographed or typewritten) of any authorized denomination. Such temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Company. Every temporary Security of any series shall be executed by the Company and be authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like effect, as the definitive Securities of such series. Without unnecessary delay the Company will execute and will furnish definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor (without charge to the holders), at the office of the Security Registrar, and the Trustee shall authenticate and the Security Registrar shall deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of such series, unless the Company advises the Trustee to the effect that definitive Securities need not be executed and furnished until further notice from the Company. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series authenticated and delivered hereunder.
SECTION 2.7 MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST OR STOLEN SECURITIES.
In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company (subject to the next succeeding sentence) shall execute, and upon a Company Request, the Trustee (subject as aforesaid) shall authenticate and deliver, a new Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, in exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case, the requirements of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code shall be met and the applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also furnish to the Company and the Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of the applicant’s Security and of the ownership thereof. The Trustee may authenticate any such substituted Security and deliver the same upon the delivery of a Company Order. Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
In case any Security that has matured or is about to mature shall become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company may, instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company and the Trustee such security or
indemnity as they may require to save them harmless, and, in case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to the satisfaction of the Company and the Trustee of the destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.
Every replacement Security issued pursuant to the provisions of this Section shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company whether or not the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be found at any time, or be enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities, and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or remedies, notwithstanding any law or statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without their surrender.
SECTION 2.8 CANCELLATION.
All Securities surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, exchange or registration of transfer shall, if surrendered to the Company or any Paying Agent, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly required or permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. On the delivery of a Company Order at the time of such surrender, the Trustee shall cancel Securities held by the Trustee in accordance with its standard procedures and applicable law and provide confirmation to the Company of such cancellation if requested by the Company. In the absence of such request, the Trustee may dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and deliver evidence of cancellation to the Company. If the Company shall otherwise acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
SECTION 2.9 BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.
Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and the holders of the Securities any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Indenture, or under any covenant, condition or provision herein contained; all such covenants, conditions and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and of the holders of the Securities.
SECTION 2.10 AUTHENTICATING AGENT.
So long as any of the Securities of any series remain Outstanding there may be an Authenticating Agent for any or all such series of Securities which the Trustee shall have the right to appoint. Said Authenticating Agent shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, transfer or partial redemption thereof, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. All references in this Indenture to the authentication of Securities by the Trustee shall be deemed to include authentication by an Authenticating Agent for such series. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall be a corporation that has a combined capital and surplus, as most recently reported or determined by it, sufficient under the laws of any jurisdiction under which it is organized or in which it is doing business to conduct a trust business, and that is otherwise authorized under such laws to conduct such business and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities. If at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with these provisions, it shall resign immediately.
Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time (and upon a Company Request shall) terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon resignation, termination or cessation of eligibility of any Authenticating Agent, the Trustee may appoint an eligible successor Authenticating Agent acceptable to the Company. Any successor Authenticating Agent, upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder, shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent pursuant hereto.
SECTION 2.11 GLOBAL SECURITIES.
(a)If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.1 that the Securities of a particular series are to be issued as a Global Security, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with Section 2.4, authenticate and deliver, a Global Security that (i) shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Securities of such series, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its nominee, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary or pursuant to the Depositary’s instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect: “Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of this Indenture, this Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depositary or to a successor Depositary or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.”
(b)Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 2.5, the Global Security of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in part and in the manner provided in Section 2.5, only to another nominee of the Depositary for such series, or to a successor Depositary for such series selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary. Nothing in this Section 2.11(b) shall prohibit or render ineffective any transfer of a beneficial interest in a Global Security effected in accordance with the other provisions of this Indenture.
(c)If at any time the Depositary for a series of the Securities notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such series or if at any time the Depositary for such series shall no longer be registered or in good standing under the Exchange Act, or other applicable statute or regulation, and a successor Depositary for such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, or if an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Company has received a request from the Depositary, this Section 2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and subject to Section 2.4, the Trustee will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities of any series shall no longer be represented by a Global Security and that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Securities of such series. In such event the Company will execute and, subject to Section 2.4, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officer’s Certificate evidencing such determination by the Company, will authenticate and deliver the Securities of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security of such series in exchange for such Global Security. Upon the exchange of the Global Security for such Securities in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Such Securities in definitive registered form issued in exchange for the Global Security pursuant to this Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
SECTION 2.12 CUSIP AND ISIN NUMBERS.
The Company, in issuing the Securities, shall use CUSIP and ISIN numbers for such Securities (if then generally in use). The Trustee shall use CUSIP and ISIN numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to holders; provided, however, that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any defect in the CUSIP or ISIN number that appears on any Security, check, advice of payment or redemption notice, and 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 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 in the event of any change in the CUSIP or ISIN numbers.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND
SINKING FUND PROVISIONS
SECTION 3.1 REDEMPTION.
The Company may redeem the Securities of any series issued hereunder on and after the dates and in accordance with the terms established for such series pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof. The provisions of this Article III may be modified, amended or
replaced, in part or in their entirety, with Securities of any series, by an Officer’s Certificate pursuant to a Board Resolution or one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case in accordance with Section 2.1 hereof.
SECTION 3.2 NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.
(a)In case the Company shall desire to exercise such right to redeem all or, as the case may be, a portion of the Securities of any series in accordance with any right the Company reserved for itself to do so pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof, the Company shall, or shall cause the Trustee to, give notice of such redemption to holders of the Securities of such series to be redeemed by mailing, first class postage prepaid (or, in the case of Securities held in book-entry form, by electronic transmission), a notice of such redemption not less than 30 days and not more than 60 days (except in accordance with Articles XI and XII) before the date fixed for redemption of that series to such holders at their last addresses as they shall appear upon the Security Register, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed. Any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the registered holder receives the notice. In any case, failure duly to give such notice to the holder of any Security of any series designated for redemption in whole or in part, or any defect in the notice, shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Securities of such series or any other series. 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 any such restriction.
Each such notice of redemption shall specify the date fixed for redemption and the redemption price at which Securities of that series are to be redeemed, and shall state that payment of the redemption price of such Securities to be redeemed will be made at the office or agency of the Paying Agent or as otherwise established in a Board Resolution or an indenture supplemental hereto, upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in said notice, that from and after said date interest will cease to accrue and that the redemption is from a sinking fund, if such is the case. If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the notice to the holders of Securities of that series to be redeemed in part shall specify the particular Securities to be so redeemed.
In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only, the notice that relates to such Security shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed, and shall state that on and after the redemption date, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.
(b)If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the Company shall give the Trustee at least 45 days’ notice (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) in advance of the date fixed for redemption as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities of the series to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, (i) if the Securities are in the form of Global Securities, in accordance with the procedures of the Depositary, or (ii) if the Securities are not in the form of Global Securities, by lot, a portion or portions (equal to one thousand U.S. dollars ($1,000) or any integral multiple thereof) of the principal amount of such Securities of a denomination larger than $2,000, the Securities to be redeemed and shall thereafter promptly notify the Company in writing of the numbers of the Securities to be redeemed, in whole or in part. The Company may, if and whenever it shall so elect, by delivery of instructions signed on its behalf by an Authorized Officer, instruct the Trustee or any Paying Agent to call all or any part of the Securities of a particular series for redemption and to give notice of redemption in the manner set forth in this Section, such notice to be in the name of the Company or its own name as the Trustee or such Paying Agent may deem advisable. In any case in which notice of redemption is to be given by the Trustee or any such Paying Agent, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered to, or permit to remain with, the Trustee or such Paying Agent, as the case may be, such Security Register, transfer books or other records, or suitable copies or extracts therefrom, sufficient to enable the Trustee or such Paying Agent to give any notice by mail that may be required under the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 3.3 PAYMENT UPON REDEMPTION.
(a)If the giving of notice of redemption shall have been completed as above provided, the Securities or portions of Securities of the series to be redeemed specified in such notice shall become due and payable on the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption and interest on such Securities or portions of Securities shall cease to accrue on and after the date fixed for redemption, unless the Company shall default in the payment of such redemption price and accrued interest with respect to any such Security or portion thereof. On presentation and surrender of such Securities on or after the date fixed for redemption at the place of payment specified in the notice, said Securities shall be paid and redeemed at the applicable redemption price for such series, together with interest
accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption (but if the date fixed for redemption is an interest payment date, the interest installment payable on such date shall be payable to the registered holder at the close of business on the applicable record date pursuant to Section 2.3).
(b)Upon presentation of any Security of such series that is to be redeemed in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and the office or agency where the Security is presented shall deliver to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security of the same series of authorized denominations in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.
SECTION 3.4 SINKING FUND.
If Securities of a series provide for a sinking fund as contemplated by Section 2.1, the provisions of this Section 3.4 and Sections 3.5 and 3.6 shall be applicable to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.1 for Securities of such series.
The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a “mandatory sinking fund payment,” and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an “optional sinking fund payment.” If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 3.5. 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.
SECTION 3.5 SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.
The Company (i) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series and (ii) may apply as a credit Securities of a series that have been redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund payment with respect to 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 3.6 REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.
Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of Securities (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), 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 the series, the portion thereof, if any, that is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to Section 3.5 and the basis for such credit and will, together with such Officer’s Certificate, 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 3.2 and cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 3.2. Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section 3.3.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
SECTION 4.1 PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.
The Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities of that series at the time and place and in the manner provided herein and established with respect to such Securities. Payments of principal on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check drawn on and mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account (such a wire transfer to be made only to a
Securityholder of an aggregate principal amount of Securities of the applicable series in excess of U.S. $2,000,000 and only if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions to the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date). Payments of interest on the Securities may be made at the time provided herein and established with respect to such Securities by U.S. dollar check mailed to the address of the Securityholder entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register, or U.S. dollar wire transfer to, a U.S. dollar account (such a wire transfer to be made only to a Securityholder of an aggregate principal amount of Securities of the applicable series in excess of U.S. $2,000,000 and only if such Securityholder shall have furnished wire instructions in writing to the Security Registrar and the Trustee no later than 15 days prior to the relevant payment date).
SECTION 4.2 PAYING AGENT AND SECURITY REGISTRAR.
(a)So long as any series of the Securities remain Outstanding, the Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Security Registrar”), an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”) and an office or agency where notices to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Security Registrar shall keep a register for the recordation of, and shall record, the names and addresses of holders of the Securities, the Securities held by each holder and the transfer and exchange of Securities (the “Security Register”). The entries in the Security Register shall be conclusive, and the parties may treat each Person whose name is recorded in the Security Register pursuant to the terms hereof as a holder hereunder for all purposes of this Indenture. The Company may have one or more co-Security Registrars and one or more additional Paying Agents.
The Company hereby initially designates the Trustee as Paying Agent and Security Registrar, and the Corporate Trust Office shall be considered as one such office or agency of the Company for each of the aforesaid purposes, such designation to continue with respect to such office or agency until the Company shall, by written notice signed by an Authorized Officer and delivered to the Trustee, designate some other office or agency for such purposes or any of them.
(b)The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Security Registrar, Paying Agent, or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the Trust Indenture Act. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Security Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor. The Company and any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Security Registrar or co-registrar.
(c)If the Company shall appoint one or more Paying Agents for all or any series of the Securities, other than the Trustee, the Company will cause each such Paying Agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section:
(1)that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor of such Securities) in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto;
(2)that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by the Company (or by any other obligor of such Securities) to make any payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that series when the same shall be due and payable;
(3)that it will, at any time during the continuance of any failure referred to in the preceding paragraph (a)(2) above, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent; and
(4)that it will perform all other duties of Paying Agent as set forth in this Indenture.
(d)If the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent with respect to any series of the Securities, it will on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on Securities of that series, set aside, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due on Securities of that series until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly notify the Trustee of such action, or any failure (by it or any other obligor on such Securities) to take such action. 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 (and premium, if any) or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of this action or failure so to act.
(e)Notwithstanding anything in this Section to the contrary, 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 direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same terms and conditions as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by the Company or any Paying Agent to the Trustee, the Company or such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.
SECTION 4.3 APPOINTMENT TO FILL VACANCY IN OFFICE OF TRUSTEE.
The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 7.10, a Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.
SECTION 4.4 COMPLIANCE WITH CONSOLIDATION PROVISIONS.
The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain Outstanding, consolidate with or merge into any other Person, in either case where the Company is not the survivor of such transaction, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the provisions of Article X hereof are complied with.
ARTICLE V SECURITYHOLDERS’
LISTS AND REPORTS BY
THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 5.1 COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee (a) on each regular record date (as defined in Section 2.3) a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the holders of each series of Securities as of such regular record date, provided that the Company shall not be obligated to furnish or cause to furnish such list at any time that the list shall not differ in any respect from the most recent list furnished to the Trustee by the Company 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, however, that, in either case, no such list need be furnished for any series for which the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar.
SECTION 5.2 PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS WITH SECURITYHOLDERS.
(a)The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of each series of Securities and shall otherwise comply with Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture Act. If the Trustee is not the Security Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee at least ten (10) days before each interest payment date with respect to any series of Securities and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing a list, in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Securityholders of such series of Securities, which list may be conclusively relied upon by the Trustee.
(b)Securityholders of any series may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Securityholders of that series or any other series with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities of that series or any other series.
(c)The Company, the Trustee, the Security Registrar and any other Person shall have the protection afforded by Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 5.3 REPORTS BY THE COMPANY.
(a)So long as any Security is Outstanding, the Company shall furnish a copy to the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company files the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) that the Company files with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to deliver to the Trustee any materials for which the Company has sought and received confidential treatment by the Commission; and provided further, so long as such filings by the Company are available on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (EDGAR), such filings shall be deemed to have been furnished to the Trustee for purposes of this Section 5.3 without any further action required by the Company. The Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether or not such filings have been made.
(b)Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee shall be for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of the covenants contained in this Indenture (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely upon an Officer’s Certificate).
SECTION 5.4 REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE.
(a)The Trustee shall transmit to the Securityholders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the time and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each May 15 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to holders a brief report, dated as of such May 15, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).
(b)The Trustee shall comply with Section 313(b) and 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c)A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the Trustee with the Company, with each securities exchange upon which any Securities are listed (if so listed) and also with the Commission. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when any Securities become listed on any securities exchange.
ARTICLE VI
REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT
SECTION 6.1 EVENTS OF DEFAULT.
(a)Whenever used herein with respect to Securities of a particular series, unless otherwise specified in a Board Resolution or in an indenture supplemental hereto, “Event of Default” means any one or more of the following events that has occurred and is continuing:
(1)the Company defaults in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities of that series, as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default continues for a period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid extension of an interest payment period by the Company in accordance with the terms of any Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for this purpose;
(2)the Company defaults in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due and payable whether at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series; provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of such Securities in accordance with the terms of any Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto shall not constitute a default in the payment of principal or premium, if any;
(3)the Company defaults in the performance or breach of its covenants or agreements with respect to that series contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to that series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.1 hereof (other than a covenant or agreement that has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of one or more series of Securities other than such series) for a period of 90 consecutive days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the
same to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder, shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee, by registered or certified mail, or to the Company and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities of that series at the time Outstanding;
(4)the Company pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;
(5)a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of its property or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company, and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or
(6)certain other specified events, as may be provided for in a Board Resolution or in a supplemental indenture.
(b)In each and every such case (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above), unless the principal of all the Securities of that series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by such Securityholders), may, and the Trustee at the request of the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then outstanding hereunder shall, declare the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in clause (4) or clause (5) above occurs, the principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that series shall automatically be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or the holders of the Securities.
(c)At any time after the principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on the Securities of that series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of that series then Outstanding hereunder, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if: (i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest upon all the Securities of that series and the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any and all Securities of that series that shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that such payment is enforceable under applicable law, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series to the date of such payment or deposit) and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6, and (ii) any and all Events of Default under this Indenture with respect to such series, other than the nonpayment of principal of (and premium, if any, on) and accrued and unpaid interest on Securities of that series that shall not have become due by their terms, shall have been remedied or waived as provided in Section 6.6.
No such rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d)In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right with respect to Securities of that series under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of such rescission or annulment or for any other reason or shall have been determined adversely to the Trustee, then and in every such case, subject to any determination in such proceedings, the Company and the Trustee shall be restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all rights, remedies and powers of the Company and the Trustee shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.
SECTION 6.2 COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.
(a)The Company covenants that (i) in case it shall default in the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of a series, and such default shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (ii) in case it shall default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any of the Securities of a series when the same shall have become due and payable, whether upon maturity of the Securities of a series or upon redemption or upon declaration or otherwise, or in any payment required by any sinking or analogous fund established with respect to that series as and when the same shall have become due and payable, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the
Securities of that series, the whole amount that then shall have been become due and payable on all such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) or interest, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law) upon overdue installments of interest at the rate per annum expressed in the Securities of that series; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, and the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6.
(b)If the Company shall fail to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law or equity out of the property of the Company or other obligor upon the Securities of that series, wherever situated.
(c)In case of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, readjustment, arrangement, composition or judicial proceedings affecting the Company, or its creditors or property, the Trustee shall have power to intervene in such proceedings and take any action therein that may be permitted by the court and shall (except as may be otherwise provided by law) be entitled to file such proofs of claim and other papers and documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the holders of Securities of such series allowed for the entire amount due and payable by the Company under this Indenture at the date of institution of such proceedings and for any additional amount that may become due and payable by the Company after such date, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to distribute the same after the deduction of the amount payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the holders of Securities of such series to make such payments to the Trustee, and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to such Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it under Section 7.6.
(d)All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or under any of the terms established with respect to Securities of that series, may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of such Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or 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 payment to the Trustee of any amounts due under Section 7.6, be for the ratable benefit of the holders of the Securities of such series.
In case of an Event of Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.
Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities of that series or the rights of any holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Securityholder in any such proceeding.
SECTION 6.3 APPLICATION OF MONEYS COLLECTED.
Any moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article VI with respect to a particular series of Securities shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Securities of that series, and notation thereon of the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:
FIRST: To the payment of reasonable costs and expenses of collection and of all amounts payable to the Trustee under Section 7.6;
SECOND: To the payment to holders of Securities of the amounts then due and unpaid upon Securities of such series for principal (and premium, if any), amounts payable upon redemption or repurchase of the Securities, and interest, in respect of
which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and
THIRD: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to holders pursuant to this Section 6.3. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each holder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and the amount to be paid.
SECTION 6.4 LIMITATION ON SUITS.
No holder of any Security of any series shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (i) such holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of an Event of Default and of the continuance thereof with respect to the Securities of such series specifying such Event of Default, as hereinbefore provided; (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have made written request upon the Trustee to institute such action, suit or proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder; (iii) such holder or holders shall have offered to the Trustee such indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, losses, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby; (iv) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have failed to institute any such action, suit or proceeding and (v) during such 60 day period, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request.
Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary or any other provisions of this Indenture, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on such Security, as therein provided, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates or redemption date, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security of such series with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of the holders of any other of such Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities of such series (it being understood that the Trustee does not have an affirmative duty to ascertain whether or not such actions or forbearances are unduly prejudicial to such holders). For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.
SECTION 6.5 RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE; DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.
(a)Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.7, all powers and remedies given by this Article VI to the Trustee or to the Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this Indenture or otherwise established with respect to such Securities.
(b)No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, every power and remedy given by this Article VI or by law to the Trustee or the Securityholders may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders.
SECTION 6.6 CONTROL BY SECURITYHOLDERS.
The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, determined in accordance with Section 8.4, 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 such series; provided,
however, that such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or with this Indenture. Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Trust Officer or officers of the Trustee, determine that the proceeding so directed, subject to the Trustee’s duties under the Trust Indenture Act, would involve the Trustee in personal liability or might be unduly prejudicial to the Securityholders not involved in the proceeding. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding affected thereby, determined in accordance with Section 8.4, may on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants contained herein or established pursuant to Section 2.1 with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, any of the Securities of that series as and when the same shall become due by the terms of such Securities otherwise than by acceleration (unless such default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and any premium has been deposited with the Trustee (in accordance with Section 6.1(c)), which requires the consent of each holder affected by such waiver. Upon any such waiver, the default covered thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent thereon.
SECTION 6.7 UNDERTAKING TO PAY COSTS.
All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any Securities by such holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Security or established pursuant to this Indenture.
ARTICLE VII
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
SECTION 7.1 CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRUSTEE.
(a)The Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series and after the curing of all Events of Default with respect to the Securities of that series that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform with respect to the Securities of such series such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (that has not been cured or waived), the Trustee shall exercise with respect to Securities of that series 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. Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a series, in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may with respect to the Securities of such series 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 stated therein).
(b)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:
(i)this subsection (b) shall not be construed to limit the effect of subsection (a) of this Section;
(ii)the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Trust Officer or Trust Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts;
(iii)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 not less than a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding 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 that series; and
(iv)None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers if there is reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Indenture or adequate indemnity against such risk is not reasonably assured to it.
(c)Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.
SECTION 7.2 CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1:
(a)The Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, security 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, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution or an instrument signed in the name of the Company by any authorized officer of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof is specifically prescribed herein);
(c)The Trustee may consult with counsel 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 or suffered or omitted hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;
(d)The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it against the costs, losses, expenses and liabilities that may be incurred therein or thereby; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to a series of the Securities (that has not been cured or waived), to exercise with respect to Securities of that series such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to 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;
(e)The Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture;
(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, consent, order, approval, bond, security, or other papers or documents, unless requested in writing so to do by the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of the particular series affected thereby (determined as provided in Section 8.4), and, if so requested, except as otherwise prohibited by applicable law or as would reasonably be expected to violate or result in the loss or impairment of any attorney- client or work product privilege, the Trustee shall be entitled to examine the books, records, and premises of the Company, personally or by agent, or attorney, and it shall incur no liability or additional liability of any kind by reason of such inquiry or investigation; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to provide access or furnish information in the event of any litigation involving this Indenture or the Securities except pursuant to applicable rules of discovery; and provided, further, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a condition to so proceeding. The reasonable expense of every such examination shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by the Company upon demand;
(g)The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder;
(h)In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for special, indirect, punitive or consequential loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including, but not limited to, loss of profit) irrespective of whether the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage and regardless of the form of action;
(i)The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Trust Officer has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture;
(j)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;
(k)The Trustee shall not be required to give any bond or surety in respect of the performance of its powers and duties hereunder;
(l)The Trustee shall not be liable for the acts or omissions of any other agent of the Company, and may assume performance by any such agent of its duties, absent written notice or actual knowledge to the contrary; and
(m)The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or duty to do so.
SECTION 7.3 TRUSTEE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OR SECURITIES.
(a)The recitals contained herein and in the Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.
(b)The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.
(c)The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any of the Securities or of the proceeds of such Securities, or for the use or application of any moneys paid over by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture or established pursuant to Section 2.1, or for the use or application of any moneys received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee.
SECTION 7.4 MAY HOLD SECURITIES AND OTHERWISE DEAL WITH THE COMPANY.
Subject to the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee, the Security Registrar, any Paying Agent or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may buy, own, hold, sell and become the pledgee of any of the Securities or any other evidences of indebtedness or other securities, whether heretofore or hereafter created or issued, of the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Security Registrar, Paying Agent or such other agent; and the Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company, including, without limitation, secured and unsecured loans to the Company or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company; and may maintain any and all other general banking and business relations with the Company and any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company with like effect and in the same manner and to the same extent as if the Trustee were not a party to this Indenture; and no implied covenant shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee in respect of any such matters.
SECTION 7.5 MONEYS HELD IN TRUST.
Subject to the provisions of Sections 11.2, 12.5, 12.6 and 12.7, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they were received, but 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 moneys received by it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company to pay thereon.
SECTION 7.6 COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.
(a)The Company covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation (which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust) as the Company and the Trustee may from time to time agree in writing, for all services rendered by it in the execution of the trusts hereby created and in the exercise and performance of any of the powers and duties hereunder of the Trustee, and, except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and of all Persons not regularly in its employ), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or willful misconduct and except as the Company and Trustee may from time to time agree in writing. The Company also covenants to indemnify the Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any loss, costs, damages, liability or expense incurred without negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee (as determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a final and non-appealable judgment) and arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this trust, including the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises.
(b)To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.6, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee, except that held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities of such series.
When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.1(a)(4) or 6.1(a)(5) occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
The provisions of this Section 7.6 shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee and the termination or satisfaction of this Indenture.
SECTION 7.7 RELIANCE ON OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE.
Except as otherwise provided in Section 7.1, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it reasonably necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting to take any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officer’s Certificate delivered to the Trustee and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
SECTION 7.8 DISQUALIFICATION; CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any “conflicting interest” within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.
SECTION 7.9 CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.
There shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to the Securities issued hereunder which shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the U.S. or any state or territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or other Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having (or, in the case of a subsidiary of a bank holding company, its bank holding company parent shall have) a combined capital and surplus of at least one hundred million U.S. dollars ($100,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial, or District of Columbia authority.
If such corporation or other Person publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation or other Person shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under
common control with the Company, serve as Trustee. In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 7.10.
SECTION 7.10 RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.
(a)The Trustee or any successor hereafter appointed may at any time resign with respect to the Securities of one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company and by transmitting notice of resignation by mail, first class postage prepaid (or, in the case of Securities held in book-entry form, by electronic transmission), to the Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee. If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may at the expense of the Company, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to Securities of such series, or the holders of at least 10% in the aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities may petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.
(b)In case at any time any one of the following shall occur:
(i)the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of Section 7.8 after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months; or
(ii)the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of Section 7.9 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such Securityholder; or
(iii)the Trustee shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or commence a voluntary bankruptcy proceeding, or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or consented to, 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, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to all Securities and appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities for at least six months may, on behalf of that holder and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.
(c)The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may, upon 30 days’ notice, remove the Trustee with respect to such series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company and may appoint a successor Trustee for such series with the consent of the Company.
(d)Any resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of a series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section 7.11.
(e)Any successor trustee appointed pursuant to this Section may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more series or all of such series, and at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any particular series.
SECTION 7.11 ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR
(a)In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to all Securities, every such successor trustee so appointed shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring
Trustee; but, on the request of the Company or the successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights, powers, and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.
(b)In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the retiring Trustee and each successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto wherein each successor trustee shall accept such appointment and which (i) 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, (ii) 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 (iii) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee and that no Trustee shall be responsible for any act or failure to act on the part of any other Trustee hereunder; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein, such retiring Trustee shall with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested in the Trustee under this Indenture, and each such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee, to the extent contemplated by such supplemental indenture, the property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor trustee relates.
(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) or (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 VII.
(e)Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in this Section, the Company shall transmit notice of the succession of such trustee hereunder by mail, first class postage prepaid, to the Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. If the Company fails to transmit such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be transmitted at the expense of the Company.
SECTION 7.12 MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.
Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee (including the administration of the trust created by this Indenture), shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 7.8 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.9, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities.
SECTION 7.13 PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST THE COMPANY.
The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included therein.
SECTION 7.14 NOTICE OF DEFAULT.
If any Default or any Event of Default occurs and is continuing and if the Trustee has notice of such Default or Event of Default, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust Indenture Act notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs (or, the Trustee does not have notice of such Default or Event of Default until after that time, 15 days after the Trustee has notice of such Default or Event of Default), unless such Default or Event of Default has been cured; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interest of the Securityholders.
SECTION 7.15 LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
The Trustee is entering into this Indenture and the other documents contemplated hereby and related hereto to which it is a party solely in its capacity as trustee under the Indenture and not in its individual capacity (except as expressly stated herein) and in no case shall the Trustee (or any Person acting as successor trustee under this Indenture) be personally liable for or on account of any of the statements, representations, warranties, covenants or obligations stated to be those of the Company hereunder or thereunder, all such liability, if any, being expressly waived by the parties hereto and any person claiming by, through or under such party.
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
SECTION 8.1 EVIDENCE OF ACTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS.
Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the holders of a majority or specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the holders of such majority or specified percentage of that series have joined therein may be evidenced by any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by such holders of Securities of that series in person or by agent or proxy appointed in writing.
If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders of any series any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate, fix in advance a record date for such series for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action may be given before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of that series have authorized or agreed or consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of that series shall be computed as of the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later than six months after the record date.
SECTION 8.2 PROOF OF EXECUTION BY SECURITYHOLDERS.
Subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder (such proof will not require notarization) or his agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a)The fact and date of the execution by any such Person of any instrument may be proved in any reasonable manner acceptable to the Trustee.
(b)The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Security Registrar thereof.
The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem necessary.
SECTION 8.3 WHO MAY BE DEEMED OWNERS.
Prior to the due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent and any Security Registrar may deem and treat the Person in whose name such Security shall be registered upon the books of the Security Registrar as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing thereon made by anyone other than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.3) interest on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
SECTION 8.4 CERTAIN SECURITIES OWNED BY COMPANY DISREGARDED.
In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities of a particular series have concurred in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the Securities of that series that are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under common control with the Company or any other obligor on the Securities of that series shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities of such series that the Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. The Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes of this Section, if the pledgee shall establish to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not a Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company or any such other obligor. In case of a dispute as to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel shall be full protection to the Trustee.
SECTION 8.5 ACTIONS BINDING ON FUTURE SECURITYHOLDERS.
At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section 8.1, of the taking of any action by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a Security of that series that is shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee, and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 8.2, revoke such action so far as concerns such Security. Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange therefor, on registration of transfer thereof or in place thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such Security. Any action taken by the holders of the majority or percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a particular series specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the Company, the Trustee and the holders of all the Securities of that series.
ARTICLE IX
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
SECTION 9.1 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
In addition to any supplemental indenture otherwise authorized by this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect), without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more of the following purposes:
(a)to cure any ambiguity, defect, omission or inconsistency herein or in the Securities of any series (with such ambiguity, defect, omission or inconsistency being evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate);
(b)to comply with Article X, including to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities contained or to provide for the assumption of a guarantor’s obligations to holders of the Securities in the case of a merger or consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of the guarantor’s assets;
(c)to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code;
(d)to add to the covenants of the Company or any guarantor for the benefit of the holders of the Securities of any series or to surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company or any guarantor;
(e)to provide for the issuance of additional Securities of any series in accordance with the terms of this Indenture;
(f)to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor trustee;
(g)to comply with any requirements of the Commission or any successor in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;
(h)to provide security for the Securities of any series or to provide for any guarantee of the Securities of any series or to confirm or evidence the release, termination or discharge of any guarantee of or lien securing the Securities of any series when such release, termination or discharge is permitted by this Indenture;
(i)to make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of the Securities of any series or that does not adversely affect the legal rights under this Indenture of any holder;
(j)to make any amendment to the provision of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of the Securities of any series; provided, however, that (1) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in Securities of such series being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any other applicable securities law and (2) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of holders to transfer Securities of such series; or
(k)to conform the text of this Indenture, any guarantee of the Securities of any series or the notes to any provision of the “Description of Debt Securities” included in the prospectus forming a part of the registration statement filed by the Company with the Commission on Form S-3 on March 8, 2023 or any subsequent description of Securities contained in any prospectus supplement, to the extent that such provision in that “Description of Debt Securities” or any subsequent description of Securities contained in any prospectus supplement was intended by the Company to be a verbatim recitation of a provision of this Indenture, any guarantee of the Securities of any series or the Securities, as applicable (with such intention being evidenced by an Officer’s Certificate).
The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee shall not be obligated to enter into any such supplemental indenture that affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section 9.2.
SECTION 9.2 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH THE CONSENT OF SECURITYHOLDERS.
With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 8.1) of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures at the time Outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange offer for the Securities), the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto (which shall comply with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating (or waiving any past default or compliance with) any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner not covered by Section 9.1 the rights of the holders of the Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the holders of each Security then Outstanding and affected thereby,
(a)reduce the percentage or aggregate principal amount of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent to any modification, amendment, supplement or waiver;
(b)reduce the principal amount of, or premium, if any, or rate of interest on, such Securities;
(c)extend the fixed maturity of such Securities;
(d)extend the time for payment of interest on such Securities;
(e)reduce the redemption or repurchase price of such Securities or change the time at which the Securities may or must be redeemed or repurchased;
(f)change the currency of payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, such Securities;
(g)waive a default in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on such Securities (except as provided in Section 6.1(c));
(h)voluntarily release a guarantor of such Securities other than in accordance with this Indenture;
(i)reduce the percentage or aggregate principal amount of Outstanding Securities the consent of whose holders is necessary for waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults; or
(j)impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity (or, in the case of a redemption, on or after the redemption date) of such Securities.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders of any series affected thereby under this Section to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
SECTION 9.3 EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX or of Section 10.1, this Indenture shall, with respect to such series, be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders of Securities of the series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
SECTION 9.4 SECURITIES AFFECTED BY SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Securities of any series affected by a supplemental indenture, authenticated and delivered after the execution of such supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX or of Section 10.1, may bear a notation in form approved by the Company, provided such form meets the requirements of any securities exchange upon which such series may be listed, as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities of that series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of that series then Outstanding.
SECTION 9.5 EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.
Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by its Board Resolutions authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of Securityholders required to consent thereto as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion but shall not be obligated to enter into such supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall receive, in addition to the documents required by Section 14.7(a), an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that and as conclusive evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article IX is authorized or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article IX, constitutes the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms (subject to customary exceptions) and that it is proper for the Trustee under the provisions of this Article IX to join in the execution thereof.
Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Company shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Securityholders of all series affected thereby as their names and addresses appear upon the Security Register. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
ARTICLE X
SUCCESSOR ENTITY
SECTION 10.1 COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC.
Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.1 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, nothing contained in this Indenture shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company) or successive consolidations or mergers in which the Company or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition of the property of the Company or its successor or successors as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to any other corporation (whether or not affiliated with the Company or its successor or successors) authorized to acquire and operate the same; provided, however, the Company hereby covenants and agrees that, upon any such consolidation or merger (in each case, if the Company is not the survivor of such transaction), sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, (a) the due and punctual payment of the principal of (premium, if any) and interest on all of the Securities of all series in accordance with the terms of each series, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture with respect to each series or established with respect to such series pursuant to Section 2.1 to be kept or performed by the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect) executed and delivered to the Trustee by the entity formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company shall have been merged, or by the entity which shall have acquired such property and (b) in the event that the Securities of any series then Outstanding are convertible into or exchangeable for shares of common stock or other securities of the Company, such entity shall, by such supplemental indenture, make provision so that the Securityholders of Securities of that series shall thereafter be entitled to receive upon conversion or exchange of such Securities the number of securities or property to which a holder of the number of shares of common stock or other securities of the Company deliverable upon conversion or exchange of those Securities would have been entitled had such conversion or exchange occurred immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition.
SECTION 10.2 SUCCESSOR ENTITY SUBSTITUTED.
(a)In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition and upon the assumption by the successor entity by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee of the obligations set forth under Section 10.1 on all of the Securities of all series Outstanding, such successor entity shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company with the same effect as if it had been named as the Company herein, and thereupon the predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.
(b)In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.
(c)Nothing contained in this Article X shall require any action by the Company in the case of a consolidation or merger of any Person into the Company where the Company is the survivor of such transaction, or the acquisition by the Company, by purchase or otherwise, of all or any part of the property of any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company).
SECTION 10.3 EVIDENCE OF CONSOLIDATION, ETC. TO TRUSTEE.
The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 7.1, shall receive an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that and as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the provisions of this Article X.
ARTICLE XI SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
SECTION 11.1 SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.
This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of such series herein expressly provided for or in the form of Security for such series and any right to receive additional amounts), and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture as to such series, when
(a)either
(i) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.7 and (ii) Securities for whose payment cash, Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Sections 12.5 and 12.6) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii)all such Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, or
(A)have become due and payable by reason of the mailing of a notice of redemption or otherwise, or
(B)will become due and payable within one year,
and the Company, in the case of (A) or (B) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Securityholders of the Securities of that series, cash in U.S. dollars, Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof in such amount as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have become due and payable), or to the Stated Maturity or the Redemption Date, as the case may be;
(b)in respect of clause (a)(ii), no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing on the date of deposit (other than an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and any similar deposit relating to other indebtedness and, in each case, the granting of certain liens to secure such borrowing);
(c)the Company or any guarantor has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to such series; and
(d)the Company has delivered irrevocable instructions to the Trustee under this Indenture to apply the deposited money towards the payment of the notes at maturity or on the redemption date, as the case may be.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to such series, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee with respect to such series under this Section 11.1 and Sections 7.6 and 7.10, the obligations of the Company to any Authenticating Agent under Section 2.10, and, if cash, Governmental Obligations or a combination thereof shall have been
deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (ii) of clause (a) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 11.2, shall survive.
SECTION 11.2 APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.
Subject to the provisions of Section 12.6, all cash and Governmental Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 11.1 shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of the series of Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or any of its Subsidiaries acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Securities for which payment of such cash and Governmental Obligations has been deposited with the Trustee.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any cash or Governmental Obligations in accordance with this Article XI by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article XI until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such cash and Governmental Obligations in accordance with this Article XI; provided, however, that, if the Company has made any payment of principal, premium, if any, interest on or principal of any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the cash and Governmental Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE XII
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
SECTION 12.1 OPTION TO EFFECT LEGAL DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE
The Company may at any time, at the option of its Board of Directors evidenced by a Board Resolution set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, elect to have either Section 12.2 or 12.3 hereof be applied to all outstanding Securities of a series upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article XII.
SECTION 12.2 LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.
Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 12.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 12.2 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 12.4 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities of such series on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the Outstanding Securities of such series, which will thereafter be deemed to be Outstanding only for the purposes of Section 12.5 hereof and the Articles and other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (1) and (2) below, and to have satisfied all their other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(1)the rights of holders of Outstanding Securities of such series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on such Securities when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 12.4 hereof;
(2)the Issuers’ obligations with respect to such Securities under Article 2 and Section 4.2 hereof;
(3)the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(4)this Article XII.
Subject to compliance with this Article XII, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 12.2 with respect to a series of Securities, notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 12.3 hereof with respect to such series of Securities.
SECTION 12.3 COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 12.1 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 12.3 with respect to a series of Securities, the Company will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 12.4 hereof, be released from its obligations under Section 5.3 and Article X and any additional covenants specified in any Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 12.4 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Securities of such series will thereafter be deemed not Outstanding for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but will continue to be deemed Outstanding for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities will not be deemed Outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, 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 Section 5.3 or Article X and any additional covenants specified in any Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or Article or by reason of any reference in any such Section or Article to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.1 hereof with respect to Outstanding Securities of such series, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.
SECTION 12.4 CONDITIONS TO LEGAL OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.
In order to exercise either Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance under either Section 12.2 or 12.3 hereof with respect to the Outstanding Securities of a particular series:
(1)the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Securityholders of the Securities of that series, cash in U.S. dollars, Governmental Obligations, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm, or firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium on, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be, and the Company must specify whether the Securities of such series are being defeased to such stated date for payment or to a particular redemption date;
(2)in the case of an election under Section 12.2 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:
(A)the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
(B)since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal 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 Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(3)in the case of an election under Section 12.3 hereof, the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming 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;
(4)no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit (and any similar concurrent deposit relating to other Indebtedness), and the granting of liens to secure such borrowings);
(5)such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any material agreement or instrument (other than this Indenture and the agreements governing any other Indebtedness being defeased, discharged or replaced) to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound; and
(6)the Company must deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with.
SECTION 12.5 DEPOSITED MONEY AND GOVERNMENT SECURITIES TO BE HELD IN TRUST; OTHER MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.
Subject to Section 12.6 hereof, all cash and Governmental Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 12.4 hereof in respect of the Outstanding Securities of a particular 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 (including the Company acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest, but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company will pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or Governmental Obligations deposited pursuant to Section 12.4 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the holders of the Outstanding Securities of the applicable series.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article XII to the contrary, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any cash or Governmental Obligations held by it as provided in Section 12.4 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 12.4(1) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
SECTION 12.6 REPAYMENT TO COMPANY.
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, premium on, if any, or interest on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest, has become due and payable shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) will be discharged from such trust; and the holder of such Security will thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may give written notice to the holder of such Security, at such holder’s address as it appears upon the Security Register, that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be repaid to the Company.
SECTION 12.7 REINSTATEMENT.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any cash or Governmental Obligations in accordance with Section 12.2 or
12.3 hereof, as the case may be, 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 this Indenture and the Securities of the particular series shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 12.2 or 12.3 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such cash or Governmental Obligations in accordance with Section 12.2 or 12.3 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium on, if any, or interest on, any Security of the particular series following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the cash or Governmental Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE XIII
IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS, OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
SECTION 13.1 NO RECOURSE.
No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, or of any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, shall be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that this Indenture and the obligations issued hereunder are solely corporate obligations, and that no such personal liability whatever shall attach to, or is or shall be incurred by, the incorporators, stockholders, officers or directors as such, of the Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, or any of them, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom; and that any and all such personal liability of every name and nature, either at common law or in equity or by constitution or statute, of, and any and all such rights and claims against, every such incorporator, stockholder, officer or director as such, because of the creation of the indebtedness hereby authorized, or under or by reason of the obligations, covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities or implied therefrom, are hereby expressly waived and released as a condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of such Securities.
ARTICLE XIV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
SECTION 14.1 EFFECT ON SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture made by or on behalf of the Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture made by or on behalf of the Trustee shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
SECTION 14.2 ACTIONS BY SUCCESSOR.
Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the corresponding board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be the lawful successor of the Company.
SECTION 14.3 SURRENDER OF COMPANY POWERS.
The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company and as to any successor corporation.
SECTION 14.4 NOTICES.
Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, any notice, request or demand that by any provision of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given, made or served by the Trustee or by the holders of Securities or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or on the Company may be given or served by being deposited in first class mail, postage prepaid, addressed, as follows: Evolus, Inc., 520 Newport Center Drive, Suite 1200, Newport Beach, California 92660, Attention: Secretary. Any notice, election, request or demand by the Company or any Securityholder or by any other Person pursuant to this Indenture to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.
SECTION 14.5 GOVERNING LAW/WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL
This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made under the internal laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State, except to the extent that the Trust Indenture Act
is applicable. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS AGREEMENT.
SECTION 14.6 TREATMENT OF SECURITIES AS DEBT.
It is intended that the Securities will be treated as indebtedness and not as equity for federal income tax purposes. The provisions of this Indenture shall be interpreted to further this intention.
SECTION 14.7 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.
(a)Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate stating that all conditions precedent 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 have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
(b)Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant in this Indenture shall include (i) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) 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; (iii) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he has made such examination or investigation as is reasonably necessary to enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
SECTION 14.8 PAYMENTS ON BUSINESS DAYS.
Except as provided pursuant to Section 2.1 pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth in an Officer’s Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental to this Indenture, in any case where the date of maturity of interest or principal of any Security or the date of redemption of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) may be made on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the nominal date of maturity or redemption, and no interest shall accrue for the period after such nominal date.
SECTION 14.9 CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.
If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with any provision of the Trust Indenture Act, such Trust Indenture Act provision shall control.
SECTION 14.10 COUNTERPARTS.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
SECTION 14.11 SEVERABILITY.
In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of any series shall for any reason be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this Indenture or of such Securities, but this Indenture and such Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.
SECTION 14.12 COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES.
The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year during which any Securities of any series were outstanding, an Officer’s Certificate stating whether or not the signers know of any Default or Event of Default that
occurred during such fiscal year. Such certificate shall contain a certification from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer or principal accounting officer of the Company that a review has been conducted of the activities of the Company and the Company’s performance under this Indenture and that the Company has complied with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture. For purposes of this Section 14.12, such compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture. If any of the officers of the Company signing such certificate has knowledge of such a Default or Event of Default, the certificate shall describe any such Default or Event of Default and its status.
SECTION 14.13 USA PATRIOT ACT
The parties hereto acknowledge that, in accordance with Section 326 of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)) (as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time, the “USA Patriot Act”), the Trustee, like all financial institutions, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each Person or legal entity that opens an account. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as the Trustee may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the USA Patriot Act.
SECTION 14.14 CONSENT TO JURISDICTION AND SERVICE
To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any Federal or State court located in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York, New York in any suit, action or proceeding based on or arising out of or relating to this Indenture or any Securities and irrevocably agrees that all claims in respect of such suit or proceeding may be determined in any such court. Each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may have to the laying of the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party agrees that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court shall be conclusive and binding upon such party, and may be enforced in any courts to the jurisdiction of which such party is subject by a suit upon such judgment, provided, that service of process is effected upon such party in the manner specified herein or as otherwise permitted by law.
SECTION 14.15 FORCE MAJEURE
In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software and hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
[Signature page follows]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed all as of the day and year first above written.
EVOLUS, INC.
By: Name:
Title:
, as Trustee
By: Name:
Title:
