As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 13, 2024

Registration No.  333-______

 

United States

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Nevada

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

80-0948413

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

1460 Fifth Avenue

Bay Shore, NY 11706

(631) 968-5000

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

 

Luciano Melluzzo

President and Chief Executive Officer

Air Industries Group

1460 Fifth Avenue

Bay Shore, NY 11706

(631) 968-5000

 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,

including area code, of agent for service)

 

Copy to:

Vincent J. McGill, Esq.

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
1345 Avenue of the Americas, 11^th Floor
New York, New York 10105
(516) 220-6569
e-mail: vmcgill@egsllp.com

 

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

 

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, 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, please 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, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):

 

Large accelerated filer ☐	Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☒	Smaller reporting company ☒	Emerging growth company ☐

   

      

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

 

  

 

EXPLANATORY NOTE

 

We are filing this registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this registered “shelf,” in the future, we may, from time to time, sell any combination of the securities described herein, in one or more offerings, up to a maximum aggregate offering price of $10,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities.

 

Each time we offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.

 

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

 

This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

One of the offerings registered under this registration statement is the offering of our shares of common stock under that certain At the Market Offering Agreement, (the “sales agreement”), with Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC, as sales agent.  

 

Accordingly, this registration statement contains two prospectuses:

 

●

a base prospectus, which covers the offering, issuance and sale by us of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, and units identified above from time to time in one or more offerings, which together shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $10,000,000; and

 

●

an “at the market offering” prospectus (the “sales agreement prospectus”) covering the offer, issuance and sale by us of up to a maximum aggregate offering price of up to $5,378,227 of our common stock that may be issued and sold from time to time under the sales agreement with Craig-Hallum Capital Group 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 one or more prospectus supplements to the base prospectus. The sales agreement prospectus immediately follows the base prospectus. The $5,378,227 of common stock that may be offered, issued and sold under the sales agreement prospectus is included in the $10,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us under the base prospectus. Upon termination of the sales agreement, any portion of the $5,378,227 included in the sales agreement prospectus that is not sold pursuant to the sales agreement will be available for sale in other offerings pursuant to the base prospectus, and if no shares are sold under the sales agreement, the full $5,378,227 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 December 13, 2024

 

PROSPECTUS

 

Air Industries Group

 

$10,000,000

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

 

 

We may offer and sell, from time to time in one or more offerings, any combination of common stock, preferred stock, debt securities, warrants, or units having a maximum aggregate offering price of $10,000,000. When we decide to sell a particular class or series of securities, we will provide specific terms of the offered securities in a prospectus supplement.

 

The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. However, no prospectus supplement shall offer a security that is not registered and described in this prospectus at the time of its effectiveness.  You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus, carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell our securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement relating to the offered securities.

 

Our common stock is traded on the NYSE American under the symbol “AIRI.”  Each prospectus supplement will contain information, where applicable, as to our listing on the NYSE American or any other securities exchange of the securities covered by the prospectus supplement.

 

These securities may be sold directly by us, through dealers or agents designated from time to time, to or through underwriters or through a combination of these methods. See “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. We may also describe the plan of distribution for any particular offering of our securities in a prospectus supplement. If any agents, underwriters or dealers are involved in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, we will disclose their names and the nature of our arrangements with them in a prospectus supplement. The net proceeds we expect to receive from any such sale will also be included in a prospectus supplement.

 

As of October 17, 2024, the aggregate market value of our common stock held by non-affiliates was approximately $16,134,681.60 based on 3,358,119 shares of outstanding common stock, of which 837,075 shares are held by affiliates, and a price of $6.40 per share, which was the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American on that date.  We have not sold any shares of common stock pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 during the prior 12-month calendar period that ends on, and includes, the date of this prospectus.

 

We were incorporated in Nevada on July 9, 2013, and are the successor by merger on August 30, 2013 to our corporate parent, Air Industries Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation. Our principal executive offices are located at 1460 Fifth Avenue, Bay Shore, New York 11706. Our telephone number is (631) 968-5000 and our website address is http://www.airindustriesgroup.com. Information contained in our website is not a part of this prospectus.

 

This prospectus may not be used to offer or sell any securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should review carefully the risks and uncertainties referenced under the heading “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus as well as those contained in the applicable prospectus supplement and any related free writing prospectus, and in the other documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

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

 

The date of this prospectus is December      , 2024

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

	Page No.
About this Prospectus	iii
Prospectus Summary	1
Risk Factors	3
Use of Proceeds	4
Descriptions of the Securities We May Offer	4
Capital Stock	5
Warrants	7
Debt Securities	9
Units	11
Plan of Distribution	12
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification of Officers and Directors	14
Legal Matters	16
Experts	16
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference	17
Where You Can Find Additional Information About Us	18

 

 

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Some, of the statements contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus including any amendment or supplement thereto may be or contain “forward-looking statements,” including statements regarding our operations, cash flows, financial position and economic performance including, in particular, future sales, product demand, competition and the effect of economic conditions.

 

Although we believe that these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, including projections of orders, sales, operating margins, earnings, cash flow, research and development costs, working capital, capital expenditures, distribution channels, profitability, new products, adequacy of funds from operations, and general economic conditions, these statements and other projections contained herein expressing opinions about future outcomes and non-historical information, are subject to uncertainties and, therefore, there is no assurance that the outcomes expressed in these statements will be achieved.  Investors are cautioned that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from the expectations expressed in forward-looking statements contained herein. Given these uncertainties, you should not place any reliance on these forward-looking statements which speak only as of the date hereof. See “Risk Factors” for a discussion of factors that could cause our actual results from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements.

 

We do not guarantee that the transactions and events which are the subject of forward-looking statements will happen as described or that they will happen at all. You should read the report in which statements are contained completely and with the understanding that actual future results may be materially different from what we expect. Forward-looking statements relate only to events as of the date on which the statements are made. We undertake no obligation, beyond that required by law, to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which the statement is made, even though our situation will change in the future.

 

Whether actual results will conform to our expectations and predictions is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, and reflect future business decisions that are subject to change. Some of the assumptions, future results and levels of performance expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements we have made or may make in the future inevitably will not materialize, and unanticipated events may occur which will affect our results. Such risks and uncertainties include, among others, those discussed in “Item 1A: Risk Factors” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, as amended (“2023 Annual Report”), as well as in our consolidated financial statements, related notes, and the other financial information appearing in our 2023 Annual Report and our other filings with the SEC.

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may offer from time to time securities having a maximum aggregate offering price of $10,000,000. Each time we offer securities, we will prepare and file with the SEC a prospectus supplement and/or a free writing prospectus (collectively referred to herein as a prospectus supplement) that describes the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities we offer. The prospectus supplement also may add, update or change information contained in this prospectus or the documents incorporated herein by reference. You should read carefully both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under the caption “Where You Can Find Additional Information About Us.”

 

THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE A SALE OF SECURITIES UNLESS IT IS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.

 

This prospectus does not contain all the information provided in the registration statement we filed with the SEC. For further information about us or our securities offered hereby, you should refer to that registration statement, which you can obtain from the SEC as described below under “Where You Can Find Additional Information About Us.”

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement (including any free writing prospectus). We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus is not an offer to sell securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy securities, in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as information we have previously filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference, is accurate as of the date of those documents only. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

 

We may sell securities through underwriters or dealers, through agents, directly to purchasers or through any combination of these methods. We and our agents reserve the sole right to accept or reject in whole or in part any proposed purchase of securities. The prospectus supplement, which we will prepare and file with the SEC each time we offer securities, will set forth the names of any underwriters, agents or others involved in the sale of securities, and any applicable fee, commission or discount arrangements with them. See “Plan of Distribution.”

  

As used, or incorporated by reference, in this prospectus, unless otherwise stated or the context requires otherwise, the “Company” and terms such as “we,” “us” “our,” and “AIRI” refer to Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation, and our wholly-owned subsidiaries: Air Industries Machining, Corp., a New York corporation (“AIM”), Nassau Tool Works, Inc., a New York corporation (“Nassau Tool Works” or “NTW”) and The Sterling Engineering Corporation, a Connecticut corporation (“Sterling” or “STE”).

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. Before purchasing our securities, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties set forth below and under the heading “Risk Factors” in our 2023 Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference in this prospectus, as well as any updates thereto contained in subsequent filings with the SEC or any applicable prospectus supplement (including any free writing prospectus). Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations.

 

Risks Related to Our Common Stock and the Offering

 

Future sales or other dilution of our equity could depress the market price of our common stock.

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American.  However, trading volume has been limited and a more active public market for our common stock may not develop or be sustained over time. The market price of our common stock could be subject to significant fluctuations. The price of our stock may change in response to variations in our operating results and also may change in response to other factors, including factors specific to companies in our industry many of which are beyond our control. Our shares may be less liquid than the shares of other public companies and there may be imbalances between supply and demand for our shares. As a result, our share price may experience significant volatility and may not necessarily reflect the value of our expected performance. Moreover, sales of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that such sales could occur, could negatively impact the price of our common stock. As a result, you may not be able to sell your shares of our common stock in short time periods, or possibly at all, and the price per share of our common stock may fluctuate significantly.

 

In addition, the issuance of additional shares of our common stock pursuant to this prospectus, or issuances of securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock or other equity-linked securities, including preferred stock, warrants, debt securities or units, would dilute the ownership interest of our common shareholders and could depress the market price of our common stock and impair our ability to raise capital through the sale of additional equity securities.

 

We expect to seek to raise additional capital. If this additional financing is obtained through the issuance of equity securities, debt convertible into equity or options or warrants to acquire equity securities, our existing shareholders could experience significant dilution upon the issuance, conversion or exercise of such securities.

 

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of the proceeds we receive from the sale of our securities pursuant to this prospectus and might not apply the proceeds in ways that increase the value of your investment.

 

Our management will have broad discretion to use the net proceeds from any offerings under this prospectus, and you will be relying on the judgment of our management regarding the application of these proceeds. Except as described in any prospectus supplement (including any related free writing prospectus) that we may authorize to be provided to you, the net proceeds received by us from our sale of the securities described in this prospectus will be added to our general funds and will be used for our general corporate purposes. Our management might not apply the net proceeds from the offering of our securities in ways that increase the value of your investment and might not be able to yield a significant return, if any, on any investment of such net proceeds. You may not have the opportunity to influence our decisions on how to use such proceeds.

 

 

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

Except as may be stated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds we receive from the sale of the securities offered by this prospectus for general corporate purposes, which may include, among other things, repayment of debt, capital expenditures, the financing of possible acquisitions or business expansions, increasing our working capital and the financing of ongoing operating expenses and overhead. Pending the application of the net proceeds, we may invest the proceeds in marketable securities and short-term investments.

  

DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SECURITIES WE MAY OFFER

 

The descriptions of the securities contained in this prospectus, together with any applicable prospectus supplement, summarize all the material terms and provisions of the various types of securities that we may offer. We will describe in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering the specific terms of the securities offered by that prospectus supplement. We will indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement if the terms of the securities differ from the terms we have summarized below. We will also include in the prospectus supplement information, where applicable, material United States federal income tax considerations relating to the securities.

 

We may sell from time to time, in one or more offerings:

 

●

shares of our common stock;

 

●

shares of our preferred stock;

 

●

debt securities;

 

●

warrants to purchase any of the securities listed above; and/or

 

●

units consisting of one or more of the foregoing.

 

This prospectus may not be used to consummate a sale of securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

CAPITAL STOCK

 

General

 

The following description of our common stock and preferred stock, together with the additional information we include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the common stock and preferred stock that we may offer under this prospectus but is not complete. For the complete terms of our common stock and preferred stock, please refer to our articles of incorporation, as may be amended from time to time, any certificates of designation for our preferred stock, that may be authorized from time to time, and our bylaws, as amended from time to time. Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes also may affect the terms of these securities. While the terms we have summarized below will apply generally to any common stock or preferred stock that we may offer, we will describe the specific terms of any series of these securities in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we so indicate in a prospectus supplement, the terms of any common stock or preferred stock we offer under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms we describe below.

  

Description of Capital Stock

 

As of December 9, 2024, our authorized capital stock consists of 6,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of which 3,358,119 shares are issued and outstanding, held of record by approximately 70 stockholders, and 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock, none of which have been issued.

 

The authorized and unissued shares of common stock and preferred stock are available for issuance without further action by our stockholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange on which our securities may be listed. Unless approval of our stockholders is so required, our board of directors will not seek stockholder approval for the issuance and sale of our common stock or our preferred stock.

 

 Common Stock

 

Holders of our common stock are entitled to one vote per share on all matters submitted to a stockholder vote, including the election of directors. Holders of our common stock do not have cumulative voting rights. Therefore, holders of a majority of the shares of our common stock voting for the election of directors will be able to elect all of the directors. A vote by the holders of a majority of our outstanding shares of common stock will be required to effectuate certain fundamental corporate changes such as liquidation, merger or an amendment to our articles of incorporation. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up of our company, either voluntarily or involuntarily, each outstanding share of our common stock will be entitled to share equally in our assets. 

 

Holders of our common stock do not have pre-emptive rights or conversion rights and there are no redemption provisions applicable to our common stock. Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our board of directors, out of funds legally available therefor.

 

All shares of our common stock offered hereby will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable, including shares of common stock issued on the conversion of preferred stock, the exercise of common stock warrants or subscription rights, if any.  

 

Preferred Stock

 

Our articles of incorporation give our board of directors the power to issue shares of preferred stock in one or more series without stockholder approval. The board of directors has the discretion to determine the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions, including voting rights, dividend rights, conversion rights, redemption privileges and liquidation preferences, of each series of preferred stock. The purpose of authorizing the board of directors to issue preferred stock and determine its rights and preferences is to eliminate delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or could discourage a third party from acquiring, a majority of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock.

 

 

Our articles of incorporation provide that our board of directors may, by resolution, designate classes of preferred stock in the future. The designated series of preferred stock shall have such powers, designations, preferences and relative, participation or optional or other special rights and qualifications, limitations or restrictions as shall be expressed in the resolution adopted by the board of directors. Once designated by our board of directors, each series of preferred stock will have specific financial and other terms that will be described in a prospectus supplement. The description of the preferred stock that is set forth in any prospectus supplement is not complete without reference to the documents that govern the preferred stock. These include our articles of incorporation, as amended and restated, and any certificates of designation that our board of directors may adopt. Prior to the issuance of shares of each series of preferred stock, the board of directors is required by Chapter 78 of the Nevada Revised Statutes and our articles of incorporation, to adopt resolutions and file a certificate of designation with the Secretary of State of the State of Nevada. The certificate of designation fixes for each class or series the designations, powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations and restrictions, including, but not limited to, some or all of the following:

 

●

the number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series, which number may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding) from time to time by action of the board of directors;

 

●

the dividend rate and the manner and frequency of payment of dividends on the shares of that series, whether dividends will be cumulative, and, if so, from which date;

 

●

whether that series will have voting rights, in addition to any voting rights provided by law, and, if so, the terms of such voting rights;

     

●

whether that series will have conversion privileges, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such conversion privileges, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the board of directors may determine;

     

●

whether or not the shares of that series will be redeemable, and, if so, the terms and conditions of such redemption;

     

●

whether that series will have a sinking fund for the redemption or purchase of shares of that series, and, if so, the terms and amount of such sinking fund;

     

●

whether or not the shares of the series will have priority over or be on a parity with or be junior to the shares of any other series or class in any respect;

     

●

the rights of the shares of that series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, and the relative rights or priority, if any, of payment of shares of that series; and

     

●

any other relative rights, preferences and limitations of that series.

 

All shares of preferred stock offered hereby will, when issued, be fully paid and non-assessable, including shares of preferred stock issued upon the exercise of preferred stock warrants or subscription rights, if any.

 

Although our board of directors has no intention at the present time of doing so, it could authorize the issuance of a series of preferred stock that could, depending on the terms of such series, impede the completion of a merger, tender offer or other takeover attempt.

 

Any future issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us without further action by the shareholders and may adversely affect the voting and/or other rights of the holders of common stock or any other securities we may issue in the future. The issuance of shares of preferred stock, or the issuance of rights to purchase such shares, could be used to discourage an unsolicited acquisition proposal. For instance, the issuance of a series of preferred stock might impede a business combination by including class voting rights that would enable the holders to block such a transaction or facilitate a business combination by including voting rights that would provide a required percentage vote of the stockholders. In addition, under certain circumstances, the issuance of preferred stock could adversely affect the voting power of the holders of the common stock. Although our board of directors is required to make any determination to issue such stock based on its judgment as to the best interests of our stockholders, the board of directors could act in a manner that would discourage an acquisition attempt or other transaction that some, or a majority, of the stockholders might believe to be in their best interests or in which stockholders might receive a premium for their stock over the then market price of such stock. Our board of directors does not at present intend to seek stockholder approval prior to any issuance of authorized preferred stock, unless otherwise required by law.

 

Transfer Agent and Registrar; Market

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions Inc. Its address is 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717, and its telephone number is (631) 254-7400.  Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “AIRI.”

 

See “Where You Can Find Additional Information About Us” elsewhere in this prospectus for information on where you can obtain copies of our Articles of Incorporation and our Bylaws, which have been filed with and are publicly available from the SEC.

 

 

WARRANTS

 

The following description, together with the additional information we may include in any applicable prospectus supplement, summarizes the material terms and provisions of the warrants that we may offer under this prospectus and any related warrant agreements and warrant certificates. While the terms summarized below will apply generally to any warrants that we may offer, we will describe the specific terms of any series of warrants in more detail in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we indicate in the prospectus supplement, the terms of any warrants offered under that prospectus supplement may differ from the terms described below. Specific warrant agreements will contain additional important terms and provisions and will be incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement which includes this prospectus.

 

General

 

We may issue warrants for the purchase of common stock, preferred stock and debt securities in one or more series. We may issue warrants independently or together with common stock, preferred stock and debt securities, and the warrants may be attached to or separate from these securities.

 

We may evidence each series of warrants by warrant certificates. The warrant certificates may be issued under a warrant agreement that we enter into with a warrant agent or without a warrant agreement. The warrant agent, if any, may be a bank, transfer agent or trust company that we select which has its principal office in the United States. We may also choose to act as our own warrant agent. We will indicate the name and address of any warrant agent in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of warrants.

 

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

 

	●	the offering price and aggregate number of warrants offered;
	●	if applicable, the designation and terms of the securities with which the warrants are issued and the number of warrants issued with each such security or each principal amount of such security;
	●	if applicable, the date on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;
	●	in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the principal amount of debt securities purchasable upon exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, this principal amount of debt securities may be purchased upon such exercise;
	●	in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the number or amount of shares of common stock or preferred stock, as the case may be, purchasable upon the exercise of one warrant and the price at, and currency in which, these shares may be purchased upon such exercise;
	●	the manner of exercise of the warrants, including any cashless exercise rights;
	●	the warrant agreement under which the warrants will be issued;
	●	the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the warrant agreement and the warrants;
	●	anti-dilution provisions of the warrants, if any;
	●	the terms of any rights to redeem or call the warrants;
	●	any provisions for changes to or adjustments in the exercise price or number of securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;
	●	the dates on which the right to exercise the warrants will commence and expire or, if the warrants are not continuously exercisable during that period, the specific date or dates on which the warrants will be exercisable;
	●	the manner in which the warrant agreement and warrants may be modified;

 

 

	●	the identities of the warrant agent and any calculation or other agent for the warrants;
	●	federal income tax consequences of holding or exercising the warrants;
	●	the terms of the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants;

 

	●	any securities exchange or quotation system on which the warrants or any securities deliverable upon exercise of the warrants may be listed or quoted; and
	●	any other specific terms, preferences, rights or limitations of or restrictions on the warrants.

 

Before exercising their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of the securities purchasable upon such exercise, including:

 

	●	in the case of warrants to purchase debt securities, the right to receive payments of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture; or
	●	in the case of warrants to purchase common stock or preferred stock, the right to receive dividends, if any, or, payments upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up or to exercise voting rights, if any.

 

Exercise of Warrants

 

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

  

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

 

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

 

Enforceability of Rights By Holders of Warrants

 

Any warrant agent will act solely as our agent under the applicable warrant agreement and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holder of any warrant. A single bank, transfer agent 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 the holder’s right to exercise, and receive the securities purchasable upon exercise of, its warrants in accordance with their terms.

 

Warrant Agreement Will Not Be Qualified Under Trust Indenture Act

 

No warrant agreement will be qualified as an indenture, and no warrant agent will be required to qualify as a trustee, under the Trust Indenture Act. Therefore, holders of warrants issued under a warrant agreement will not have the protection of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to their warrants. 

 

Governing Law

 

Each warrant agreement and any warrants issued under the warrant agreements will be governed by New York law.

 

Calculation Agent

 

Any calculations relating to warrants may be made by a calculation agent, an institution that we appoint as our agent for this purpose. The prospectus supplement for a particular warrant will name the institution that we have appointed to act as the calculation agent for that warrant as of the original issue date for that warrant, if any. We may appoint a different institution to serve as calculation agent from time to time after the original issue date without the consent or notification of the holders. The calculation agent’s determination of any amount of money payable or securities deliverable with respect to a warrant will be final and binding in the absence of manifest error.

 

 

DEBT SECURITIES

 

We may issue debt securities, in one or more series, as either senior or subordinated debt or as senior or subordinated convertible debt. When we offer to sell debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of any debt securities offered from time to time in a supplement to this prospectus, which may supplement or change the terms outlined below. Senior debt securities may be issued under one or more senior indentures, dated as of a date prior to such issuance, between us and a trustee to be named in a prospectus supplement, as amended or supplemented from time to time. Any subordinated debt securities may be issued under one or more subordinated indentures, dated as of a date prior to such issuance, between us and a trustee to be named in a prospectus supplement, as amended or supplemented from time to time. We have filed forms of the senior trust indenture and subordinated indenture as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. The indentures will be subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. We may also issue debt securities without the use of an indenture to the extent such issuance without an indenture is exempt under the terms of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

 

The indentures in the forms initially filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part do not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue, including senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities, subordinated debt securities and junior subordinated debt securities, and do not limit us from issuing any other debt, including secured and unsecured debt. We may issue debt securities up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time. The terms of each series of debt securities issued under an indenture will be established by or pursuant to (a) a supplemental indenture, (b) a resolution of our board of directors, or (c) an officers’ certificate pursuant to authority granted under a resolution of our board of directors. For the complete terms of the debt securities, you should refer to the applicable prospectus supplement and the form of indentures for those particular debt securities. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered, including

 

	●	the title;
	●	the principal amount being offered, and if a series, the total amount authorized and the total amount outstanding;
	●	any limit on the amount that may be issued;
	●	whether or not we will issue the series of debt securities in global form, the terms and who the depositary will be;
	●	the maturity date;
	●	the annual interest rate, which may be fixed or variable, or the method for determining the rate and the date interest will begin to accrue, the dates interest will be payable and the regular record dates for interest payment dates or the method for determining such dates;
	●	whether and under what circumstances, if any, we will pay additional amounts on any debt securities held by a person who is not a U.S. person for tax purposes, and whether we can redeem the debt securities if we have to pay such additional amounts;
	●	whether or not the debt securities will be secured or unsecured, and the terms of any secured debt;
	●	the terms of the subordination of any series of subordinated debt;

 

●

the place where payments will be payable;

     

●

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

     

●

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

     

●

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

     

●

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

     

●

any restrictions on our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to:

     

●

incur additional indebtedness;

       

●

issue additional securities;

       

●

create liens;

       

 

●

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

       

●

redeem capital stock;

       

●

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

       

●

make investments or other restricted payments;

       

●

sell or otherwise dispose of assets;

       

●

enter into sale-leaseback transactions;

       

●

engage in transactions with stockholders and affiliates; or

       

●

effect a consolidation or merger;

     

●

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

 

●

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

     

●

information describing any book-entry features;

     

●

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

     

●

the denominations in which we will issue the series of debt securities;

     

●

the currency of payment of debt securities if other than U.S. dollars and the manner of determining the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars; and

     

●

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

           

Conversion or Exchange Rights

 

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

 

 

UNITS

 

We may issue units comprised of one or more of the other securities described in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement in any combination. Each unit will be issued so that the holder of the unit is also the holder, with the rights and obligations of a holder, of each security included in the unit. Any 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 or upon the occurrence of a specified event or occurrence.

  

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe:

 

●

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 unit agreement under which the units will be issued;

 

●

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

 

●

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

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We may sell the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus to or through underwriters, through dealers, through agents, or directly to one or more purchasers or through a combination of these methods. The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the offering of the securities, including:

 

●

the name or names of any underwriters, if, and if required, any dealers or agents;

 

●

the purchase price of the securities and the proceeds we will receive from the sale;

 

●

any underwriting discounts and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation;

 

●

any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and

 

●

any securities exchange or market on which the securities may be listed or traded.

 

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

 

●

a fixed price or prices, which may be changed;

 

●

market prices prevailing at the time of sale;

 

●

prices related to such prevailing market prices; or

 

●

negotiated prices.

 

Only underwriters named in the prospectus supplement are underwriters of the securities offered by the prospectus supplement.

  

If underwriters are used in an offering, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriters and will specify the name of each underwriter and the terms of the transaction (including any underwriting discounts and other terms constituting compensation of the underwriters and any dealers) in a prospectus supplement. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more investment banking firms or others, as designated. If an underwriting syndicate is used, the managing underwriter(s) will be specified on the cover of the prospectus supplement. If underwriters are used in the sale, the offered securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own accounts 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. Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. Unless otherwise set forth in the prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the offered securities will be subject to conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the offered securities, if any are purchased.

 

 

We may grant to the underwriters options to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the public offering price, with additional underwriting commissions or discounts, as may be set forth in a related prospectus supplement. The terms of any over-allotment option will be set forth in the prospectus supplement for those securities.

 

If we use one or more dealers in the sale of the securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, we will sell the securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealers may then resell the securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by each dealer at the time of resale. The names of the dealers and the terms of the transaction will be specified in a prospectus supplement.

 

We may sell the securities directly or through agents we designate from time to time. We will name any agent involved in the offering and sale of securities and we will describe any commissions we will pay the agent in the prospectus supplement.

 

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

 

Underwriters, dealers or agents may make sales in an “at-the-market” offering, directly on the NYSE American, the existing trading market for our common stock, or such other exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities trade, or to or through a market maker other than on an exchange.

 

In connection with the sale of the securities, underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation from us or from purchasers of the securities for whom they act as agents, in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and those dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents. Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities, and any institutional investors or others that purchase securities directly for the purpose of resale or distribution, may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts or commissions received by them from us and any profit on the resale of the securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act.

 

We may provide agents, underwriters and other purchasers with indemnification against particular civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribution with respect to payments that the agents, underwriters or other purchasers may make with respect to such liabilities. Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.

 

To facilitate the public offering of a series of securities, persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain, or otherwise affect the market price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involves the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than have been sold to them by us. In addition, those persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to underwriters or dealers participating in any such offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. Such transactions, if commenced, may be discontinued at any time. We make no representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above, if implemented, may have on the price of our securities.

 

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, any common stock sold pursuant to a prospectus supplement will be eligible for listing on the NYSE American, subject to official notice of issuance. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice.

 

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

 

 

LIMITATIONS ON LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

 

Section 78.138 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) provides that a director or officer will not be individually liable unless the presumption provided in Section 78.138 3 that the director or officer acted in good faith, on an informed basis with a view to the interests of the corporation is rebutted and it is proven that (i) the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law.

 

Article 9 of our Articles of Incorporation (“Limitation on Liability”) provides as follows:

 

“Unless otherwise provided by law, a director or officer is not individually liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his individual capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that his act or failure to act constituted a breach of his fiduciary duties as a director or officer and his breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law. If the NRS is amended to further eliminate or limit or authorize corporate action to further eliminate or limit the liability of directors or officers, the liability of directors and officers of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS as so amended from time to time. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption of any provision of these Articles of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director or officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption of such an inconsistent provision.”

 

Section 78.7502 of the NRS permits a company to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding if the officer or director (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner the officer or director reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, if a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of the officer or director was unlawful.

 

Section 78.751 of NRS permits a Nevada company to indemnify its officers and directors against expenses incurred by them in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding as they are incurred and in advance of final disposition thereof, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or director to repay the amount advanced if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such officer or director is not entitled to be indemnified by the company. Section 78.751 of NRS further permits the company to grant its directors and officers additional rights of indemnification under its articles of incorporation or bylaws or otherwise.

 

 

Section 78.752 of NRS provides that a Nevada company may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the company, or is or was serving at the request of the company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him and liability and expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the company has the authority to indemnify him against such liability and expenses.

  

Article 10 of our Articles of Incorporation (“Indemnification”) provides as follows:

 

“Every person who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person with whom he or she is a legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or who is serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, or is a representative in a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless to the fullest extent legally permissible under the laws of the State of Nevada from time to time against all expenses, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid or to be paid in a settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by him or her in connection therewith. The right of indemnification shall be a contract right which may be enforced in any manner desired by such person. The expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil suit or proceeding must be paid by the Corporation as incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, under receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. Such right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other right such directors, officers or representatives may have or hereafter acquire, and, without limiting the generality of such statement, they shall be entitled to their respective rights of indemnification under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders, provision of law, or otherwise, as well as their rights under this article.

 

Without limiting the application of the foregoing, the Board of Directors may adopt bylaws from time to time with respect to indemnification, to provide at all times the fullest indemnification permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada, and may cause the Corporation to purchase or maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation or who is serving at the request of the Corporation as an officer, director or representative of any other entity or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in any such capacity or arising out of such status, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person.

 

Any repeal or modification of the above provisions of this Article 10, approved by the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation existing as of the time of such repeal or modification. In the event of any conflict between the above indemnification provisions, and any other Article of the Articles, the terms and provisions of this Article shall control.”

 

The Company maintains a director and officer insurance policy on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Company. Under such insurance policy, the directors and officers of the Company are insured, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policy, against certain expenses in connection with the defense of certain claims, actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities which might be imposed as a result of such claims, actions, suits or proceedings, which may be brought against them by reason of being or having been such directors or officers.

 

Insofar as indemnification by us for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, 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. In the event that a claim for indemnification by such director, officer or controlling person of us 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 offered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of certain of the offered securities will be passed upon for us by Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York. If counsel for any underwriters passes on legal matters in connection with an offering of the shares of the securities described in this prospectus, we will name that counsel in the prospectus supplement relating to that offering.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, which is incorporated herein by reference. The consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in this registration statement in reliance on the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. 

 

 

INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3, including exhibits, in connection with the securities to be sold in this offering. This prospectus is part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information included in the registration statement. For further information about us and the securities to be sold in this offering, please refer to the registration statement. The registration statement, including the attached exhibits and schedules, contains additional relevant information about us and our securities. The rules and regulations of the SEC allow us to “incorporate by reference” into this prospectus certain information that we file with it. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document that we filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this prospectus, except for any information superseded by information in this prospectus. You should read the information incorporated by reference because it is an important part of this prospectus.

 

We incorporate by reference the following documents that we or our corporate parent and Predecessor by merger, Air Industries Group, Inc., previously filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except that we are not incorporating any document or portion thereof or information contained in any such document deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules:

 

	(a)	Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on April 15, 2024, as amended on April 29, 2024;
	(b)	Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 as filed with the SEC on May 15, 2024; and for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2024; and for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024;

 

(c)

Proxy statement filed on August 8, 2024;

 

	(d)	Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 15, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and  9.01), May 16, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); May 21, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); June 3, 2024 (with respect to Items 1.01, 7.01 and 9.0; August 13, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); August 14, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01; August 22, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); September 4, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); September 18, 2024  (with respect to Items 5.07; October 16, 2024 (with respect to Items 2.02, 7.01 and 9.01), November 13, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01), November 14, 2024 (with respect to Items 2.02 and 9.01) December 4, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01) and December 9, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.02 and 9.01);
	(e)	All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report referred to in (a) above; and
	(f)	The description of the common stock contained in the registration statement on Form 10 filed with the Commission on October 2, 2012 pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

 

All documents filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, after the date of this registration statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this registration statement and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not incorporating any document or portion thereof or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules.

 

Each statement made in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement concerning a document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to that exhibit for a complete description of its provisions. Any document, and any statement contained in a document, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any other subsequently filed document that also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, modifies or supersedes such document or statement. Any such document or statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

 

The documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus may be obtained from us without charge and will be provided to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered. You may obtain a copy of the documents at no cost by submitting an oral or written request to Air Industries Group’s Corporate Secretary at 1460 Fifth Avenue, Bay Shore, New York 11706 or by calling Air Industries Group at (631) 968-5000. Additional information about us is available at our web site located at http://www.airindustriesgroup.com. Such additional information contained in our web site is not a part of this prospectus.

 

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT US

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC registering the securities that may be offered and sold hereunder. The registration statement, including exhibits thereto, contains additional relevant information about us and the securities that may be offered and sold hereunder, as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC, we have not included in this prospectus. A copy of the registration statement can be obtained at the address set forth below or at the SEC’s website as noted below. You should read the registration statement, including any applicable prospectus supplement, for further information about us and the securities.

 

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You can request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

 

Air Industries Group

1460 Fifth Avenue

Bay Shore, New York 11706

(631) 968-5000

 

We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements, information statements and other information about issuers, like Air Industries Group, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov. The website, and, except as expressly incorporated herein, the information contained therein, is not a part of this prospectus. You may also obtain copies of the documents at prescribed rates by writing to the SEC’s Public Reference Section at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549.

  

 

$10,000,000

 

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

 

Common Stock

Preferred Stock

Debt Securities

Warrants

Units

 

PROSPECTUS

 

December __, 2024

 

We have not authorized any dealer, salesperson or other person to give any information or represent anything not contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus. You must not rely on any unauthorized information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus does not offer to sell any shares in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful. Neither the delivery of this prospectus, nor any sale made hereunder, shall create any implication that the information in this prospectus is correct after the date hereof.

 

 

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

 

Subject to Completion, Dated December 13, 2024

 

Prospectus SUPPLEMENT

 

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

 

Up to $5,378,227

 

Of Shares of Common Stock

 

We have entered into an At The Market Offering Agreement, (the “sales agreement”), with Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (“Craig-Hallum” or the “Agent”) acting as sales agent, on December 13, 2024, relating to the sale of shares of our common stock, par value $0.001 per share, offered by this prospectus. In accordance with the terms of the sales agreement, under this prospectus, we may offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $5,378,227 from time to time through Craig-Hallum.

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “AIRI.” On December 11, 2024, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American was $4.60 per share.

 

As of the date of this prospectus supplement, the aggregate market value of our outstanding common stock held by non-affiliates, or our public float, was approximately $16,134,681.60, based on 2,521,044 outstanding shares of common stock held by non-affiliates and a per share price of $6.40, the closing price of our common stock on October 17, 2024, which is the highest closing sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American within the prior 60 days. We have not sold any securities pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6. of Form S-3 during the prior 12 calendar month period that ends on and includes the date of this prospectus.

 

As a result of the limitations on the maximum amount of shares that we are eligible to offer and sell under General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3, we may currently only offer and sell shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $5,378,227 pursuant to the sales agreement. However, in the event that our public float increases or decreases, we may sell securities in public primary offerings on Form S-3 with a value up to one-third of our public float, in each case calculated pursuant to General Instruction I.B.6 and subject to the terms of the sales agreement. In the event that our public float increases above $75.0 million, we will no longer be subject to the limits in General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3. 

 

Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus may be made in sales deemed to be “at the market equity offerings” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The Agent will act as a sales agent on a best efforts basis using commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices, on the terms set forth in the sales agreement. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in any escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

The compensation to the Agent for sales of common stock sold pursuant to the sales agreement is an amount equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sales hereunder. In connection with the sale of the common stock on our behalf, the Agent will be deemed to be an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act and the compensation of the Agent will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. See “Plan of Distribution” beginning on page S-7 for additional information regarding the compensation to be paid to the Agent. We have also agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to the Agent with respect to certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

 

We are a smaller reporting company under Rule 405 of the Securities Act and, as such, have elected to comply with certain reduced public company reporting requirements for this prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference herein and future filings.

 

Investing in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-3  of this prospectus and similar sections of the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus for a discussion of information that you should consider in connection with an investment in our common stock.

 

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.

 

Craig-Hallum

 

The date of this prospectus supplement is December     , 2024.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

		Page No.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		S-ii
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT		S-iii
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY		S-1
THE OFFERING		S-2
RISK FACTORS		S-3
USE OF PROCEEDS		S-5
DILUTION		S-6
DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		S-7
LEGAL MATTERS		S-8
EXPERTS		S-8
INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL		S-8
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION		S-8
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE		S-9

 

 

CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Some of the statements in this prospectus supplement and in any prospectus supplement we may file constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.  These statements relate to future events concerning our business and to our future revenues, operating results and financial condition.  In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “may,” “will,” “could,” “would,” “should,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “aim,” “intend,” “believe,” “estimate,” “target, ” “forecast,” “seeks,” “predict,” “project”, “propose,” “potential,” or “continue,” or the negative of those terms or other comparable terminology.

 

Any forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus supplement or any prospectus supplement are only estimates or predictions of future events based on information currently available to our management and management’s current beliefs about the potential outcome of future events.  Whether these future events will occur as management anticipates, whether we will achieve our business objectives, and whether our revenues, operating results or financial condition will be sustained or improve in future periods are subject to numerous risks.  There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results anticipated by these forward-looking statements.  These important factors include those that we discuss under the heading “Risk Factors” and in other sections of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), as well as in our other reports filed from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus.  You should read these factors and the other cautionary statements made in this prospectus and in the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus as being applicable to all related forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this prospectus or the documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus.  If one or more of these factors materialize, or if any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results, performance or achievements may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.

 

 

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell any combination of the securities described in the base prospectus included in the shelf registration statement in one or more offerings up to a total aggregate offering price of $10,000,000.

 

This prospectus supplement provides specific details regarding this offering of $5,378,227 shares of our common stock. The $5,378,227 shares of our common that may be offered, issued and sold under this prospectus is included in the $10,000,000 of securities that may be offered, issued and sold by us pursuant to our shelf registration statement.

 

This prospectus is in two parts. The first part is the base prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, which provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. The second part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the securities we are offering. This prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement also may add to, update and change information contained in, or incorporated by reference into, the accompanying prospectus. Generally, when we refer to this prospectus, we are referring to both parts of this document combined. To the extent there is a conflict between (i) the information contained in this prospectus supplement and (ii) the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference that was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) before the date of this prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. 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 supplement or the accompanying prospectus, the statement in the document having the later date modifies or supersedes the earlier statement.

 

Before buying any of our shares of common stock that we are offering, we urge you to carefully read this prospectus, together with the information incorporated by reference as described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation of Certain Information by Reference” in this prospectus. These documents contain important information that you should consider when making your investment decision.

 

You should rely only on the information we have provided or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement, accompanying prospectus, and any related free writing prospectus. We have not, and the Agent has not authorized anyone to provide you with different information.  No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any related free writing prospectus.

 

Neither the delivery of this prospectus supplement nor any sale made under it implies that there has been no change in our affairs or that the information in this prospectus is correct as of any date after the date of this prospectus.  You should assume that the information in this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus is accurate only as of the date on the front of the document and that any information we have incorporated by reference is accurate only as of the date of the document incorporated by reference, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus, any applicable prospectus supplement or any related free writing prospectus, or any sale of common stock.

 

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in some of the documents described herein, but reference is made to the actual documents for complete information. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents.  Copies of some of the documents referred to herein have been filed, will be filed or will be incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information”.

 

In this prospectus, unless the context otherwise requires, references to “we”, “us”, “our” or similar terms, as well as references to “AIRI” or the “Company”, refer to Air Industries Group.

 

 

RISK FACTORS

 

An investment in our securities involves a high degree of risk and uncertainty. In addition to the other information included in this prospectus, you should carefully consider each of the risk factors set forth in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K which is incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and any subsequent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K we file after the date of this prospectus. The risks described are not the only ones facing our company. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we presently consider immaterial may also adversely affect our company. If any of the risks described occur, our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects could be materially adversely affected. In that case, the trading price of our securities could decline, and you could lose all or part or your investment. In assessing these risks, you should also refer to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

 

Risks Related to This Offering

 

You will experience immediate dilution in the book value per share of the common stock you purchase in this offering.

 

Because the price per share of our common stock being offered is substantially higher than the book value per share of our common stock, you will suffer substantial dilution in the net tangible book value of the common stock you purchase in this offering. Based on the assumed public offering price of $4.46 per share (the closing sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American on December 9, 2024) and assuming that we sell all $5,378,227 of shares of common stock under this prospectus, and after deducting commissions and estimated aggregate offering expenses payable by us, if you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you will experience immediate and substantial dilution of $0.13 per share in the net tangible book value of the common stock. See the section titled “Dilution” below for a more detailed discussion of the dilution you will incur if you purchase common stock in this offering.

 

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

 

Our management will have broad discretion over the use of proceeds from this offering, including for any of the purposes described in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.” We could spend the proceeds from this offering in ways our stockholders may not agree with or that do not yield a favorable return, and you will not have the opportunity, as part of your investment decision, to assess whether the proceeds are being used appropriately. We have not determined the specific allocation of any net proceeds among their potential uses, and the ultimate use of the net proceeds may vary from the currently intended uses. We expect to use the proceeds from this offering for working capital and other general corporate purposes, which could include the repayment of portions of our outstanding indebtedness. If we do not apply the proceeds from this offering in ways that improve our operating results or enhance stockholder value, we may fail to achieve expected financial results, which could cause our stock price to decline.

 

It is not possible to predict the actual number of shares we will issue under the sales agreement or the aggregate proceeds resulting from sales made under the sales agreement.

 

Subject to certain limitations in the sales agreement and compliance with applicable law, we have the discretion to deliver a placement notice to the Agent at any time throughout the term of the sales agreement. The number of shares that are sold through the Agent after delivering a placement notice will fluctuate based on a number of factors, including the market price of our common stock during the sales period, the limits we set with the Agent in any applicable placement notice, and the demand for our common stock during the sales period. Because the price per share of each share sold will fluctuate during the sales period, it is not currently possible to predict the aggregate proceeds to be raised in connection with those sales.

 

The common stock offered hereby will be sold in “at the market offerings,” and investors who buy shares at different times will likely pay different prices.

 

Investors who purchase shares in this offering at different times will likely pay different prices, and so may experience different levels of dilution and different outcomes in their investment results. We will have discretion, subject to market demand, to vary the timing, prices, and number of shares sold in this offering. In addition, subject to the final determination by our board of directors, there is no minimum or maximum sales price for shares to be sold in this offering. Investors may experience a decline in the value of the shares they purchase in this offering as a result of sales made at prices lower than the prices they paid.

 

 

Future sales of substantial amounts of our common stock, or the possibility that such sales could occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock.

 

We cannot predict the effect, if any, that future issuances or sales of our securities, including the availability of our securities for future issuance or sale, will have on the market price of our common stock. Issuances or sales of substantial amounts of our securities, or the perception that such issuances or sales might occur, could negatively impact the market price of our common stock and the terms upon which we may obtain additional equity financing in the future.

 

As of September 30, 2024, we have total indebtedness of approximately $24,976,000, large portions of which must be satisfied or refinanced prior to December 30, 2025 and July 1, 2026. We may not be able to achieve favorable financing terms in the future or consummate any refinancing of our existing loans prior to their respective maturity dates and may choose to satisfy portions of this debt, with the proceeds of this offering.

 

As of September 30, 2024, we had approximately $16,838,000 of indebtedness outstanding pursuant to a loan facility that matures on December 30, 2025 with Webster Bank (“Current Credit Facility”). This indebtedness is secured by a lien on substantially all our assets.  Additionally, we have approximately $6,162,000 of subordinated note payables (“Related Party Notes”) that mature on July 1, 2026 and which are held by two directors Michael N. Taglich and Robert F. Taglich, and their affiliates.

 

If we are unable to pay or refinance our indebtedness when due, our operations may be materially and adversely affected. We must pay or refinance large portions of this indebtedness prior to December 30, 2025, and July 1, 2026. Refinancing may require us to pay higher interest rates than we currently pay, agree to more restrictive business or financial covenants or involve the issuance of debt, equity and/or new securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock which may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock and the interests of our existing stockholders. Any failure to refinance our existing debt or obtain additional working capital when required would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition and may result in a decline in our stock price. Any issuances of our common stock, preferred stock, or securities such as warrants or notes that are convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, our capital stock, would have a dilutive effect on the voting and economic interest of our existing stockholders.

 

As an alternative to refinancing all of the amounts owed under the Current Credit Facility and the Related Party Notes, we could use proceeds of this offering to satisfy portions of such debt, including the Related Party Notes held by two of our directors.

 

We may need additional financing to fund investments in new or upgraded property or equipment.

 

We may require additional financing to fund investments in new or upgraded property or equipment, in order to remain competitive. If we do, we may also need to obtain the agreement of holders of portions of our debt to extend or otherwise refinance such debt. In order to gain consent, we may need to offer these holders increases in the rates of interest they receive or otherwise compensate them through payments of cash or issuances of our equity securities. Such additional financing or refinancing may involve the issuance of debt, equity and/or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our equity securities and may not be available to us on reasonable terms, if at all. If we are unable to consummate such additional financing or re-financing, the trading price of our common stock could be adversely affected, and the terms of such financing may adversely affect the interests of our existing stockholders. Any failure to fund working capital when required would have a material adverse effect on our business and financial condition and may result in a decline in our stock price. Any issuances of our common stock, preferred stock, or securities such as warrants or notes that are convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for, our capital stock, would have a dilutive effect on the voting and economic interest of our existing stockholders.

 

  

USE OF PROCEEDS

 

We may issue and sell shares of our common stock having aggregate sales proceeds of up to $5,378,227 from time to time. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. There can be no assurance that we will sell any shares under or fully utilize the sales agreement as a source of financing.

 

Except as otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement or in other offering materials, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of our securities for future capital expenditures, working capital and for general corporate purposes, which could include the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, including amounts due pursuant to our Current Credit Facility and the Related Party Notes held by two of our directors.

 

The amounts and timing of our actual repayments and expenditures will depend on numerous factors, including the factors described under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement and in the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, as well as the amount of cash used in our operations. We may find it necessary or advisable to use the net proceeds for other purposes.

 

  

DILUTION

 

The difference between the public offering price per share of our common stock in this offering and the as adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering constitutes immediate dilution to investors in this offering. Net tangible book value per share is determined by dividing our net tangible book value, which is our total tangible assets less total liabilities, by the number of outstanding shares of common stock.

 

As of September 30, 2024, our net tangible book value was approximately $14,680,000, or approximately $4.38 per share.

 

On an as adjusted basis as of September 30, 2024, our net tangible book value would have been approximately $19,738,000, or approximately $4.33 per share, after giving effect to the sale of 1,205,880 shares of common stock offered in this prospectus at the assumed public offering price of $4.46 (the closing sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American on December 9, 2024) and the deduction of the Agent’s commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. The difference between the historical and as adjusted net tangible book value represents an immediate dilution of approximately 2.9% per share, or $0.13, to new investors.

 

The following table illustrates the dilution to the new investors on a per-share basis:

 

Public offering price		$	4.46
Actual net tangible book value per share as of September 30, 2024		$	4.38
Decrease in net tangible book value per share attributable to new investors			.05
As adjusted net tangible book value per share after this offering		$	4.33
Dilution to new investors		$	.13

 

The table above assumes for illustrative purposes that an aggregate of 1,205,880 shares of our common stock are sold during the term of the sales agreement at a price of $4.46 per share (the closing sale price of our common stock on the NYSE American on December 9, 2024) for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $5,378,000. The shares sold in this offering, if any, will be sold from time to time at various prices.

  

The table and discussion above are based on 3,350,791 shares of common stock outstanding on September 30, 2024, and excludes (i) 840,000 shares reserved for issuance under our Equity Incentive Plans of which (x) 7,328 shares were issued on October 7, 2024, to directors in lieu of directors fees, (y) options to purchase 418,003 shares at prices ranging from $3.43 to $15.60 and a weighted average exercise price of $7.01 were outstanding as of September 30, 2024, and (z) 282,628 shares are issuable pursuant to restricted stock units granted in September, 2024, and which vest in equal increments over three years commencing April 1,2025, and (ii) shares issuable upon conversion of our outstanding convertible subordinated notes of which approximately $2,732,000 principal amount of notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, can be converted into common stock at a conversion price of $15.00 per share and of which approximately $2,080,000 principal amount of notes, together with accrued and unpaid interest, can be converted into common stock at a conversion price of $9.30 per share.

 

To the extent that new options are issued under our Equity Incentive Plans, or we issue additional shares of common stock in the future, there may be further dilution to investors participating in this offering. In addition, we may choose to raise additional capital because of market conditions or strategic considerations, even if we believe that we have sufficient funds for our current or future operating plans. If we raise additional capital through the sale of equity or securities exercisable for or convertible into equity, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders.

 

 

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

 

We have entered into the sales agreement with Craig-Hallum under which we may issue and sell, from time to time through Craig-Hallum, acting as agent or principal, shares of our common stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $5,378,227. Sales of our common stock, if any, under this prospectus supplement may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Craig-Hallum may also sell shares in privately negotiated transactions, if it receives our prior written approval for such sales.

 

Each time we wish to issue and sell our common stock under the sales agreement through Craig-Hallum as sales agent, we will notify Craig-Hallum of the number or dollar value of shares to be issued, the dates on which such sales are anticipated to be made, any limitation on the number of shares that may be sold in one day, any minimum price below which sales may not be made and other sales parameters as we deem appropriate. Once we have so instructed Craig-Hallum, unless Craig-Hallum declines to accept the terms of the notice, Craig-Hallum has agreed to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such shares up to the amount specified on such terms. The obligations of Craig-Hallum under the sales agreement to sell our common stock are subject to a number of conditions that we must meet. We may instruct Craig-Hallum not to sell our common stock if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by us in any such instruction. Craig-Hallum or we may suspend the offering of common stock upon proper notice to the other party and subject to other conditions. Craig-Hallum 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.

 

Under the terms of the sales agreement, we may also sell shares of our common stock to Craig-Hallum, as principal for its own account, on terms mutually agreed between us and Craig-Hallum.

 

We will pay Craig-Hallum commissions for its services in acting as sales agent in the sale of common stock at a commission rate of 3.0% of the gross proceeds from the sales hereunder. Because there is no minimum offering amount required as a condition to close this offering, the actual total public offering amount, commissions and proceeds to us, if any, are not determinable at this time. We have also agreed to pay or reimburse Craig-Hallum for Craig-Hallum's reasonable accountable out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and documented expenses of its legal counsel in an amount not to exceed $65,000 (plus $5,000 per quarter in connection with updates for due diligence requirements) and for FINRA filing fees. We estimate that the total expenses for the offering, excluding commissions and reimbursements payable to Craig-Hallum under the sales agreement, will be $159,031 if we sold the entire $5,378,227 of shares of our common stock.

 

Settlement for sales of common stock will generally occur on the first business day following the date on which any sales are made, or any such other settlement cycle as may be in effect pursuant to Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, or on some other date that is agreed upon by us and Craig-Hallum in connection with a particular transaction, in return for payment of the net proceeds to us. Sales of our common stock as contemplated in this prospectus will be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company or by such other means as we and Craig-Hallum may agree upon. There is no arrangement for funds to be received in an escrow, trust or similar arrangement.

 

In connection with the sale of the shares of common stock on our behalf, Craig-Hallum will be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act, and Craig-Hallum’s compensation will be deemed to be underwriting commissions or discounts. We have agreed to provide indemnification and contribution to Craig-Hallum against certain liabilities, including civil liabilities under the Securities Act. To the extent required by Regulation M promulgated under the Exchange Act, Craig-Hallum will not engage in any transactions that stabilize our common stock while the offering pursuant to this prospectus is ongoing.

 

The offering of shares of our common stock pursuant to the sales agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (1) the issuance and sale of all shares of our common stock subject to the sales agreement; and (2) the termination of the sales agreement as permitted therein.

 

Craig-Hallum and its affiliates may in the future engage in investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions.

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE American under the symbol “AIRI.” The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Broadridge Investor Communication Solutions Inc. Its address is 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, New York 11717, and its telephone number is (631) 254-7400.  

 

 

LEGAL MATTERS

 

Ellenoff, Grossman & Schole LLP, New York, New York will pass upon legal matters in connection with the validity of the securities offered hereby for us. Craig-Hallum is being represented by Graubard Miller.

 

EXPERTS

 

The consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for each of the two years in the period ended December 31, 2023, have been audited by Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, which is incorporated herein by reference. The consolidated financial statements are incorporated by reference in this registration statement in reliance on the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing. 

 

INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL

 

No expert or counsel named in this prospectus as having prepared or certified any part of this prospectus or having given an opinion upon the validity of the securities being registered or upon other legal matters in connection with the registration or offering of the securities was employed on a contingency basis, or had, or is to receive, in connection with the offering, a substantial interest, direct or indirect, in the registrant. Nor was any such person connected with the registrant as a promoter, managing or principal underwriter, voting trustee, director, officer, or employee.

 

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

 

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (“Securities Act”), with respect to the securities covered by this prospectus.  This prospectus, which is a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement or the exhibits and schedules filed therewith.  For further information with respect to us and the securities covered by this prospectus, please see the registration statement and the exhibits filed with the registration statement. The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC, including such registration statement.  The address of the website is http://www.sec.gov.

 

We are subject to the information and periodic reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and, in accordance therewith, we file periodic reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC.  Such periodic reports, proxy statements and other information are available on the website of the SEC referred to above.  We maintain a website at www.immucell.com.  You may access our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act with the SEC free of charge at our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. Our website and the information contained on that site, or connected to that site, are not incorporated into and are not a part of this prospectus.

 

 

INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

 

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information we incorporate by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and certain information that we will later file with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information.  We incorporate by reference the documents listed below, as well as any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of the initial registration statement and prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, and any filings made after the date of this prospectus until we sell all of the securities under this prospectus, except that we do not incorporate any document or portion of a document that was furnished and deemed by the rules of the SEC not to have been filed:

 

We  incorporate by reference the following documents that we or our corporate parent and Predecessor by merger, Air Industries Group, Inc., previously filed with the SEC pursuant to the Securities Act or the Exchange Act except that we are not incorporating any document or portion thereof or information contained in any such document deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules:

 

	(a)	Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2023, as filed with the SEC on April 15, 2024, as amended on April 29, 2024;
	(b)	Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 as filed with the SEC on May 15, 2024; and for the quarter ended June 30, 2024, as filed with the SEC on August 14, 2024; and for the quarter ended September 30, 2024, as filed with the SEC on November 14, 2024;

  

(c)

Proxy statement filed on August 8, 2024;

 

(d)

Current Reports on Form 8-K, filed with the Commission on May 15, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01), May 16, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); May 21, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); June 3, 2024 (with respect to Items 1.01, 7.01 and 9.0; August 13, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); August 14, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01; August 22, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); September 4, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01); September 18, 2024 (with respect to Items 5.07; October 16, 2024 (with respect to Items 2.02, 7.01 and 9.01), November 13, 2024 (with respect to Items 7.01 and 9.01) and November 14, 2024 (with respect to Items 2.02 and 9.01);

  

(e)

All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, since the end of the fiscal year covered by the Annual Report referred to in (a) above; and

  

(f)

The description of the common stock contained in the registration statement on Form 10 filed with the Commission on October 2, 2012 pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description.

   

Additionally, all reports and other documents subsequently filed by us pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after (i) the date of the initial registration statement and prior to effectiveness of the registration statement; and (ii) the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination or completion of this offering, shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such reports and other documents.  Any information that we subsequently file with the SEC that is incorporated by reference as described above will automatically update and supersede any previous information that is part of this prospectus. Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not incorporating any document or portion thereof or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules.

 

We will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, without charge upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus, including exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference into such documents. You can request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address or telephone number:

 

Air Industries Group

1460 Fifth Avenue

Bay Shore, New York 11706

(631) 968-5000

 

We hereby undertake to provide without charge to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any and all of the information that has been or may be incorporated by reference in this prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents.  Requests for such copies should be directed to our Corporate Secretary at 1460 Fifth Avenue, Bay Shore, New York 11706. Our telephone number is (631) 968-5000.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

 

 

 

Up to $5,378,227

 

of Shares of Common Stock

 

 

 

PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT

 

 

 

 

 

CRAIG-HALLUM

 

December    , 2024

 

 

 

 

 

PART II

 

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

 

SEC registration fee		$	1,531
FINRA filing fee*		$	3,500
Printing expenses*		$	2,000
Accountant fees*		$	45,000
Counsel fees*		$	85,000
Transfer Agent fees*		$	2,000
Blue Sky Fees		$	0
Miscellaneous*		$	10,000
Total		$	159,031

 

a.

All such amounts are estimates, other than the SEC registration fee.

 

b.

Does not include expense of preparing prospectus supplements and other expenses relating to offerings of the securities that may be offered and sold hereunder.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

 

Section 78.7502 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) permits a company to indemnify its directors and officers against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with a threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding if the officer or director (i) is not liable pursuant to NRS 78.138 or (ii) acted in good faith and in a manner the officer or director reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and, if a criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct of the officer or director was unlawful.

 

Section 78.751 of NRS permits a Nevada company to indemnify its officers and directors against expenses incurred by them in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding as they are incurred and in advance of final disposition thereof, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or director to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that such officer or director is not entitled to be indemnified by the company. Section 78.751 of NRS further permits the company to grant its directors and officers additional rights of indemnification under its articles of incorporation or bylaws or otherwise.

 

Section 78.752 of NRS provides that a Nevada company may purchase and maintain insurance or make other financial arrangements on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the company, or is or was serving at the request of the company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, for any liability asserted against him and liability and expenses incurred by him in his capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the company has the authority to indemnify him against such liability and expenses.

 

Article 10 of our Articles of Incorporation (“Indemnification”) provides as follows:

 

“Every person who was or is a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person with whom he or she is a legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or who is serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, or is a representative in a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless to the fullest extent legally permissible under the laws of the State of Nevada from time to time against all expenses, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid or to be paid in a settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by him or her in connection therewith. The right of indemnification shall be a contract right which may be enforced in any manner desired by such person. The expenses of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil suit or proceeding must be paid by the Corporation as incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit, or proceeding, under receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation. Such right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other right such directors, officers or representatives may have or hereafter acquire, and, without limiting the generality of such statement, they shall be entitled to their respective rights of indemnification under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders, provision of law, or otherwise, as well as their rights under this article.

 

 

Without limiting the application of the foregoing, the Board of Directors may adopt bylaws from time to time with respect to indemnification, to provide at all times the fullest indemnification permitted by the laws of the State of Nevada, and may cause the corporation to purchase or maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation or who is serving at the request of the Corporation as an officer, director or representative of any other entity or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in any such capacity or arising out of such status, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person.

 

Any repeal or modification of the above provisions of this Article, approved by the stockholders of the Corporation shall be prospective only, and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of a director or officer of the Corporation existing as of the time of such repeal or modification. In the event of any conflict between the above indemnification provisions, and any other Article of the Articles, the terms and provisions of this Article shall control.”

 

The Company maintains a director and officer insurance policy on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the Company. Under such insurance policy, the directors and officers of the Company are insured, within the limits and subject to the limitations of the policy, against certain expenses in connection with the defense of certain claims, actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities which might be imposed as a result of such claims, actions, suits or proceedings, which may be brought against them by reason of being or having been such directors or officers.

 

Insofar as indemnification by us for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers or persons controlling the Company pursuant to provisions of our articles of incorporation and bylaws, 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. In the event that a claim for indemnification by such director, officer or controlling person of us 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 offered, we will, unless in the opinion of our counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by us is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

In addition, Section 78.138 of the NRS provides that a director or officer will not be individually liable unless it is proven that (i) the director’s or officer’s acts or omissions constituted a breach of his or her fiduciary duties, and (ii) such breach involved intentional misconduct, fraud or a knowing violation of the law.

 

Article 9 of our Articles of Incorporation (“Limitation on Liability”) provides as follows:

 

“Unless otherwise provided by law, a director or officer is not individually liable to the Corporation or its stockholders or creditors for any damages as a result of any act or failure to act in his individual capacity as a director or officer unless it is proven that his act or failure to act constituted a breach of his fiduciary duties as a director or officer and his breach of those duties involved intentional misconduct, fraud, or a knowing violation of law. If the NRS is amended to further eliminate or limit or authorize corporate action to further eliminate or limit the liability of directors or officers, the liability of directors and officers of the corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the NRS as so amended from time to time. Neither any amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption of any provision of these Articles of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article, shall eliminate, reduce or otherwise adversely affect any limitation on the personal liability of a director or officer of the corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or adoption of such an inconsistent provision.”

 

 

Item 16. Exhibits

 

Exhibit Number		Description of Document
1.1*		Form of underwriting agreement with respect to common stock, preferred stock, warrants, units or debt securities.
1.2		At the Market Offering Agreement, dated December 13, 2024, by and between Air Industries Group and Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC
4.2*		Certificate of designation for preferred stock, if any.
4.3		Form of Senior Debt Indenture
4.4		Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture
4.5*		Form of warrant agreement and warrant certificate, if any.
4.6*		Form of unit agreement and unit certificate, if any.
5.1		Opinion of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP covering certain legal matters with respect to the validity of certain of the offered securities being registered.
23.1		Consent of Marcum LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.
23.2		Consent of Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1		Power of Attorney (included on signature pages to the registration statement).
107		Calculation of Registration Fee

 

*

To the extent applicable, to be filed by a post-effective amendment or as an exhibit to a document filed under the Securities Exchange Act, as amended, and incorporated by reference herein.

 

 

Item 17. Undertakings.

 

A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

 

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

 

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

  

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

 

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

 

Provided, however, that paragraphs (A)(1)(i), (A)(1)(ii) and (A)(1)(iii) do not apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 and the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

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

 

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

 

(4) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

C. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

(1) For purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time the SEC declared it effective.

 

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

 

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

 

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 SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this amendment to the registration statement on Form S-3 to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized in Bay Shore, New York on December 13, 2024

 

POWER OF ATTORNEY

 

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS:

 

That each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints, jointly and severally, Luciano Melluzzo and Scott Glassman, the lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents with full power and authority to do any and all acts and things and to execute any and all instruments which said attorneys and agents, and either one of them, determine may be necessary or advisable or required to enable said corporation to comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any rules or regulations or requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with this registration statement. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing power and authority, the powers granted include the power and authority to sign the names of the undersigned officers and directors in the capacities indicated below to this registration statement, to any and all amendments, including pre-effective and post-effective amendments, and supplements to this registration statement, and to any and all instruments or documents filed as part of or in conjunction with this registration statement or amendments or supplements thereof, and each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms that all said attorneys and agents, or either of them, shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.

 

In accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this registration statement was signed by the following persons on December 13, 2024 in the capacities indicated.

 

Signature		Capacity
/s/ Luciano Melluzzo		President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
Luciano Melluzzo
/s/  Scott Glassman		Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
Scott Glassman

 

/s/ Peter Rettaliata		Chairman of the Board
Peter Rettaliata
/s/ Michael N. Taglich		Director
Michael N. Taglich
/s/ Robert F. Taglich		Director
Robert F. Taglich
/s/ David J. Buonanno		Director
David  J. Buonanno
/s/ Michael Brand		Director
Michael Brand

 

/s/ Michael Porcelain		Director
Michael Porcelain

 

II-6

 

 

Exhibit 1.2

 

AT THE MARKET OFFERING AGREEMENT

 

December 13, 2024

 

Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC

222 South Ninth Street, Suite 350

Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Air Industries Group, a corporation organized under the laws of Nevada (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (the “Manager”) as follows:

 

1. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.

 

“Accountants” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(m).

 

“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Action” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(o).

 

“Affiliate” means with respect to any Person, any other Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with such Person as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

“Applicable Time” shall mean, with respect to any Shares, the time of sale of such Shares pursuant to this Agreement or any relevant Terms Agreement.

 

“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.

 

“Board” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(iii).

 

“Broker Fee” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(v).

 

“Business Day” shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday or other day on which commercial banks in The City of New York are authorized or required by law to remain closed; provided, however, that, for purposes of clarity, commercial banks shall not be deemed to be authorized or required by law to remain closed due to “stay at home”, “shelter-in-place”, “non-essential employee”  or any other similar orders or restrictions or the closure of any physical branch locations at the direction of any Governmental Authority so long as the electronic funds transfer systems (including for wire transfers) of commercial banks in The City of New York generally are open for use by customers on such day.

 

 

“Commission” shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

“Common Stock” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2.

 

“Common Stock Equivalents” means any securities of the Company or the Subsidiaries which would entitle the holder thereof to acquire at any time Common Stock, including, without limitation, any debt, preferred stock, right, option, warrant or other instrument that is at any time convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or otherwise entitles the holder thereof to receive, Common Stock.

 

“Company Counsel” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(l).

 

“DTC” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(vii).

 

“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective.

 

“Effective Time” shall mean the first date and time that the Registration Statement becomes effective.

 

“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

 

“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.

 

“GAAP” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(m).

 

“Governmental Authority” shall mean any United States or foreign federal, national, state, county, municipal, provincial, or local government, any transnational or supranational government, any political subdivision of any of the foregoing, and any authority, agency, commission, body, department or other instrumentality exercising executive, legislative, judicial, regulatory or administrative functions of or pertaining to any such government or political subdivision thereof, including any self-regulatory or quasi-regulatory authority, agency, commission, body, department or other instrumentality and any court, arbitral body or tribunal of competent jurisdiction.

 

“Hazardous Materials” means chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes.

 

“Incorporated Documents” shall mean the documents or portions thereof filed with the Commission on or prior to the Effective Date that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and any documents or portions thereof filed with the Commission after the Effective Date that are deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

 

 

“Indebtedness” means (a) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $100,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business and not more than 60 days overdue), (b) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; (c) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $100,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP; (d) all obligations in excess of $100,000 under conditional sale or other title retention agreements relating to property acquired by such Person; and (e) all obligations in excess of $100,000 in respect of the deferred and unpaid purchase price of property or services.

 

“Intellectual Property Rights” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(t).

 

“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433.

 

“Losses” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 7(d).

 

“Material Adverse Effect” means (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, earnings, properties, assets, business, condition (financial or otherwise), or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under this Agreement.

 

“Material Permits” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(r).

 

“Net Proceeds” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(v).

 

“Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(g).

 

“Person” shall mean any individual, corporation (including any non-profit corporation), general partnership, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, joint venture, estate, trust, company (including any limited liability company or joint stock company), firm or other enterprise, association, organization or entity.

 

“Placement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(c).

 

“Proceeding” means an action, claim, suit, investigation or proceeding (including, without limitation, an informal investigation or partial proceeding, such as a deposition), whether commenced or threatened.

 

 

“Prospectus” shall mean the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by Prospectus Supplement.

 

“Prospectus Supplement” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Shares included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Time and any other prospectus supplement relating to the Shares subsequently prepared and filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) from time to time.

 

“Registration Statement” shall mean the shelf registration statement on Form S-3, filed with the Commission concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, as amended prior to the Effective Date, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the Shares that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.

 

“Representation Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4(k).

 

“Required Approvals” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(e).

 

“Rule 158”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 173”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Act.

 

“Sales Notice” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(i).

 

“SEC Reports” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(m).

 

“Settlement Date” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(b)(vii).

 

“Subsidiary” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3(a).

 

“Terms Agreement” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(a).

 

“Time of Delivery” shall have the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 2(c).

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which the Trading Market is open for trading.

 

“Trading Market” means the Nasdaq Stock Market.

 

 

2. Sale and Delivery of Shares. The Company proposes to issue and sell through or to the Manager, as sales agent and/or principal, from time to time during the term of this Agreement and on the terms set forth herein, up to such number of shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.001 par value per share (“Common Stock”), that does not exceed the lesser of (a) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock registered on the Registration Statement and as reflected on the Prospectus Supplement, pursuant to which the offering is being made, (b) the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock (less the number of 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), or (c) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock that would cause the Company or the offering of the Shares to not satisfy the eligibility and transaction requirements for use of Form S-3, including, if applicable, General Instruction I.B.6 of Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the lesser of (a), (b) and (c), the “Maximum Amount”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 2 on the number and aggregate sales price of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that the Manager shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.

 

(a) Appointment of Manager as Selling Agent; Terms Agreement. For purposes of selling the Shares through the Manager, the Company hereby appoints the Manager as exclusive agent of the Company for the purpose of selling the Shares of the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell the Shares on the terms and subject to the conditions stated herein. The Company agrees that, whenever it determines to sell the Shares directly to the Manager as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”) in substantially the form of Annex I hereto, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 2 of this Agreement.

 

(b) Agent Sales. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will issue and agrees to sell Shares from time to time through the Manager, acting as sales agent, and the Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, as sales agent for the Company, on the following terms:

 

(i) The Shares are to be sold on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be agreed to by the Company and the Manager on any day that (A) is a Trading Day, (B) the Company has instructed the Manager by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail) to make such sales (“Sales Notice”) and (C) the Company has satisfied its obligations under Section 6 of this Agreement. The Company will designate the maximum number of Shares to be sold by the Manager daily (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 2(d)) and the minimum price per Share at which such Shares may be sold. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell on a particular day all of the Shares designated for the sale by the Company on such day. The gross sales price of the Shares sold under this Section 2(b) shall be the market price for the shares of Common Stock sold by the Manager under this Section 2(b) on the Trading Market at the time of sale of such Shares.

 

(ii) The Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) there can be no assurance that the Manager will be successful in selling the Shares, (B) the Manager will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other Person or entity if it does not sell the Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares as required under this Agreement, and (C) the Manager shall be under no obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise specifically agreed by the Manager and the Company pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

 

 

(iii) The Company shall not authorize the issuance and sale of, and the Manager shall not be obligated to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell, any Share at a price lower than the minimum price therefor designated from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”), or a duly authorized committee thereof, or such duly authorized officers of the Company, and notified to the Manager in writing. The Company or the Manager may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail), suspend the offering of the Shares for any reason and at any time; provided, however, that such suspension or termination shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.

 

(iv) The Manager may sell Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the Trading Market, on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker. The Manager may also sell Shares in privately negotiated transactions, if the Manager receives the Company’s prior written approval for such sales and if the rules of the Trading Market do not require shareholder approval of such sales, and if so provided in the “Plan of Distribution” section of the Prospectus Supplement or a supplement to the Prospectus Supplement or a new Prospectus Supplement disclosing the terms of such privately negotiated transaction.

 

(v) The compensation to the Manager for sales of the Shares under this Section 2(b) shall be a placement fee of 3.0% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 2(b) (“Broker Fee”). The foregoing rate of compensation shall not apply when the Manager acts as principal, in which case the Company may sell Shares to the Manager as principal at a price agreed upon at the relevant Applicable Time pursuant to a Terms Agreement. The remaining proceeds, after deduction of the Broker Fee and deduction of any transaction fees imposed by any clearing firm, execution broker, or governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales, shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).

 

(vi) The Manager shall provide written confirmation (which may be by electronic mail) to the Company following the close of trading on the Trading Market each day in which the Shares are sold under this Section 2(b) setting forth the number of the Shares sold on such day, the aggregate gross sales proceeds and the Net Proceeds to the Company, and the compensation payable by the Company to the Manager with respect to such sales.

 

 

(vii) Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Manager, settlement for sales of the Shares will occur at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the first (1st) Trading Day (or any such shorter settlement cycle as may be in effect pursuant to Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act from time to time) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). Before 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Shares being sold by crediting the Manager’s or its designee’s account (provided that the Manager shall have given the Company written notice of such designee at least one Trading Day prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which Shares in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, the Manager will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company. The Company agrees that, if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver duly authorized Shares on a Settlement Date, in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 7 hereto, the Company will (i) hold the Manager harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or reasonable, documented expense (including reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company, and (ii) pay to the Manager any commission, discount or other compensation to which the Manager would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

 

(viii) At each Applicable Time, Settlement Date, and Representation Date, the Company shall be deemed to have affirmed each representation and warranty contained in this Agreement as if such representation and warranty were made as of such date, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended as of such date. Any obligation of the Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 of this Agreement.

 

(ix) 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 Manager agree that (i) no sales of Shares will take place, (ii) the Company shall not request the sale of any Shares, and (iii) the Manager shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Shares.

 

 

(x) If the Company shall declare or make any dividend or other distribution of its assets (or rights to acquire its assets) to holders of shares of Common Stock, by way of return of capital or otherwise (including, without limitation, any distribution of cash, stock or other securities, property or options by way of a dividend, spin off, reclassification, corporate rearrangement, scheme of arrangement or other similar transaction) (a “Distribution” and the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive the Distribution, the “Record Date”), the Company hereby covenants that, in connection with any sales of Shares pursuant to a Sales Notice on the Record Date, the Company shall issue and deliver such Shares to the Manager on the Record Date and the Record Date shall be the Settlement Date and the Company shall cover any additional costs of the Manager in connection with the delivery of Shares on the Record Date.

 

(c) Term Sales. If the Company wishes to sell the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in a manner other than as set forth in Section 2(b) of this Agreement (each, a “Placement”), the Company will notify the Manager of the proposed terms of such Placement. If the Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company wishes to accept amended terms, the Manager and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement will not be binding on the Company or the Manager unless and until the Company and the Manager have each executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of the terms of such Terms Agreement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control. A Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of such Shares by the Manager. The commitment of the Manager to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. Each Terms Agreement shall specify the number of the Shares to be purchased by the Manager pursuant thereto, the price to be paid to the Company for such Shares, any provisions relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with the Manager in the reoffering of the Shares, and the time and date (each such time and date being referred to herein as a “Time of Delivery”) and place of delivery of and payment for such Shares. Such Terms Agreement shall also specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement and any other information or documents required by the Manager.

 

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

 

 

(e) Regulation M Notice. Unless the exceptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are satisfied with respect to the Shares, the Company shall give the Manager at least one (1) Business Day’s prior notice (or five (5) Business Day’s prior notice, if the “restricted period” under Regulation M is five (5) Business Days) of its intent to sell any Shares in order to allow the Manager time to comply with Regulation M.

 

3. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Manager at the Execution Time and the Effective Time and on each such time that the following representations and warranties are repeated or deemed to be made pursuant to this Agreement (including without limitation on each Applicable Time, Settlement Date, Representation Date and Time of Delivery), as set forth below, except as set forth in the SEC Reports filed after the date of this Agreement and prior to the date these representations and warranties are deemed made.

 

(a) Subsidiaries. The significant subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”) of the Company, as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission, are set forth in the SEC Reports filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made. Each Subsidiary has been duly formed or organized and is validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization and have the power and authority to own, lease or operate all of its properties and assets and to conduct its businesses as they are now being conducted, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and has all necessary approvals from any Governmental Authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on their business as it is now being conducted, except where the failure to have all necessary approvals would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Each Subsidiary of the Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation (or other entity, if applicable) in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified or in good standing would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made, the Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of any Liens, and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.

 

 

(b) Organization and Qualification. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or organization, and has the requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease or operate all of its properties and assets and to conduct its business as it is now being conducted as described in the Prospectus Supplement, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and has all necessary approvals from all Governmental Authorities to own, lease and operate its properties and to carry on its business as it is now being conducted as described in the Prospectus Supplement, except where the failure to have all necessary approvals would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not in violation nor default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, except for any such violation that would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is duly licensed or qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership of property or the character of its activities is such as to require it to be so licensed or qualified, as applicable, except where the failure to be so licensed or qualified would not have reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, and no Proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.

 

(c) Authorization and Enforcement. The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby and to perform all of its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by the Board, and no other company or corporate proceeding on the part of the Company is necessary to authorize this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly executed and delivered by the Company and this Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and similar Laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of equity, whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law. On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Board has duly adopted resolutions (i) determining that this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby are advisable and fair to, and in the best interests of, the Company and its stockholders, as applicable, and (ii) authorizing and approving the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby. No other corporate action is required on the part of the Company or any of its stockholders to enter into this Agreement or to approve the issuance of the Shares.

 

(d) No Conflicts. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the issuance of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (a) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, or default under the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, of the Company, (b) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, or default under any law or governmental order having jurisdiction over the Company, or any of the Subsidiaries, (c) violate or conflict with any provision of, or result in the breach of, result in the loss of any right or benefit, or cause acceleration, or constitute (with or without due notice or lapse of time or both) a default (or give rise to any right of termination, cancellation or acceleration) under any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or terminate or result in the termination of any such foregoing agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (d) result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries, except, in the case of clauses (b) through (d), to the extent that the occurrence of the foregoing would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect (or to the extent such violation or conflict, breach, loss of a right or benefit, acceleration, default, termination, or creation of a Lien has been waived).

 

 

(e) Filings, Consents and Approvals. No consent, waiver, approval or authorization of, or designation, declaration or filing with, or notification to, any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or Governmental Authority (each, a “Governmental Authorization”) is required on the part of the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect to the Company’s execution or delivery of this Agreement or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for (i) the filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement, (ii) such consents, approvals, authorizations, order and registrations or qualifications as may be required by FINRA and (iii) such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws (collectively, the “Required Approvals”) and any consents, approvals, authorizations, designations, declarations, waivers or filings, the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(f) Issuance of Shares. The Shares are duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the Agreement, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and free and clear of all Liens imposed by the Company. The holder of the Shares will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders. The Shares are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. All corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Shares has been duly and validly taken. The Shares conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement.

 

(g) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. Except as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plans and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. No Person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except those that have been duly waived. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made, there are no outstanding options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any Person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock or the capital stock of any Subsidiary, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents or the capital stock of any Subsidiary. The issuance and sale of the Shares will not obligate the Company or any Subsidiary to issue shares of Common Stock or other securities to any Person. Except as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary with any provision that adjusts the exercise, conversion, exchange or reset price of such security or instrument upon an issuance of securities by the Company or any Subsidiary. Except as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, there are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or such Subsidiary. The Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, and none of such outstanding shares was issued in violation of any preemptive rights or similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board of Directors or others is required for the issuance and sale of the Shares. There are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders.

 

 

(h) Registration Statement. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has prepared and will file with the Commission, substantially concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, the Registration Statement, including a related Base Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the Shares. Such Registration Statement will be effective and available for the offer and sale of the Shares as of any time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made (excluding the Execution Date). As filed, the Base Prospectus contains all information required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the Manager shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to the Manager prior to the Execution Time or prior to any such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made. The Registration Statement contains all exhibits and schedules as required by the Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, if any, at the time it becomes effective, will comply in all material respects with the Act and the Exchange Act 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. The Prospectus, including any amendments or supplements thereto, as of its date, will comply in all material respects with the Act and the Exchange Act and, as of its date and at each Applicable Time and Settlement Date, 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of the Shares, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). Not more than three years (as extended in accordance with Rule 415(a)(5)(ii)) has elapsed since the initial Effective Date of the Registration Statement. The Company meets the transaction requirements as set forth in General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3 or, if applicable, as set forth in General Instruction I.B.6 of Form S-3 with respect to the aggregate market value of securities being sold pursuant to this offering and during the twelve (12) calendar months prior to such time that this representation is made or deemed to be made.

 

(i) Accuracy of Incorporated Documents. The Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, and none of the Incorporated Documents, when they were filed with the Commission, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(j) Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Shares and (ii) as of the Execution Time and on each such time this representation is repeated or deemed to be made (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.

 

(k) Free Writing Prospectus. The Company is eligible to use Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information the substance of which conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any Incorporated Documents and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for use therein. Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) or that was prepared by or behalf of or used by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the rules thereunder. The Company will not, without the prior consent of the Manager, prepare, use or refer to, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.

 

 

(l) Proceedings Related to Registration Statement. The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. The Company has not received any notice that the Commission has issued or intends to issue a stop-order with respect to the Registration Statement or that the Commission otherwise has suspended or withdrawn the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, either temporarily or permanently, or intends or has threatened in writing to do so.

 

(m) SEC Reports. The Company has filed all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by the Company under the Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date as of which this representation is deemed made (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) (the foregoing materials, including the exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein, together with the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, including the Incorporated Documents, being collectively referred to herein as the “SEC Reports”) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information furnished by the Manager to the Company in writing by such Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or the Prospectus Supplement, and any amendment or supplement thereto. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments. The agreements and documents described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement and the SEC Reports conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and the Prospectus Supplement or the other SEC Reports or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement or the other SEC Reports, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Authority or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.

 

 

(n) Material Changes; Undisclosed Events, Liabilities or Developments. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock, (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or Affiliate, except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans and (vi) no officer or director of the Company has resigned from any position with the Company. The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information. Except for the issuance of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, prospects, properties, operations, assets or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least one (1) Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made. Unless otherwise disclosed in an SEC Report filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.

  

(o) Litigation. There is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”) which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of any of this Agreement or the Shares or (ii)  could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company. The Commission has not issued any stop order or other order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement filed by the Company or any Subsidiary under the Exchange Act or the Act.

 

 

(p) Labor Relations. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made, (i) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to or bound by any collective bargaining agreement, or any similar agreement, (ii) no such agreement is being negotiated by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, and (iii) no labor union or any other employee representative body has requested or, to the knowledge of the Company, has sought to represent any of the employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries. To the knowledge of the Company, there has been no labor organization activity involving any employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. Since January 1, 2020, there has been no actual or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened strike, slowdown, work stoppage, lockout or other material labor dispute against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are, and have been during the last three years, in compliance with all applicable laws respecting labor and employment including, but not limited to, all Laws respecting terms and conditions of employment, health and safety, wages and hours, holiday pay and the calculation of holiday pay, working time, employee classification (with respect to both exempt vs. non-exempt status and employee vs. independent contractor and worker status), child labor, immigration, employment discrimination, disability rights or benefits, equal opportunity and equal pay, plant closures and layoffs, affirmative action, workers’ compensation, labor relations, employee leave issues and unemployment insurance, and (ii) have withheld and reported all amounts required by any legal requirement to be withheld and reported with respect to wages, salaries and other payments or compensation to any Company employee or other service provider, and (iii) have no liability for any arrears of wages or any penalty for failure to comply with any of the foregoing, except in each case of prongs (i)-(iii) where failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in Material Adverse Effect. Since January 1, 2020, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not received (i) notice of any unfair labor practice charge or material complaint pending or threatened before the National Labor Relations Board or any other Governmental Authority against them, (ii) notice of any complaints, grievances or arbitrations arising out of any collective bargaining agreement or any other complaints, grievances or arbitration procedures against them, (iii) notice of any material charge or complaint with respect to or relating to them pending before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission or any other Governmental Authority responsible for the prevention of unlawful employment practices, (iv) notice of the intent of any Governmental Authority responsible for the enforcement of labor, employment, wages and hours of work, child labor, immigration, or occupational safety and health laws to conduct an investigation with respect to or relating to them or notice that such investigation is in progress, or (v) notice of any material complaint, lawsuit or other proceeding pending or threatened in any forum by or on behalf of any present or former employee of such entities, any applicant for employment or classes of the foregoing alleging breach of any express or implied agreement or contract of employment, any applicable law governing employment or the termination thereof or other discriminatory, wrongful or tortious conduct in connection with the employment relationship. To the knowledge of the Company, no present or former employee, worker or independent contractor of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is in material violation of (i) any restrictive covenant, nondisclosure obligation or fiduciary duty to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or (ii) any restrictive covenant or nondisclosure obligation to a former employer or engager of any such individual relating to (A) the right of any such individual to work for or provide services to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or (B) the knowledge or use of Trade Secrets (where “Trade Secrets” is defined as Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ confidential and proprietary information, whether oral or written, including ideas, designs, concepts, compositions, compilations of information, formulas, patterns, program, device, methods, methodologies, techniques, procedures, processes and other know-how, whether or not patentable, including all writings, memoranda, copies, reports, papers, surveys, analyses, drawings, letters, computer printouts, computer programs, computer applications, tools, specifications, business methods, business processes, business techniques, business plans, data (including customer data and technical data), graphs, charts, sound recordings and pictorial reproductions) or proprietary information.  Since January 1, 2020, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not engaged in layoffs, furloughs or employment terminations sufficient to trigger application of the Workers’ Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act or any similar state or local law relating to group terminations or effected any broad-based salary or other compensation or benefits reductions, in each case, whether temporary or permanent. To the knowledge of the Company, (i) no allegations of harassment, discrimination or misconduct have been made against any officer or director of the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not entered into any settlement agreement or conducted any investigation related to allegations of harassment, discrimination or misconduct by a director, officer, employee, contractor or other agent of the Company or its Subsidiaries. Except as would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in material liability to the Company or its Subsidiaries, the Company is, and since January 1, 2020 has been, in compliance in all respects with the requirements of the Immigration Reform Control Act of 1986.

 

 

(q) Compliance. As of the date of this Agreement, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable laws in all material respects. Except as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, since January 1, 2020, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any knowledge of, or has received any written notice of, or been charged with, the violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters that would, individually or in the aggregate, be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived) or (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other Governmental Authority.

 

(r) Regulatory Permits. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has all material licenses, approvals, consents, registrations and permits of a statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any Governmental Authority (the “Material Permits”) required to permit the Company and its Subsidiaries to own, lease or operate their properties and assets in the manner in which they are now operated and to conduct the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently conducted and as described in the Prospectus Supplement, except where the failure to obtain such Material Permits has not had, or would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. No suspension or cancellation of any of the Material Permits is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened. The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of Federal, state, local and all foreign regulation on the Company’s business as currently contemplated and as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement are correct in all material respects.

 

(s) Title to Assets. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company or one of its Subsidiaries owns and has good title to all material equipment and other tangible property reflected on the books of the Company and its Subsidiaries as owned by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, for which appropriate reserves have been made therefor in accordance with GAAP, and the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties and (iii) as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, individually or in the aggregate. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance.

 

 

(t) Intellectual Property. The Company and the Subsidiaries own, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, Trade Secrets, inventions, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights necessary or required for with the operation of their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”), except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. None of, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of, the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made, a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the Intellectual Property Rights of any Person, except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, all Intellectual Property Rights registered with a Governmental Authority and owned by the Company or the Subsidiaries are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights, except as would not reasonably be expected to, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(u) Insurance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts, taken as a whole, as are, in the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ reasonable judgment, adequate and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost.

 

(v) Transactions With Affiliates and Employees. Except as set forth in the SEC Reports filed prior to the date this representation is deemed made, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, providing for the borrowing of money from or lending of money to or otherwise requiring payments to or from, any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, stockholder, member or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.

 

 

(w) Sarbanes Oxley Compliance. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in material compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date. The Company and the Subsidiaries 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 authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) for the Company and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports 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. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

(x) Certain Fees. Other than payments to be made to the Manager, no brokerage or finder’s fees or commissions are or will be payable by the Company, any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company to any broker, financial advisor or consultant, finder, placement agent, investment banker, bank or other Person with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. To the Company’s knowledge, there are no other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its stockholders that may affect the Manager’s compensation, as determined by FINRA. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein.

  

(y) No Other Sales Agency Agreement. The Company has not entered into any other sales agency agreements or other similar arrangements with any agent or any other representative in respect of at the market offerings of the Shares.

 

 

(z) Investment Company.  The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and immediately after receipt of payment for the Shares from the Manager pursuant to this Agreement, will not be or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so as to reasonably ensure that it or its Subsidiaries will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(aa) Listing and Maintenance Requirements. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements. The Common Stock is currently eligible for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation and the Company is current in payment of the fees of the Depository Trust Company (or such other established clearing corporation) in connection with such electronic transfer.

 

(bb) Solvency. Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the date hereof, (i) the fair saleable value of the Company’s assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, consolidated and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. Within one year from the Closing Date, the Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt), and the Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction. The Prospectus Supplement set forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness.

 

 

(cc) Tax Status. Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) has made or filed all United States federal, state and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all material taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company or of any Subsidiary know of no basis for any such claim.

 

(dd) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any agent or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any Subsidiary (or made by any Person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of FCPA. The Company has taken commercially reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the FCPA.

 

(ee) Accountants. To the knowledge and belief of the Company, the Company Auditor (i) is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Exchange Act and (ii) shall express its opinion with respect to the financial statements to be included in the Company’s Annual Report for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2024.

 

(ff) Regulation M Compliance.  The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Shares, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), compensation paid to the Manager in connection with the Shares.

 

 

(gg) Stock Option Plans. Each stock option granted by the Company under the Company’s stock option plan was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock option plan and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No stock option granted under the Company’s stock option plan has been backdated. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no Company policy or practice to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.

 

(hh) Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors, officers or employees, nor their agents or other third parties is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department.

 

(ii) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon the Manager’s request.

 

(jj) Money Laundering. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, applicable money laundering statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no Action or Proceeding by or before any court or Governmental Authority or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened.

 

(kk) FINRA Affiliation. To the Company’s knowledge, based solely on the FINRA Questionnaires received in connection with the Offering, except for Michael Taglich and Robert Taglich, principals of Taglich Brothers Inc., no officer, director or any beneficial owner of 5% or more of the Company’s unregistered securities has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA) that is participating in the Offering.

 

(ll) Cybersecurity.  The Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, and equipment (collectively, the “IT Systems”) is sufficient for the operation of the business of the Company, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company the IT Systems are free and clear of all material bugs, malware, viruses, malicious code, “worms,” “Trojan horses,” “back doors,” or other vulnerabilities, or unauthorized tools or scripts that could reasonably be expected to materially adversely impact the confidentiality, integrity or availability of any IT Systems. To the knowledge of the Company, during the last three (3) years, there has been no material security breach or other compromise of any of the IT Systems. The Company and the Subsidiaries are, and at all times during the last three (3) years were, in material compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign data privacy and security laws and regulations and have not been subject to any Action relating to noncompliance or potential noncompliance with Privacy Requirements.

 

 

(mm) Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are and, for the last three (3) years, have been in compliance in all material respects with all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of the environment (including natural resources) or human health and safety (with respect to exposure to Hazardous Materials), or the use, handling, generation, manufacture, processing, distribution, treatment, storage, transportation, labeling, recycling, remediation, cleanup, emission, disposal or release of, or exposure to, Hazardous Materials) (“Environmental Laws”) or otherwise regulated or for which liability or standards of care may be imposed, under applicable Environmental Laws, except for matters which have been fully resolved and (ii) hold and maintain in compliance in all material respects all material Licenses required under applicable Environmental Laws to own, operate, use and maintain their assets and to conduct the business and operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries in compliance with the applicable Environmental Laws, where in the cases of clauses (i) and (ii), the failure to so comply would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. There has been no release of any Hazardous Materials on, in, at, under or from any (i) Leased Real Property; (ii) any property formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company or any Subsidiary or (iii) at any off-site location to which Hazardous Materials generated by the Company or any Subsidiary were sent for treatment, recycling, storage or disposal, in each case, which would reasonably be expected to give rise to material liability to the Company or any Subsidiary, under Environmental Laws. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, this section provides the sole and exclusive representations and warranties of the Company in respect of environmental matters, including any and all matters arising under Environmental Laws.

 

(nn) Privacy Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in material compliance with all applicable state, federal and foreign data privacy and security laws and regulations (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”). To ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company has in place, complies with, and takes appropriate steps to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, processing, disclosure, handling, and analysis of Personal Data (as defined below) and all sensitive, confidential or regulated data (the “Policies”). The Company has at all times made all material disclosures to users or customers required by applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and none of such disclosures made or contained in any Policy have been inaccurate or in violation of any applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements in any material respect. The Company further certifies that neither it nor any Subsidiary: (i) has received written notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, e-mail address, photograph, social security number or tax identification number, driver’s license number, passport number, credit card number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; and (iii) any information which would qualify as “personal data,” “protected health information,” “personal information” or any other similar term as defined in any applicable Privacy Laws; and (vi) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural Person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified Person’s health or sexual orientation.

 

 

(oo) Government Contracts. No payment has been made by the Company or its Subsidiaries, or by any Person authorized to act on their behalf, to any Person in connection with any contracts with any Governmental Authority or regulatory agency (“Government Contracts”), in violation of applicable procurement laws or regulations. The Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ cost accounting and procurement systems with respect to Government Contracts are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable governmental regulations and requirements. With respect to each Government Contract: (i) the Company and each Subsidiary have complied with all material terms and conditions of such Government Contract, including all clauses, provisions and requirements incorporated expressly, by reference or by operation of law therein; (ii) the Company and each such Subsidiary have complied with all material requirements of applicable laws pertaining to such Government Contract; (iii) all representations and certifications executed, acknowledged or set forth in or pertaining to such Government Contract were complete and correct in all material respects as of their effective date, and the Company and each Subsidiary have complied in all material respects with all such representations and certifications; (iv) neither the United States government nor any prime contractor, subcontractor or other Person has notified the Company or any Subsidiary, either orally or in writing, that the Company or such Subsidiary has breached or violated any applicable law, or any material certification, representation, clause, provision or requirement pertaining to such Government Contract; and (v) no termination for convenience, termination for default, cure notice or show cause notice is in effect as of the date hereof pertaining to any Government Contract. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors, officers or employees is (or since January 1, 2020, has been) under administrative, civil or criminal investigation, or indictment or audit by any Governmental Authority with respect to any alleged irregularity, misstatement or omission arising under or relating to any Government Contract (other than routine Defense Contract Audit Agency audits, in which no such irregularities, misstatements or omissions were identified). During the last three (3) years, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has conducted or initiated any internal investigation or made a voluntary disclosure to the United States government, with respect to any alleged irregularity, misstatement or omission arising under or relating to any Government Contract. There are no outstanding claims against the Company or any Subsidiary, either by the United States government or by any prime contractor, subcontractor, vendor or other third party, arising under or relating to any Government Contract. There are no disputes between the Company or any Subsidiary and the United States government under the Contract Disputes Act or any other statute or between the Company or any Subsidiary and any prime contractor, subcontractor or vendor arising under or relating to any Government Contract. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its or the Subsidiary’s directors, officers or employees is (or since January 1, 2020, has been) suspended or debarred from doing business with the United States government or is (or during such period was) the subject of a finding of non-responsibility or ineligibility for United States government contracting. There is no suit or investigation pending and, to the Company’s knowledge, no suit or investigation threatened against the Company or any subsidiary with respect to any Government Contract.

 

(pp) Aviation Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are (and since January 1, 2020, have been) in compliance in all material respects with all applicable laws, regulations or other requirements of the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the European Aviation Safety Agency and similar aviation regulatory bodies (collectively, “Aviation Laws”). Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written, or to the knowledge of the Company, other notice of a failure to comply in all material respects with applicable Aviation Law.

 

 

4. Agreements. The Company agrees with the Manager that:

 

(a) Right to Review Amendments and Supplements to Registration Statement and Prospectus. During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act in connection with the offering or the sale of Shares, the Company will not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement (including any Prospectus Supplement) to the Base Prospectus unless the Company has furnished to the Manager a copy for its review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Manager reasonably objects. The Company will properly complete the Prospectus, in a form approved by the Manager, and file such Prospectus, with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) promptly after the Effective Time and will cause any supplement to the Prospectus to be properly completed, in a form approved by the Manager, and will file such supplement with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed thereby and will provide evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Manager of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Manager (i) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii) when, during any period when the delivery of a prospectus (whether physically or through compliance with Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) is required under the Act in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, any amendment to the Registration Statement shall have been filed or become effective (other than any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act), (iii) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.

 

(b) Subsequent Events. If, at any time on or after an Applicable Time but prior to the related Settlement Date, any event occurs as a result of which the Registration Statement or Prospectus would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Manager so that any use of the Registration Statement or Prospectus may cease until such are amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any such amendment or supplement to the Manager in such quantities as the Manager may reasonably request.

 

(c) Notification of Subsequent Filings. During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Manager of any such event, (ii) subject to Section 4(a), prepare and file with the Commission an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its best efforts to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Prospectus to the Manager in such quantities as the Manager may reasonably request.

 

(d) Earnings Statements. As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security holders and to the Manager an earnings statement or statements of the Company and its Subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158. For the avoidance of doubt, the Company’s compliance with the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements of this Section 4(d).

 

 

(e) Delivery of Registration Statement. Upon the request of the Manager, the Company will furnish to the Manager and counsel for the Manager, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by the Manager or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule), as many copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Manager may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to the offering.

 

(f) Qualification of Shares. The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Shares for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Manager may designate and will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

 

(g) Free Writing Prospectus. The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Manager, and the Manager agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the 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 by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Manager or the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (ii) it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping.

 

(h) Subsequent Equity Issuances. During the pendency of any Sales Notice given hereunder, and for at least two (2) Trading Days following the final Settlement Date with respect to any Sales Notice given hereunder, without the prior written consent of the Manager, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, contract to issue or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any other shares of Common Stock or any Common Stock Equivalents (other than the Shares), provided that, without compliance with the foregoing obligation, the Company may issue and sell Common Stock pursuant to any employee equity plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the Execution Time and the Company may issue Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exercise of Common Stock Equivalents outstanding at the Execution Time.

 

(i) Market Manipulation. Until the termination of this Agreement, the Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation in violation of the Act, Exchange Act or the rules and regulations thereunder of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or otherwise violate any provision of Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

 

 

(j) Notification of Incorrect Certificate. The Company will, at any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, advise the Manager immediately after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter and other document provided to the Manager pursuant to Section 6 herein.

 

(k) Certification of Accuracy of Disclosure. Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder lasting more than thirty (30) Trading Days), and each time that (i) a new Registration Statement is filed and declared effective by the Commission, (ii) the Registration Statement or Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented, other than by means of Incorporated Documents, (iii) the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act, (iv) the Company files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act, (v) the Company files a Current Report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information that is furnished and not filed), if the Manager reasonably determines that the information in such Form 8-K is material, or (vi) the Shares are delivered to the Manager as principal at the Time of Delivery pursuant to a Terms Agreement (such commencement or recommencement date and each such date referred to in (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) above, a “Representation Date”), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Manager promptly a certificate dated and delivered on the Representation Date, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Manager to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6 of this Agreement which were last furnished to the Manager are true and correct at the Representation Date, as though made at and as of such date (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in said Section 6, modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of delivery of such certificate.

 

(l) Bring Down Opinions; Negative Assurance. Within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Manager and to counsel to the Manager a written opinion of counsel to the Company (“Company Counsel”), including a negative assurance representation, addressed to the Manager and dated and delivered within five (5) Trading Days of such Representation Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Manager. The requirement to furnish or cause to be furnished an opinion (but not with respect to a negative assurance representation) under this Section 4(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date other than a Representation Date on which a new Registration Statement is filed and declared effective by the Commission or a material amendment to the Registration Statement or Prospectus is made or the Company files its Annual Report on Form 10-K or a material amendment thereto under the Exchange Act, unless the Manager reasonably requests such deliverable required by this Section 4(l) in connection with a Representation Date, upon which request such deliverable shall be deliverable hereunder.

 

 

(m) Auditor Bring Down “Comfort” Letter. Within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date, the Company shall cause (1) the Company’s auditors (the “Accountants”), or other independent accountants satisfactory to the Manager forthwith to furnish the Manager a letter, and (2) the Chief Financial Officer of the Company forthwith to furnish the Manager a certificate, in each case dated within five (5) Trading Days of such Representation Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, of the same tenor as the letters and certificate referred to in Section 6 of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letters and certificate; provided, however, that the Company will not be required to cause the Accountants to furnish such letters to the Manager in connection with the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K unless (i) such Current Report on Form 8-K is filed at any time during which a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act and (ii) the Manager has requested such letter based upon the event or events reported in such Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

(n) Due Diligence Session. Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder lasting more than thirty (30) Trading Days), and at each Representation Date, the Company will conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance, reasonably satisfactory to the Manager, which shall include representatives of management, Accountants and Company Counsel. The Company shall cooperate timely with any reasonable due diligence request from or review conducted by the Manager or its agents from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, providing information and available documents and access to appropriate corporate officers and the Company’s agents during regular business hours, and timely furnishing or causing to be furnished such certificates, letters and opinions from the Company, its officers and its agents, as the Manager may reasonably request. The Company shall reimburse the Manager for Manager’s counsel’s fees in each such Representation Date, up to a maximum of $5,000 for a bringdown at the time the Company files their annual report on Form 10-K, their quarterly reports on Form 10-Q or a new Registration Statement, plus any incidental expense incurred by the Manager in connection therewith.

 

(o) Acknowledgment of Trading. The Company consents to the Manager trading in the Common Stock for the Manager’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

 

(p) Disclosure of Shares Sold. The Company will disclose in its Annual Reports on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as applicable, the number of Shares sold through the Manager under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid by the Company with respect to sales of Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the relevant quarter; and, if required by any subsequent change in Commission policy or request, more frequently by means of a Current Report on Form 8-K or a further Prospectus Supplement.

 

 

(q) Rescission Right. If to the knowledge of the Company, the conditions set forth in Section 6 shall not have been satisfied as of the applicable Settlement Date, the Company will offer to any Person who has agreed to purchase Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by the Manager the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares.

 

(r) Bring Down of Representations and Warranties. Each delivery of a Sales Notice hereunder, and each execution and delivery by the Company of a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation to the Manager that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such Sales Notice or of such Terms Agreement as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of each Applicable Time and Settlement Date for the Shares relating to such Sales Notice or as of the Applicable Time and Time of Delivery relating to such Terms Agreement, as the case may be, as though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Shares).

 

(s) Reservation of Shares. The Company shall ensure that there are, at all times, sufficient shares of Common Stock to provide for the issuance, free of any preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or shares of Common Stock held in treasury, of the maximum aggregate number of Shares authorized for issuance by the Board pursuant to the terms of this Agreement. The Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares to be listed for trading on the Trading Market and to maintain such listing.

 

(t) Obligation Under Exchange Act. During any period when the delivery of a prospectus relating to the Shares is required (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172, 173 or any similar rule) to be delivered under the Act, the Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder.

 

(u) DTC Facility. The Company shall cooperate with the Manager and use its reasonable best efforts to permit the Shares to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

 

(v) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the Net Proceeds from the sale of the Shares in the manner set forth in the Prospectus.

  

(w) Filing of Prospectus Supplement. If any sales are made pursuant to this Agreement which are not made in “at the market” offerings as defined in Rule 415, including, without limitation, any Placement pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the Company shall file a Prospectus Supplement describing the terms of such transaction, the amount of Shares sold, the price thereof, the Manager’s compensation, and such other information as may be required pursuant to Rule 424 and Rule 430B, as applicable, within the time required by Rule 424.

 

 

(x) Additional Registration Statement. To the extent that the Registration Statement is not available for the sales of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company shall file a new registration statement with respect to any additional shares of Common Stock necessary to complete such sales of the Shares and shall cause such registration statement to become effective as promptly as practicable. After the effectiveness of any such registration statement, all references to “Registration Statement” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include such new registration statement, including all documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, and all references to “Base Prospectus” included in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the final form of base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in any such registration statement at the time such registration statement became effective.

 

5. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated, including without limitation: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of certificates for the Shares, including any stamp or transfer taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Shares; (iv) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Shares; (v) the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act, if applicable, and the listing of the Shares on the Trading Market; (vi) any registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Manager relating to such registration and qualification); (vii) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Shares; (viii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for the Company; (ix) the filing fee under FINRA Rule 5110; (x) the reasonable fees and expenses of the Manager’s counsel, not to exceed $65,000 (excluding any periodic due diligence fees provided for under Section 4(n)), which shall be paid at the Execution Time; (xi) from time to time upon Manager’s request, all of Manager’s reasonable out-of-pocket accountable travel and related expenses arising out of Manager’s appointment hereunder, and any other reasonable out-of-pocket accountable expenses incurred by Manager in connection with the performance of its appointment hereunder, and (xii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder.

 

 

6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Manager. The obligations of the Manager under this Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Effective Time, each Representation Date, and as of each Applicable Time, Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, (ii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:

 

(a) Effectiveness of the Registration Statement; Filing of Prospectus Supplement. The Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the Commission and the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, required by Rule 424 to be filed with the Commission have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) with respect to any sale of Shares; each Prospectus Supplement shall have been filed in the manner required by Rule 424(b) within the time period required hereunder and under the Act; and any other material required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433.

 

(b) Delivery of Opinion. The Company shall have caused the Company Counsel to furnish to the Manager its opinion and negative assurance representation, dated as of such date and addressed to the Manager in form and substance acceptable to the Manager.

 

(c) Delivery of Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Manager a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer or the President and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company, dated as of such date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement and any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements or amendments thereto and this Agreement and that:

 

(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct on and as of such date with the same effect as if made on such date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to such date;

 

(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened; and

 

 

(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents, there has been no Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

(d) Delivery of Accountants’ “Comfort” Letter. The Company shall have requested and caused the Accountants to have furnished to the Manager letters (which may refer to letters previously delivered to the Manager), dated as of such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder and that they have performed an audit of any audited financial information of the Company, and/or a review of any unaudited interim financial information of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and provide customary “comfort” as to such review in form and substance satisfactory to the Manager.

 

(e) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state Governmental Authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state Governmental Authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the 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 statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain an 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.

 

(f) No Misstatement or Material Omission. The Manager 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 Manager’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in the Manager’s reasonable opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

 

(g) No Material Adverse Event. Since the respective dates as of which information is disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Incorporated Documents, except as otherwise stated therein, there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease in previously reported results specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole judgment of the Manager, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

(h) Payment of All Fees. The Company shall have paid the required Commission filing fees relating to the Shares within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) of the Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Act and, if applicable, shall have updated the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1)(ii) either in a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or on the cover page of a prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b).

 

(i) No FINRA Objections. FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the terms and arrangements under this Agreement.

 

(j) Shares Listed on Trading Market. The Shares shall have been listed and admitted and authorized for trading on the Trading Market, and satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Manager.

 

(k) Other Assurances. Prior to each Settlement Date and Time of Delivery, as applicable, the Company shall have furnished to the Manager such further information, certificates and documents as the Manager may reasonably request.

 

If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Manager and counsel for the Manager, this Agreement and all obligations of the Manager hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, any Settlement Date or Time of Delivery, as applicable, by the Manager. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone and confirmed in writing by electronic mail.

 

The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered to the office of Graubard Miller, counsel for the Manager, at The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 44^th Floor, New York, New York 10174, email: jgallant@graubard.com, eschwartz@graubard.com, on each such date as provided in this Agreement.

 

 

7. Indemnification and Contribution.

  

(a) Indemnification by Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Manager, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Manager and each Person who controls the Manager within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration of the Shares as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or arise out of or are based upon any Proceeding, commenced or threatened (whether or not the Manager is a target of or party to such Proceeding) or result from or relate to any breach of any of the representations, warranties, covenants or agreements made by the Company in this Agreement, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have.

 

(b) Indemnification by Manager. The Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Manager, but only with reference to written information relating to the Manager furnished to the Company by the Manager specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity; provided, however, that in no case shall the Manager be responsible for any amount in excess of the Broker Fee applicable to the Shares and paid hereunder. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Manager may otherwise have.

 

 

(c) Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) 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), (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent (1) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit 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) Contribution. In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the Manager agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”) to which the Company and the Manager may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and by the Manager on the other from the offering of the Shares; provided, however, that in no case shall the Manager be responsible for any amount in excess of the Broker Fee applicable to the Shares and paid hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Manager severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Manager on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the Manager shall be deemed to be equal to the Broker Fee applicable to the Shares and paid hereunder as determined by this Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Manager on the other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Manager agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each Person who controls the Manager within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of the Manager shall have the same rights to contribution as the Manager, and each Person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).

 

8. Termination.

 

(a) The Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time upon ten (10) Business Days’ prior written notice. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) with respect to any pending sale, through the Manager for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of the Manager, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (ii) the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(b) The Manager shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate the provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation of offers to purchase the Shares in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(c) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until such date that this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Sections 8(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties, provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15 and 16 of this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

 

(d) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination, provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Manager or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date or Time of Delivery for any sale of the Shares, such sale of the Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 2(b) of this Agreement.

 

(e) In the case of any purchase of Shares by the Manager pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of the Manager pursuant to such Terms Agreement shall be subject to termination, in the absolute discretion of the Manager, by prompt oral notice given to the Company prior to the Time of Delivery relating to such Shares, if any, and confirmed promptly by electronic mail, if since the time of execution of the Terms Agreement and prior to such delivery and payment, (i) trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the Trading Market or trading in securities generally on the Trading Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Manager, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

9. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Manager set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by the Manager or the Company or any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling Persons referred to in Section 7, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares and any termination of this Agreement.

 

10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and will be mailed, delivered, or e-mailed to the addresses of the Company and the Manager, respectively, set forth on the signature page hereto.

 

11. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling Persons referred to in Section 7, and no other Person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

12. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Manager and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on the other, (b) the Manager is acting solely as sales agent and/or principal in connection with the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities and not as a fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Manager in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether the Manager has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Manager has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

 

13. Integration. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement supersede all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Manager with respect to the subject matter hereof.

 

14. Amendments; Waivers. No provision of this Agreement may be waived, modified, supplemented or amended except in a written instrument signed, in the case of an amendment, by the Company and the Manager. No waiver of any default with respect to any provision, condition or requirement of this Agreement shall be deemed to be a continuing waiver in the future or a waiver of any subsequent default or a waiver of any other provision, condition or requirement hereof, nor shall any delay or omission of any party to exercise any right hereunder in any manner impair the exercise of any such right.

 

15. Applicable Law. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York. Each of the Company and the Manager: (i) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement shall be instituted exclusively in New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, (ii) waives any objection which it may have or hereafter to the venue of any such suit, action or proceeding, and (iii) irrevocably consents to the exclusive jurisdiction of the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York in any such suit, action or proceeding. Each of the Company and the Manager further agrees to accept and acknowledge service of any and all process which may be served in any such suit, action or proceeding in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York and agrees that service of process upon the Company mailed by certified mail to the Company’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company, in any such suit, action or proceeding, and service of process upon the Manager mailed by certified mail to the Manager’s address shall be deemed in every respect effective service process upon the Manager, in any such suit, action or proceeding. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provision of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its reasonable attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.

 

16. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

 

17. Counterparts. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon one and the same agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via 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.

 

18. Headings. The section headings used in this Agreement and any Terms Agreement are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

***************************

 

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and the Manager.

 

	Very truly yours,
	AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP
	By:	/s/ Luciano Melluzzo
		Name:	/s/ Luciano Melluzzo
		Title:	President and Chief Executive Officer

 

	Address for Notice:
	1460 Fifth Avenue
	Bay Shore, NY 11706
	Attention: Scott Glassman, Chief Financial Officer

 

The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted

as of the date first written above.

 

CRAIG-HALLUM CAPITAL GROUP LLC
By:	/s/ Rick Hartfiel
	Name:	/s/ Rick Hartfiel
	Title:	Head of Investment Banking

 

Address for Notice:

222 South 9^th Street 350

Minneapolis, MN 55402

Attention: Rick Hartfiel, Director of Investment Banking

 

[Signature Page to At the Market Offering Agreement]

 

 

ANNEX I

 

FORM OF TERMS AGREEMENT

 

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

 

TERMS AGREEMENT

 

Dear Sirs:

 

Air Industries Group (the “Company”) proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the At The Market Offering Agreement, dated December [●], 2024 (the “At The Market Offering Agreement”), between the Company and Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC (“Manager”), to issue and sell to Manager the securities specified in the Schedule I hereto (the “Purchased Shares”).

 

Each of the provisions of the At The Market Offering Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Manager, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase securities is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. Each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery, except that each representation and warranty in Section 3 of the At The Market Offering Agreement which makes reference to the Prospectus (as therein defined) shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date of the At The Market Offering Agreement in relation to the Prospectus, and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms Agreement and the Time of Delivery in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate to the Purchased Shares.

 

An amendment to the Registration Statement (as defined in the At The Market Offering Agreement), or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Shares, in the form heretofore delivered to the Manager is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the At The Market Offering Agreement which are incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the Manager and the latter agrees to purchase from the Company the number of shares of the Purchased Shares at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule I hereto.¹

 

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the At The Market Offering Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between the Manager and the Company.

  

1

Parties to insert any additional terms and conditions applicable to the sale of the Purchased Shares, including, without limitation, any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants’ letters and officers’ certificates pursuant to Section 6 of the Agreement and any other information or documents required by the Manager.

 

 

	Very truly yours,
	AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP
	By:
		Name:
		Title:

 

ACCEPTED as of the date first written above.

 

CRAIG-HALLUM CAPITAL GROUP LLC
By:
	Name:
	Title:

 

[Signature Page to Terms Agreement]

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.3

 

FORM OF SENIOR INDENTURE

 

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

And

 

as Trustee

 

SENIOR INDENTURE

 

Dated as of __________, _____

 

Providing for the Issuance of Senior Debt Securities

 

 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture Act Section		Indenture Section
310(a)(1)		6.09
(a)(2)		6.09
(a)(3)		N.A.
(a)(4)		N.A.
(a)(5)		6.08
(b)		6.08
311(a)		6.13
(b)		6.13
312(a)		7.01; 7.02
(b)		7.02
(c)		7.02
313(a)		7.03
(b)(2)		7.03
(c)		7.03
(d)		7.03
314(a)		7.04; 1.02
(c)(1)		1.02
(c)(2)		1.02
(c)(3)		N.A.
(e)		1.02
(f)		N.A.
315(a)		6.01
(b)		6.02; 1.06
(c)		6.01
(d)		6.01
(e)		5.14
316(a)(last sentence)		1.01
(a)(1)(A)		5.12
(a)(1)(B)		5.02; 5.13
(a)(2)		N.A.
(b)		5.08
(c)		3.07; 3.08; 1.04
317(a)(1)		5.03
(a)(2)		5.04
(b)		4.06; 10.03
318(a)		1.07
(b)		N.A.
(c)		1.07

 

N.A

means not applicable.

*

This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

 

  

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION		1
Section 1.01	Definitions	1
Section 1.02	Officers’ Certificates and Opinions	6
Section 1.03	Forms and Documents Delivered to Trustee	6
Section 1.04	Acts of Securityholders	7
Section 1.05	Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company	8
Section 1.06	Notice to Securityholders; Waiver	8
Section 1.07	Conflict with Trust Indenture Act	8
Section 1.08	Effect of Headings and Table of Contents	8
Section 1.09	Successors and Assigns	9
Section 1.10	Separability Clause	9
Section 1.11	Benefits of Indenture	9
Section 1.12	Governing Law	9
Section 1.13	Counterparts	9
Section 1.14	Judgment Currency	9
Section 1.15	Legal Holidays	9
ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS		10
Section 2.01	Forms Generally	10
Section 2.02	Forms of Securities	10
Section 2.03	Securities in Global Form	10
Section 2.04	Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication	10
ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES		11
Section 3.01	General Title; General Limitations; Issuable in Series; Terms of Particular Series	11
Section 3.02	Denominations and Currency	14
Section 3.03	Execution, Authentication and Delivery, and Dating	14
Section 3.04	Temporary Securities	15
Section 3.05	Registration, Transfer and Exchange	16
Section 3.06	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities	18
Section 3.07	Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved	18
Section 3.08	Persons Deemed Owners	19
Section 3.09	Cancellation	20
Section 3.10	Computation of Interest	20
ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE		20
Section 4.01	Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture	20
Section 4.02	Discharge and Defeasance	21
Section 4.03	Covenant Defeasance	22
Section 4.04	Conditions To Defeasance Or Covenant Defeasance	22
Section 4.05	Application of Trust Money; Excess Funds	23
Section 4.06	Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held	24
Section 4.07	Return of Unclaimed Amounts	24

 

 

ARTICLE V REMEDIES		24
Section 5.01	Events of Default	24
Section 5.02	Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment	26
Section 5.03	Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee	26
Section 5.04	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	27
Section 5.05	Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities	27
Section 5.06	Application of Money Collected	28
Section 5.07	Limitation on Suits	28
Section 5.08	Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal, Premium, and Interest	28
Section 5.09	Restoration of Rights and Remedies	29
Section 5.10	Rights and Remedies Cumulative	29
Section 5.11	Delay or Omission Not Waiver	29
Section 5.12	Control by Securityholders	29
Section 5.13	Waiver of Past Defaults	29
Section 5.14	Undertaking for Costs	30
Section 5.15	Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws	30
ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE		30
Section 6.01	Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee	30
Section 6.02	Notice of Defaults	31
Section 6.03	Certain Rights of Trustee	31
Section 6.04	Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities	32
Section 6.05	May Hold Securities	32
Section 6.06	Money Held in Trust	32
Section 6.07	Compensation and Reimbursement	32
Section 6.08	Disqualification; Conflicting Interests	33
Section 6.09	Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility	33
Section 6.10	Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor	33
Section 6.11	Acceptance of Appointment by Successor	34
Section 6.12	Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business	35
Section 6.13	Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company	36
Section 6.14	Appointment of Authenticating Agent	36
ARTICLE VII SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY		37
Section 7.01	Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders	37
Section 7.02	Preservation of Information; Communications to Securityholders	37
Section 7.03	Reports by Trustee	38
Section 7.04	Reports by Company	38
ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER		39
Section 8.01	Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms	39
Section 8.02	Successor Corporation Substituted	39
ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES		40
Section 9.01	Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders	40
Section 9.02	Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders	41
Section 9.03	Execution of Supplemental Indentures	41
Section 9.04	Effect of Supplemental Indentures	42
Section 9.05	Conformity With Trust Indenture Act	42
Section 9.06	Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures	42
ARTICLE X COVENANTS		42
Section 10.01	Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest	42
Section 10.02	Maintenance of Office or Agency	42
Section 10.03	Money or Security Payments to Be Held in Trust	43
Section 10.04	Certificate to Trustee	43
Section 10.05	Corporate Existence	43

 

 

ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES		44
Section 11.01	Applicability of Article	44
Section 11.02	Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee	44
Section 11.03	Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed	44
Section 11.04	Notice of Redemption	45
Section 11.05	Deposit of Redemption Price	45
Section 11.06	Securities Payable on Redemption Date	45
Section 11.07	Securities Redeemed in Part	46
Section 11.08	Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds	46
ARTICLE XII REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS		47
Section 12.01	Applicability of Article	47
Section 12.02	Repayment of Securities	47
Section 12.03	Exercise of Option	47
Section 12.04	When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable	48
Section 12.05	Securities Repaid in Part	48

 

  

THIS SENIOR INDENTURE, between Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”), having its principal office at 1460 Fifth Avenue, Bay Shore, New York 11706 and ______________, a _______________________, as trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), is made and entered into as of this _____ day of ____________, ______.

 

Recitals of the Company

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of its unsecured debentures, notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness, to be issued in one or more fully registered series.

 

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

 

Agreements of the Parties

 

To set forth or to provide for the establishment of the terms and conditions upon which the Securities (as hereinafter defined) are and are to be authenticated, issued, and delivered, and in consideration of the premises thereof, and the purchase of Securities by the Holders (as hereinafter defined) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders from time to time of the Securities or of any series thereof, as the case may be:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.01 Definitions.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d) all references in this instrument to designated “Articles”, “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed. The words “herein”, “hereof”, and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section, or other subdivision.

 

(e) the following terms will have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Act”, when used with respect to any Securityholder (as hereinafter defined), has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

 

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

 

 

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

 

“Authentication Order” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03.

 

“Board of Directors” means (i) the board of directors of the Company, (ii) any duly authorized committee of that board, or (iii) any officer, director, or authorized representative of the Company, in each case duly authorized by such Board to act hereunder.

 

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

 

“Business Day” means (except, with respect to any particular series of Securities, as may be otherwise provided in the form of such Securities) any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation, or executive order to be closed in the applicable Place of Payment (if there is no applicable Place of Payment, then the City of New York in the State of New York shall be applicable for purposes of this definition).

 

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock (including preferred stock), shares, interests, participations or other ownership interests (however designated) of such Person and any rights (other than debt securities convertible or exchangeable for corporate stock), warrants or options to purchase any thereof.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

 

“Company” means Air Industries Group, unless and until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor corporation.

 

“Company Request”, “Company Order”, and “Company Consent” mean, respectively, a written request, order, or consent signed in the name of the Company by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or the controller of the Company, or by any other officer or officers of the Company pursuant to an applicable Board Resolution, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at ______________.

 

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

 

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 4.03.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 4.02.

 

“Depositary” means with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01, unless and until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the “Depositary” with respect to the Securities of that series.

 

 

“Equivalent Government Securities” means, in relation to Securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, securities of the government that issued the currency in which such Securities are denominated or securities of government agencies backed by the full faith and credit of such government.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Article 5.

 

“Holder”, “Securityholder” and “Holder of Securities” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined).

 

“Guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” when used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Indebtedness” with respect to any Person means (1) any liability of such Person (a) for borrowed money, or (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations but excluding Trade Payables), or (c) for the payment of money relating to a lease that is required to be classified as a capitalized lease obligation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (2) mandatorily redeemable preferred or preference stock of a Subsidiary held by Persons other than the Company or a Subsidiary; (3) any liability of others described in the preceding clause (1) that such Person has Guaranteed, that is recourse to such Person or that is otherwise such Person’s legal liability; and (4) any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or refunding of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above.

 

“Indenture” or “this Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of any particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any series of Securities, means any date on which an installment of interest on those Securities is scheduled to be paid.

 

“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal amount outstanding under such Security or an installment of principal amount outstanding under such Security becomes due and payable, as therein or herein provided, whether on the Scheduled Maturity Date (as hereinafter defined), by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any two of the chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president or the treasurer of the Company or by any other officer or officers of the Company pursuant to an applicable Board Resolution, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel to the Company, which counsel may be an employee of the Company or other counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

“Option to Elect Repayment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.03.

 

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which is initially sold at a discount from the principal amount thereof and the terms of which provide that upon redemption or acceleration of the Maturity thereof, an amount less than the principal amount thereof would become due and payable.

 

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

 

(i) such Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

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

 

(iii) such Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, or which shall have been paid, in each case, pursuant to the terms of Section 3.06 (except with respect to any such Security as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a Person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Company).

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Securities Outstanding have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Securities Outstanding have given a direction concerning the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or concerning the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture, or concerning a consent on behalf of the Holders of any series of Securities to the waiver of any past default and its consequences, Securities owned by the Company, any other obligor upon the Securities, or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding. In determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer assigned to the corporate trust department of the Trustee knows to be owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act as owner with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means, with respect to any Securities, any Person appointed by the Company to distribute amounts payable by the Company on such Securities. If at any time there shall be more than one such Person, “Paying Agent” as used with respect to the Securities of any particular series shall mean the Paying Agent with respect to Securities of that series. As of the date of this Indenture, the Company has appointed _________ as Paying Agent with respect to all Securities issuable hereunder.

 

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

 

 

 

“Place of Payment” means with respect to any series of Securities issued hereunder the city or political subdivision so designated with respect to the series of Securities in question in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01.

 

“Predecessor Securities” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated, or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed, mutilated, or stolen Security.

 

“Record Date” means any date as of which the Holder of a Security will be determined for any purpose described herein, such determination to be made as of the close of business on such date by reference to the Security Register.

 

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

 

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

 

“Repayment Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, means the date fixed for such repayment pursuant to such Security.

 

“Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, means the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to such Security.

 

“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, shall mean an officer or assistant officer of the Trustee in the Corporate Trust Office, having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Scheduled Maturity Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the date on which all outstanding principal and interest will be due and payable.

 

“Security” or “Securities” means any senior note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered from time to time under this Indenture.

 

 “Security Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.05.

 

“Security Registrar” means the Person who maintains the Security Register, which Person shall be the Trustee unless and until a successor Security Registrar is appointed by the Company.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary which is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X, as amended or modified and in effect from time to time.

 

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.     

 

“Specified Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership or other entity of which at the time of determination the Company owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares of Voting Stock or equivalent interest.

 

“Trade Payables” means accounts payable or any other Indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials, finished products, inventory or services.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in force as of the date hereof, except as provided in Section 9.05.

 

“Trustee” means the party named as such above until a successor becomes such pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means or includes each party who is then a trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such party, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series means the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series. If Trustees with respect to different series of Securities are trustees under this Indenture, nothing herein shall constitute the Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, and each Trustee shall be the trustee of a trust separate and apart from any trust administered by any other Trustee with respect to a different series of Securities.

 

  

“U.S. Government Obligations” means (i) securities that are direct obligations of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America and (ii) securities that are obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America, and also includes depository receipts issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any of the securities described in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), and any payment of interest or principal payable under any of the securities described in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) that is held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt, or from any amount received by the custodian in respect of such securities, or from any specific payment of interest or principal payable under the securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

“Voting Stock”, as applied to the stock of any corporation, means stock of any class or classes (however designated), the outstanding shares of which have, by the terms thereof, ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or other governing body) of such corporation, other than stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency.

 

Section 1.02 Officers’ Certificates and Opinions.

 

Every Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel, and other certificate or opinion to be delivered to the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to any action to be taken by the Trustee (except for the Officers’ Certificate required by Section 10.04) shall include the following:

 

(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read all covenants and conditions of this Indenture relating to such proposed action, including the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

(b) 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;

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to the other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

 

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, legal counsel, unless such officer knows that any such certificate, opinion, or representation is erroneous. Any opinion of counsel for the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company, unless such counsel knows that any such certificate, opinion, or representation is erroneous.

 

  

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

 

Section 1.04 Acts of Securityholders.

 

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Securityholders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders in person or by an agent of such Securityholders duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and (if expressly required by the applicable terms of this Indenture) to the Company. If any Securities are denominated in coin or currency other than that of the United States, then for the purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have taken any action as herein described, the principal amount of such Securities shall be deemed to be that amount of United States dollars that could be obtained for such principal amount on the basis of the spot rate of exchange into United States dollars for the currency in which such Securities are denominated (as evidenced to the Trustee by a certificate provided by a financial institution, selected by the Company, that maintains an active trade in the currency in question, acting as conversion agent) as of the date the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal amount is evidenced to the Trustee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Securityholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness to such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by an officer of a corporation or a member of a partnership, on behalf of such corporation or partnership, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c) The ownership of Securities shall for all purposes be determined by reference to the Security Register, as such register shall exist as of the applicable date.

 

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

 

  

(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind each subsequent Holder of such Security, and each Holder of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, with respect to anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance upon such action, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

Section 1.05 Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company.

 

Any request, order, authorization, direction, consent, waiver, or other action to be taken by the Trustee, the Company, or the Securityholders hereunder (including any Authentication Order), and any notice to be given to the Trustee or the Company with respect to any action taken or to be taken by the Trustee, the Company, or the Securityholders hereunder, shall be sufficient if made in writing and

 

(a)(if to be furnished or delivered to or filed with the Trustee by the Company or any Securityholder) delivered to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention:                   ; or

 

(b)(if to be furnished or delivered to the Company by the Trustee or any Securityholder, and except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(d) and, in the case of a request for repayment, except as specified in the Security carrying the right to repayment) mailed to the Company, first-class postage prepaid, at its principal office (as specified in the first paragraph of this instrument), Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or at any other address hereafter furnished in writing by the Company to the Trustee.

 

Section 1.06 Notice To Securityholders; Waiver.

 

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

 

In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a result of a strike, work stoppage or otherwise, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to any Securityholder when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or the applicable Security, then any method of notification as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall be deemed to be sufficient for the giving of such notice.

 

Section 1.07 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the TIA, such provision required by the TIA shall control.

 

Section 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

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

 

  

Section 1.09 Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

Section 1.10 Separability Clause.

 

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

 

Section 1.11 Benefits Of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in any Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, their successors hereunder, the Authenticating Agent, the Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, and the Holders of Securities (or such of them as may be affected thereby), any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 1.12 Governing Law.

 

This Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of __________.

 

Section 1.13 Counterparts.

 

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

 

Section 1.14 Judgment Currency.

 

The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court with respect to the Securities of any series it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, payable with respect to such Securities into a currency in which a judgment can be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange from the currency in which payments under such Securities is payable (the “Required Currency”) into the Judgment Currency shall be the highest bid quotation (assuming European-style quotation - i.e., Required Currency per Judgment Currency) received by the Company from three recognized foreign exchange dealers in the City of ________ for the purchase of the aggregate amount of the judgment (as denominated in the Judgment Currency) on the Business Day preceding the date on which a final unappealable judgment is rendered, for settlement on such payment date, and at which the applicable dealer timely commits to execute a contract, and (b) the Company’s obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or by any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with the preceding clause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt by the judgment creditor of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.

  

Section 1.15 Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Repayment Date or at Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Maturity, as the case may be.

 

 

ARTICLE II 

SECURITY FORMS

 

Section 2.01 Forms Generally.

 

The Securities of each series shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon, as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.

  

The definitive Securities, if any, shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

Section 2.02 Forms of Securities.

 

Each Security shall be in one of the forms approved from time to time by or pursuant to any Board Resolution, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the delivery to the Trustee for authentication of any Security in any form approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a copy of such Board Resolution, together with a true and correct copy of the form of Security which has been approved thereby, or, if a Board Resolution authorizes a specific officer or officers to approve a form of Security, together with a certificate of such officer or officers approving the form of Security attached thereto, provided, however, that with respect to all Securities issued pursuant to the same Board Resolution, the required copy of such Board Resolution, together with the appropriate attachment, need be delivered only once. Any form of Security approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution must be acceptable as to form to the Trustee, such acceptance to be evidenced by the Trustee’s authentication of Securities in that form or by a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and delivered to the Company.

 

Section 2.03 Securities in Global Form.

 

If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in global form, the global security representing such Securities may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges or increased to reflect the issuance of additional Securities. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount (or any increase or decrease in the amount) of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Authentication Order delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof.

 

  

Section 2.04 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

The form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for any Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

________________________, as Trustee

 

By: ______________________

Authorized Officer:

 

ARTICLE III 

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 3.01 General Title; General Limitations; Issuable in Series; Terms of Particular Series.

 

(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated, delivered, and Outstanding at any time under this Indenture is not limited.

 

(b) The Securities may be issued in one or more series in such aggregate principal amount as may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors. All Securities of a series issued under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof, without preference, priority, or distinction on account of the actual time of the authentication and delivery or Scheduled Maturity Date thereof.

 

(c) Each series of Securities shall be created either by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, by an Officers’ Certificate or by one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Any such Board Resolution or supplemental indenture (or, in the case of a series of Securities created pursuant to a Board Resolution, any officer or officers authorized by such Board Resolution) shall establish the terms of any such series of Securities, including the following (as and to such extent as may be applicable):

 

(1) the title of such series;

 

(2) the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount or issue price of the Securities of such series;

 

(3) the issue date or issue dates of the Securities of such series;

 

(4) the Scheduled Maturity Date of the Securities of such series;

 

(5) the place or places where the principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, and additional amounts, if any, payable with respect to the Securities of such series shall be payable;

 

(6) whether the Securities of such series will be issued at par or at a premium over or a discount from their face amount;

 

(7) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of such series shall bear interest, if any, and, if applicable, the method by which such rate or rates may be determined;

 

  

(8) the date or dates (or the method by which such date or dates may be determined) from which interest, if any, shall accrue, and the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable;

 

(9) the rights, if any, to defer payments of interest on the Securities by extending the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;

 

(10) the period or periods within which, the Redemption Price(s) or Repayment Price(s) at which, and any other terms and conditions upon which the Securities of such series may be redeemed or repaid, in whole or in part, by the Company;

 

(11) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay, or purchase any of the Securities of such series pursuant to any sinking fund, mandatory redemption, purchase obligation, or analogous provision at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the Redemption Price(s) or Repayment Price(s) or other price or prices at which, and any other terms and conditions upon which the Securities of such series shall be redeemed, repaid, or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(12) the issuance of the Securities of such series in whole or in part in global form and, if so, the identity of the Depositary for such global security and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in the Securities represented by such global security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for the individual Securities represented thereby (if other than as provided in Section 3.05);

 

(13) the denominations in which the Securities of such series will be issued (which may be any denomination as set forth in the terms of such Securities) if other than U.S. $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof;

 

(14) whether and under what circumstances additional amounts on the Securities of such series shall be payable in respect of any taxes, assessments, or other governmental charges withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;

 

(15) the basis upon which interest shall be calculated;

 

(16) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security for a definitive Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or upon satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents, and/or conditions;

 

(17) the exchange or conversion of the Securities of that series, whether or not at the option of the Holders thereof, for or into new Securities of a different series or for or into any other securities which may include shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares or securities of entities unaffiliated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(18) if other than U.S. dollars, the foreign or composite currency or currencies (each such currency a “Specified Currency”) in which the Securities of such series shall be denominated and in which payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or additional amounts, if any, payable with respect to such Securities shall or may be payable;

 

(19) if the principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or additional amounts, if any, payable with respect to the Securities of such series are to be payable in any currency other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, whether at the election of the Company or of a Holder thereof, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

 

(20) if the amount of any payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or other sum payable with respect to the Securities of such series may be determined by reference to the relative value of one or more Specified Currencies, commodities, securities, or instruments, the level of one or more financial or non-financial indices, or any other designated factors or formulas, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

  

(21) the exchange of Securities of such series, at the option of the Holders thereof, for other Securities of the same series of the same aggregate principal amount of a different authorized kind or different authorized denomination or denominations, or both;

 

(22) the appointment by the Trustee of an Authenticating Agent in one or more places other than the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, with power to act on behalf of the Trustee, and subject to its direction, in the authentication and delivery of the Securities of such series;

 

(23) any trustees, depositaries, paying agents, transfer agents, exchange agents, conversion agents, registrars, or other agents with respect to the Securities of such series if other than the Trustee, Paying Agent and Security Registrar named herein;

 

(24) the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series, if other than the principal amount thereof, that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.04;

 

(25) any Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series, if not set forth herein, or any modification of any Event of Default set forth herein with respect to such series;

 

(26) any covenant solely for the benefit of the Securities of such series;

 

(27) the inapplicability of Section 4.02 and Section 4.03 of this Indenture to the Securities of such series and if Section 4.03 is applicable, the covenants subject to Covenant Defeasance under Section 4.03; and

 

(28) any other terms of the securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such series).

 

If all of the Securities issuable by or pursuant to any Board Resolution are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required by Section 3.03 hereof at the time of issuance of each such Security, but such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first such Security.

 

If any series of Securities shall be established by action taken pursuant to any Board Resolution, the execution by the officer or officers authorized by such Board Resolution of an Authentication Order (as defined in Section 3.03 below) with respect to the first Security of such series to be issued, and the delivery of such Authentication Order to the Trustee at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series, shall constitute a sufficient record of such action. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 3.03, if all of the Securities of any such series are not to be issued at one time, the Company shall deliver an Authentication Order with respect to each subsequent issuance of Securities of such series, but such Authentication Orders may be executed by any authorized officer or officers of the Company, whether or not such officer or officers would have been authorized to establish such series pursuant to the aforementioned Board Resolution.

 

Unless otherwise provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture creating such series (i) a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series, and (ii) all Securities of the same series shall be substantially identical, except for the initial Interest Payment Date, issue price, initial interest accrual date and the amount of the first interest payment.

 

The form of the Securities of each series shall be established in a supplemental indenture or by or pursuant to the Board Resolution creating such series. The Securities of each series shall be distinguished from the Securities of each other series in such manner as the Board of Directors or its authorized representative or representatives may determine.

 

Unless otherwise provided with respect to Securities of a particular series, the Securities of any series may only be issuable in registered form, without coupons.

 

  

Section 3.02 Denominations and Currency.

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations and currency as shall be provided in the provisions of this Indenture or by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture creating such series. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of that series shall be issuable only in fully registered form in denominations of U.S. $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication and Delivery, and Dating.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the president, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, any vice president, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer and attested by the secretary or any one of its assistant secretaries, under its corporate seal. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. The seal of the Company, if set forth thereon, may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted, or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of the seal or any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Security for any series, all Securities shall be dated the date of their authentication.

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for authentication and delivery (such Order an “Authentication Order”) with respect to such Securities, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of such Authentication Order, in accordance with procedures acceptable to the Trustee set forth in the Authentication Order, and subject to the provisions hereof, authenticate and deliver such Securities to such recipients as may be specified from time to time pursuant to such Authentication Order. The material terms of such Securities shall be determinable by reference to such Authentication Order and procedures. If provided for in such procedures, such Authentication Order may authorize authentication and delivery of such Securities pursuant to oral instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to the provisions of Section 6.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

 

(1) an executed supplemental indenture, if any;

 

(2) an Officers’ Certificate, certifying as to the authorized form or forms and terms of such Securities; and

 

(3) an Opinion of Counsel, stating that:

 

(a) the form or forms and terms of such Securities have been established by and in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; provided that if all such Securities are not to be issued at the same time, such Opinion of Counsel may state that such terms will be established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and

 

  

(b) such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity;

 

provided, however, that if all Securities issuable by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each such Security if such documents are delivered at or prior to the time of authentication upon original issuance of the first such Security to be issued. After the original issuance of the first such Security to be issued, any separate request by the Company that the Trustee authenticate such Securities for original issuance will be deemed to be a certification by the Company that it is in compliance with all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue thereof will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture.

 

If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in global form, then the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall (in accordance with this Section 3.03 and the Authentication Order with respect to such series) authenticate and deliver, one or more Securities in global form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such one or more Securities in global form, (ii) shall be registered, in the name of the Depositary for such Security or Securities in global form, or in the name of a nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instruction, and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially as follows: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in certificated form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.” Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 for a Security in global form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any other applicable statute or regulation.

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 3.04 Temporary Securities.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and, upon receipt of the documents required by Sections 2.02, 3.01 and 3.03 hereof, together with an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities of such series that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed, or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued in registered form, without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions, and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series for which a temporary Security may be issued in global form, such temporary global security shall represent all of the Outstanding Securities of such series and tenor.

 

  

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or at such other office or agency as may be maintained by the Company in a Place of Payment pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof, for definitive Securities of such series having identical terms and provisions, upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series, at the Company’s own expense and without charge to the Holder; and upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of such series in authorized denominations containing identical terms and provisions. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to a temporary Security in global form, until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

Section 3.05 Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

 

With respect to the Securities of each series, the Trustee shall keep a register (herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) which shall provide for the registration of Securities of such series, and for transfers of Securities of such series, in accordance with information to be provided to the Trustee by the Company, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Trustee may prescribe. Such register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times the information contained in such register or registers shall be available for inspection at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or at such other office or agency to be maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof.

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency maintained by the Company with respect to that series pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of such series of any authorized denominations, of like aggregate principal amount, tenor, terms and Scheduled Maturity Date.

 

Any other provision of this Section 3.05 notwithstanding, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Securities represented thereby, in definitive form, a Security in global form representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary, or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary, or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

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

 

  

If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series represented by one or more Securities in global form notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series, or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 3.03 hereof, the Company, by Company Order, shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.01 that such Securities be represented by one or more Securities in global form shall no longer be effective with respect to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive form, in authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount, and of like terms and tenor, equal to the principal amount of the Security or Securities in global form representing such series, in exchange for such Security or Securities in global form.

 

The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion and subject to the procedures of the Depositary determine that individual Securities of any series issued in global form shall no longer be represented by such Security or Securities in global form. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series and of the same terms and tenor, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive form, in authorized denominations, and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Security or Securities in global form representing such series in exchange for such Security or Securities in global form.

 

If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities issued in global form, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Security in global form for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of such series in definitive form and of like terms and tenor on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee upon receipt of an Authentication Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:

 

(a) to each Person specified by such Depositary, a new definitive Security or Securities of the same series and of the same tenor and terms, in authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Security in global form; and

 

(b) to such Depositary, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Security in global form and the aggregate principal amount of the definitive Securities delivered to Holders pursuant to clause (a) above.

 

Upon the exchange of a Security in global form for Securities in definitive form, such Security in global form shall be canceled by the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee. Securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a Security in global form pursuant to this Section 3.05 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Security in global form, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee in writing. The Trustee or such agent shall deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered or to the Depositary.

 

Whenever any securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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

 

  

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

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Security to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge shall be imposed for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may (unless otherwise provided in such Security) require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.06, 9.06 and 11.07 hereof not involving any transfer.

 

The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Security of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 11.03 and ending at the close of business on the date of such mailing, or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed.

 

Section 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, or the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and (ii) there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company may in its discretion execute and upon request of the Company the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor, terms, series, Scheduled Maturity Date, and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

Interest on any Security which is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall, if so provided in such Security, be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the applicable Record Date, notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Security subsequent to such Record Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date (unless such Interest Payment Date is also the date of Maturity of such Security).

 

  

Any interest on any Security which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the applicable Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder; and, except as hereinafter provided, such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or clause (b) below:

 

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names any 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 be not 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, to the Holder of each such Security at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the 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 at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

 

(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such 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.

 

Interest on Securities of any series that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the Securities Register for such series or by such other means as may be specified in the form of such Security.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.07 and the provisions of Section 3.05 hereof, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

Section 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered on the applicable Record Date(s) as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, if any (subject to Sections 3.05 and 3.07 hereof), and any additional amounts payable with respect to such Security, and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

  

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar, or any co-Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests and each of them may act or refrain from acting without liability on any information relating to such records provided by the Depositary.

 

Section 3.09 Cancellation.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, exchange, or credit against a sinking or analogous fund shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not already canceled, shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. Acquisition of such Securities by the Company 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. No Security shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures and deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company.

 

Section 3.10 Computation of Interest.

 

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated in Section 3.01, interest on the Securities shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities (except as to any surviving rights of conversion or transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or in the form of Security for such series and obligations described as surviving below), and the Trustee, on demand of and 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 that series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost, or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06, and (B) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 4.07) have been delivered to the Trustee canceled or for cancellation; or

 

(ii) all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee canceled or for cancellation

 

(A) have become due and payable, or

 

(B) will, in accordance with their Scheduled Maturity Date, become due and payable within one year, or

 

  

(C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and, in any of the cases described in subparagraphs (A), (B), or (C) above, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, as trust funds in trust for the purpose, (x) an amount in money sufficient, (y) U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money sufficient, or (z) a combination of (x) and (y) sufficient, in the opinion with respect to (y) and (z) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities with respect to principal, 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 Scheduled Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be; provided, however, that if such U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities are callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, the amount of such money, U.S. Government Obligations, and Equivalent Government Securities deposited with the Trustee must be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness referred to above if such issuer elects to exercise such call or redemption provisions at any time prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company, but not the Trustee, shall be responsible for monitoring any such call or redemption provision; and

 

(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company under paragraph (a) of this Section 4.01 and its obligations to the Trustee with respect to that series under Section 6.07 shall survive, and the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 4.05, 4.07 and 10.03 shall survive.

 

Section 4.02 Discharge and Defeasance.

 

The provisions of this Section and Section 4.04 (insofar as relating to this Section) shall apply to the Securities of each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to Section 3.01. In addition to discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Section 4.01, in the case of any series of Securities with respect to which the exact amount described in subparagraph (a) of Section 4.04 can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in such subparagraph (a), the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Securities of such a series as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 4.04 are satisfied, and the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series shall no longer be in effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series, (ii) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities of such series, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in subparagraph (a) of Section 4.04, payments of principal thereof, premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon upon the original stated due dates or upon the Redemption Dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders of Securities of such series to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, (v) this Section 4.02, Section 4.07, Section 10.02 and Section 10.03 and (vi) the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them) (hereinafter called “Defeasance”), and the Trustee at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same.

 

  

Section 4.03 Covenant Defeasance.

 

The provisions of this Section and Section 4.04 (insofar as relating to this Section) shall apply to the Securities of each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to Section 3.01. In the case of any series of Securities with respect to which the exact amount described in subparagraph (a) of Section 4.04 can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in such subparagraph (a), (i) the Company shall be released from its obligations under any covenants specified in or pursuant to Section 3.01 as being subject to Covenant Defeasance with respect to such series (except as to (a) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series and rights under Section 4.07, Section 10.02 and Section 10.03, (b) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities of such series, (c) rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the Company pursuant to Section 10.01, payments of principal thereof and interest, if any, thereon upon the original stated due dates or upon the Redemption Dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders of Securities of such series to receive  mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (d) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (e) the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them), and (ii) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.01(d) (with respect to any of the covenants specified in or pursuant to Section 3.01 as being subject to Covenant Defeasance with respect to such series) shall be deemed not to be or result in a default or an Event of Default, in each case with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 4.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Trustee at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 5.01(d)), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be unaffected thereby.

 

Section 4.04 Conditions To Defeasance Or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 4.02 or Section 4.03 to the Outstanding Securities:

 

(a) with reference to Section 4.02 or Section 4.03, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series (i) money in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient, in the opinion (with respect to (ii) and (iii)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund payments) of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest, premium or principal are due, including upon redemption; provided, however, that if such U.S. Government Obligations and Equivalent Government Securities are callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, the amount of such money, U.S. Government Obligations, and/or Equivalent Government Securities deposited with the Trustee must be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness referred to above if the issuer of any such U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities elects to exercise such call or redemption provisions at any time prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date or Redemption Date of such Securities, as the case may be. The Company, but not the Trustee, shall be responsible for monitoring any such call or redemption provision.

 

  

(b) in the case of Defeasance under Section 4.02, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel based on the fact that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (y) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance under Section 4.03, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(d) no Event of Default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, after giving effect to such deposit or, in the case of a Defeasance under Section 4.02, no Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(e) or Section 5.01(f) shall have occurred, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration of the longest preference period applicable to the Company in respect of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period);

 

 (e) such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA assuming all Securities of a series were in default within the meaning of the TIA;

 

(f) such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(g) such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless the trust is registered under such Act or exempt from registration;

 

(h) if the Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity Date (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made; and

 

(i) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

 

Section 4.05 Application of Trust Money; Excess Funds.

 

All money and U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 or Section 4.04 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and of the series of Securities in respect of which it was deposited, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; 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 U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 4.01 or Section 4.04 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.

 

Anything in this Article 4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Governmental Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 4.01 or Section 4.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 4.01 or Section 4.04, as applicable), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent satisfaction and discharge, Covenant Defeasance or Defeasance of the applicable series.

 

Section 4.06 Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.

 

Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys then held by any Paying Agent of the Securities (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

 

Section 4.07 Return of Unclaimed Amounts.

 

Any amounts deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any Paying Agent or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the Holders of such Securities for two years after the date upon which the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee on Company Request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of any of such Securities shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such Holder may be entitled to collect (until such time as such unclaimed amounts shall escheat, if at all, to the State of _________) and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee or Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once a week for two successive weeks (in each case on any day of the week) in a newspaper printed in the English language and customarily published at least once a day at least five days in each calendar week and of general circulation in the City of _______ and State of ________, a notice that said amounts have not been so applied and that after a date named therein any unclaimed balance of said amounts then remaining will be promptly returned to the Company.

 

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

 

Section 5.01 Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein, means with respect to any series of Securities any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless such event is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated by Section 3.01:

 

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

 

  

(b) default in the payment of the principal amount of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of such series as and when the same shall become due, either at Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, or otherwise; or

 

(c) default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of such series and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(d) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture in respect of the Securities of such series (other than a covenant or warranty in respect of the Securities of such series a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

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

 

(f) the consent by the Company to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(g) any other Event of Default provided for with respect to the Securities of such series in accordance with Section 3.01.

 

A default under any indebtedness of the Company other than the Securities will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture, and a default under one series of Securities will not constitute a default under any other series of Securities. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of an Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer at the Corporate Trust Office has actual knowledge thereof.

 

  

Section 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment.

 

If any Event of Default described in Section 5.01 above (other than Event of Default described in Section 5.01(e) and Section 5.01(f)) shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to any series, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 51% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Securities of such series and any and all accrued interest thereon to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of such series to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(e) or Section 5.01(f) occurs, the principal amount of the Securities of such series and any and all accrued interest thereon shall immediately become and be due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. No declaration of acceleration by the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall constitute a declaration of acceleration by the Trustee with respect to any other series of Securities, and no declaration of acceleration by the Holders of at least 51% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall constitute a declaration of acceleration or other action by any of the Holders of any other series of Securities, in each case whether or not the Event of Default on which such declaration is based shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to more than one series of Securities, and whether or not any Holders of the Securities of any such affected series shall also be Holders of Securities of any other such affected series.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to the Securities of any series and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to such series of Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Securities of such series which have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13, if such cure or waiver does not conflict with any judgment or decree set forth in Section 5.01(e) and Section 5.01(f) and if all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel have been paid.

 

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

 

Section 5.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of any series when such interest becomes due and payable, or

 

(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

 

(c) default is made in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of any series, and

 

(d) any such default continues for any period of grace provided in relation to such default pursuant to Section 5.01, then, with respect to the Securities of such series, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holder of any such Security (or the Holders of any such series in the case of clause (c) above), the whole amount then due and payable on any such Security (or on the Securities of any such series in the case of clause (c) above) for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, with interest (to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and upon overdue installments of interest, if any, at such rate or rates as may be prescribed therefor by the terms of any such Security (or of Securities of any such series in the case of clause (c) above); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07.

 

  

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series and collect the money adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

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

 

Section 5.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition, or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

 

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (or, with respect to Original Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities), premium, if any, and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary and advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07) and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings, and

 

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agent and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07 hereof.

 

Nothing herein contained 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 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 5.05 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

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

 

 

Section 5.06 Application of Money Collected.

 

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

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07 hereof.

 

Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities of that series for principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, and additional amounts, if any, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind.

 

Section 5.07 Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series;

 

(b) the Holders of not less than 51% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

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

 

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities of such series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and proportionate benefit of all the Holders of all Securities of such series.

 

Section 5.08 Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal, Premium, and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.07) interest, if any, (and additional amounts, if any) on such Security on or after the respective payment dates expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective date, and such right shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

 

Section 5.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

 

Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Securityholders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right or remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

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

 

Section 5.12 Control by Securityholders.

 

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

 

(a) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would conflict with this Indenture or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer, determine that the proceedings so directed would involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction, and

 

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

Section 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

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

 

(a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation with respect to the Securities of such series, or

 

(b) in respect of a covenant or provision in this Indenture which, under Article Nine hereof, cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series.

 

 

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

 

Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken 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 in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series to which the suit relates, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any Security on or after the respective payment dates expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date).

 

Section 5.15 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law (other than any bankruptcy law) wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

 

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities,

 

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely 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 on their face to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(b) If an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise, with respect to the Securities of such 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.

 

 

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(i) this Subsection 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 Responsible Officer, 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 Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

Section 6.02 Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after receipt of notice of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment or analogous obligation with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series and; provided, further, that, in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.01(d) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Securityholders of such series shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default”, with respect to Securities of any series, means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

Section 6.03 Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01 above:

 

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture 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 or order of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel or both, and shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith reliance on such certificate or opinion;

 

 

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney; and

 

(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.

 

Section 6.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

Section 6.05 May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee or any Paying Agent, Security Registrar, or other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.08 and 6.13 hereof, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, or such other agent.

 

Section 6.06 Money Held in Trust.

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

 

Section 6.07 Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company covenants and agrees:

 

(a) to pay the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and

 

 

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

 

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(e) and Section 5.01(f) above, such expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar law.

 

The Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by it as such for any amount owing to it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.07, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

Section 6.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, it shall either eliminate such interest or resign as Trustee with respect to one or more series of Securities, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

Section 6.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Securities that shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority and having its principal office and place of business in the _______, if there be such a corporation having its principal office and place of business in said _____ and willing to act as Trustee on customary and usual terms. If such corporation 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 shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 6.11.

 

(b) The Trustee may resign with respect to any one or more series of Securities at any time by giving at least 60 days’ written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

 

(c) The Trustee may be removed with respect to any series of Securities at any time by Act of the Holders of 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

(d) If at any time:

 

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.08 above with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least six months, or

 

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.09 above with respect to any series of Securities 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 with respect to any series of Securities, or

 

(iv) the Trustee shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case (A) the Company may remove the Trustee, with respect to the series or, in the case of clause (iv), with respect to all series, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the series or, in the case of clause (iv), with respect to all series.

 

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee with respect to any series of Securities for any cause, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee for that series of Securities. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapacity, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to such series of Securities shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to such series and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company with respect to such series. If no successor Trustee with respect to such series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Securityholders of such series and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

 

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Securities of that series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its principal Corporate Trust Office.

 

Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder with respect to all series of Securities shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor 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 predecessor Trustee with respect to any such series; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such predecessor Trustee shall, upon payment of its reasonable charges, if any, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the predecessor Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such predecessor Trustee hereunder.

 

 

In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the predecessor Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which (1) shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to transfer and to conform to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates and (2) if the predecessor Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not being succeeded shall continue to be vested in the predecessor

 

Trustee, and (3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such Trustee shall be Trustee of a trust or trusts hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates; and, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

 

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

 

No successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible with respect to that series under this Article.

 

Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Company’s obligations under Section 6.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

 

Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or shall become a creditor, of the Company (or of any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or against any such other obligor, as the case may be).

 

Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding the Trustee, with the approval of the Company, may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.06, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as an Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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

 

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

 

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

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

 

______________________, as Trustee

 

By: _________________________ 

As Authenticating Agent:

 

By: _________________________

Authorized Officer:

 

ARTICLE VII

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

Section 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders.

 

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

 

(a) semiannually, not more than 15 days after January 1 and July 1 in each year, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, a list of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of such date, and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, provided that if the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar for such series, such list shall not be required to be furnished.

 

Section 7.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Securityholders.

 

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b) If three or more Holders of Securities of any series (hereinafter referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security of such series for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders of Securities of such series or with the Holders of all Securities with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:

 

(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02(a), or

 

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders of Securities of such series or all Securities, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

 

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder of a Security of such series or to all Securityholders, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02(a), a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or all Securityholders, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all Securityholders of such series or all Securityholders, as the case may be, with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 7.02(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 7.02(b).

 

Section 7.03 Reports by Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each June 1 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to each Holder, as provided in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), a brief report dated as of such June 1, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

 

(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 7.04 Reports by Company.

 

The Company will:

 

(a) file with the Trustee, within 30 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

(b) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(c) transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER

 

Section 8.01 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets and the properties and assets of the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, unless:

 

(a) either the Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

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

 

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and any assumption permitted or required by this Article complies with the provisions of this Article.

 

Section 8.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein and the Company shall thereupon be released from all obligations hereunder and under the Securities. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed and may issue any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor corporation, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities which such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All of the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

 

 

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders.

 

Without the consent of the Holders of any Securities, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of execution thereof), in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(a) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Article 8 hereof; or

 

(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the Holders of the Securities of any or all series as the Company and the Trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of the Securities of any or all series or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company (and if such covenants or the surrender of such right or power are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included or such surrenders are expressly being made solely for the benefit of one or more specified series); or

 

(c) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture that do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

 

(d) to add to this Indenture such provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding, however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act as in effect at the date as of which this instrument is executed or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted; or

 

(e) to secure any series of Securities; or

 

(f) to establish any form of Security, as provided in Article 2 hereof, and to provide for the issuance of any series of Securities, as provided in Article 3 hereof, and to set forth the terms thereof, and/or to add to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of any series; or

 

(g) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another corporation as a successor Trustee hereunder with respect to one or more series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to Section 6.11 hereof; or

 

(h) to add any additional Events of Default in respect of the Securities of any or all series (and if such additional Events of Default are to be in respect of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of one or more specified series); or

 

(i) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture

 

Act; or

 

(j) to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders of such Securities.

 

 

Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

 

(a) change the Scheduled Maturity Date or the stated payment date of any payment of premium or interest payable on any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or any amount of interest or premium payable thereon, or

 

(b) change the method of computing the amount of principal of any Security or any interest payable thereon on any date, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any payment of premium or interest thereon is payable, or

 

(c) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment described in clauses (a) or (b) on or after the same shall become due and payable, whether at Maturity or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be; or

 

(d) change or waive the redemption or repayment provisions of any series;

 

(e) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences, provided for in this Indenture; or

 

(f) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 5.13, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11 and

 

9.01(g); or

 

(g) adversely affect the ranking or priority of any series; or

 

(h) waive any Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.01(a), Section 5.01(b) or Section 5.01(c) hereof with respect to such Security.

 

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

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Securityholders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon request of the Company and upon filing with the Trustee of evidence of an Act of Securityholders as aforementioned, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, powers, trusts, 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. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

 

Section 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties, powers, trusts and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be determined, exercised and enforced thereunder to the extent provided therein.

 

Section 9.05 Conformity With Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

Section 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities.

 

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

 

Section 10.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

 

With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on such Securities in accordance with their terms and this Indenture, and will duly comply with all the other terms, agreements and conditions contained in the Indenture for the benefit of the Securities of such series.

 

Section 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

So long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Company will maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and of any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

 

Section 10.03 Money or Security Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

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

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any Securities of such series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities entitled to the same and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent other than the Trustee for any series of Securities to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will

 

(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Holders of such Securities or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(b) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any such payment of principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series; and

 

(c) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

The Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent in respect of each and every series of Securities as to which it seeks to discharge this Indenture or, if for any other purpose, all sums so held in trust by the Company in respect of all Securities, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

Section 10.04 Certificate to Trustee.

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate, one of whose signatories shall be the Company’s principal executive, accounting or financial officer, stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company in the performance of any of its covenants, conditions or agreements contained herein (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder), stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature thereof.

 

Section 10.05 Corporate Existence.

 

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

 

 

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 11.01 Applicability of Article.

 

The Company may reserve the right to redeem and pay before the Scheduled Maturity Date all or any part of the Securities of any series, either by optional redemption, sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation or otherwise, by provision therefor in the form of Security for such series established and approved pursuant to Section 2.02 and 2.03 or as otherwise provided in Section 3.01, and on such terms as are specified in such form or in the indenture supplemental hereto with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 3.01. Redemption of Securities of any series shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and, to the extent that this Article does not conflict with such terms, the succeeding Sections of this Article.

 

Section 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

Section 11.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

If fewer than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate, which may include provision for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a particular series of Securities, the portions of the principal of Securities so selected for partial redemption shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination of the Securities of such series, or an integral multiple thereof, and the principal amount which remains outstanding shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series.

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Security selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

 

Section 11.04 Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register on the applicable Record Date.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof;

 

(3) if fewer than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the Securities to be redeemed, from the Holder to whom the notice is given and that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of the same series in the aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in accordance with Section 11.07;

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security, and that interest, if any, thereon shall cease to accrue from and after said date;

 

(5) the place where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, which shall be the office or agency maintained by the Company in the Place of Payment pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof; and

 

(6) that the redemption is on account of a sinking or purchase fund, or other analogous obligation, if that be the case.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, made at least five Business Days prior to the date on which notice is to be given, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money, in immediately available funds, sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of Redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of such Securities for redemption in accordance with the notice, such Securities shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price. Any installment of interest due and payable on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities registered as such on the relevant Record Date according to the terms and the provisions of Section 3.07 above; unless, with respect to an Interest Payment Date that falls on a Redemption Date, such Securities provide that interest due on such date is to be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Security, or as otherwise provided in such Security.

 

 

Section 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or agency maintained by the Company in the Place of Payment pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof with respect to that series (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, tenor, terms and Scheduled Maturity Date, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holders in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

Section 11.08 Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds.

 

Unless the form or terms of any series of Securities shall provide otherwise, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to such series of Securities in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities of such series theretofore acquired by the Company, or (b) receive credit for any Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired or redeemed by the Company (other than through operation of a mandatory sinking fund) and theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and if it does so then (i) Securities so delivered or credited shall be credited at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, and (ii) on or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to such series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee (A) an Officers’ Certificate specifying the portions of such sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of cash and by the delivery or credit of Securities of such series acquired or redeemed by the Company, and (B) such Securities, to the extent not previously surrendered. Such Officers’ Certificate shall also state the basis for any such credit and that the Securities for which the Company elects to receive credit have not been previously so credited and were not acquired by the Company through operation of the mandatory sinking fund, if any, provided with respect to such Securities and shall also state that no Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing. All Securities so delivered to the Trustee shall be canceled by the Trustee and no Securities shall be authenticated in lieu thereof.

 

If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) with respect to any series of Securities made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments with respect to Securities of such series made in cash shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request), unless otherwise provided by the terms of such series of Securities, that cash shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to Securities of such series next following the date of such payment to the redemption of Securities of such series at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, with the effect provided in Section 11.06. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 11.03, for redemption on such sinking fund Redemption Date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to utilize that cash and shall thereupon cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series for the sinking fund to be given in the manner provided in Section 11.04 (and with the effect provided in Section 11.06) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment with respect to Securities of such series received by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.08. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to Securities of any series held by the Trustee at the Maturity of Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.

 

 

On or before each sinking fund Redemption Date provided with respect to Securities of any series, the Company shall pay to the Trustee in cash a sum equal to all accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund Redemption Date pursuant to this Section 11.08.

 

The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of Securities by operation of the applicable sinking fund during the continuance of a default in payment of interest on Securities of such series or of any Event of Default with respect to such series, except that if the notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article 11. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund with respect to Securities of any series at the time when any such default or Event of Default with respect to such series shall occur, and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such default or Event of Default with respect to such series, be held as security for the payment of all Securities of such series; provided, however, that in case such default or Event of Default with respect to such series shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.08.

 

ARTICLE XII

REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

Section 12.01 Applicability of Article.

 

Repayment of Securities of any series before their Scheduled Maturity Date at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 12.02 Repayment of Securities.

 

Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, together with interest thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in the terms of such Securities. On or before the Repayment Date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money, in immediately available funds, sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of all the Securities which are to be repaid on such date.

 

Section 12.03 Exercise of Option.

 

Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder, must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 30 days nor later than 15 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire principal amount of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the principal amount of such Security to be repaid, in increments of $1,000 unless otherwise specified in the terms of such Security, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal amount of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid must be specified. The principal amount of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part, if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

 

 

Section 12.04 When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable.

 

If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) interest on such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, shall cease to accrue.

 

Section 12.05 Securities Repaid in Part.

 

Upon surrender of any Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, tenor, terms and Scheduled Maturity Date, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.

 

(signature page follows)

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested; all as of the day and year first above written.

 

			AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP
			By:
			Name:
			Title:
ATTEST:
By:
Name:
Title:
					, TRUSTEE
			By:
			Name:
			Title:
ATTEST:
By:
Name:
Title:

 

State of

 

County of 

 

On the _____ day of __________, _____ before me personally came ____________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he or she resides at ________________; that he or she is the ________ of ___________, one of the parties described in and which executed the above instrument; that he or she knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to that instrument is such corporate seal; that it was affixed by authority of the board of directors of said corporation; and that he or she signed his or her name thereto by like authority.

 

Name

 

Notary Public

 

State of

 

County of 

 

On the _____ day of ______, _____ before me personally came ___________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he or she resides at ______________; that he or she is the ____________ of Air Industries Group, one of the parties described in and which executed the above instrument; that he or she knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to that instrument is such corporate seal; that it was affixed by authority of the board of directors of said corporation; and that he or she signed his or her name thereto by like authority.

 

Name 

 

Notary Public

 

 

 

Exhibit 4.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

FORM OF SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

 

AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP

 

And

 

 

___________________

 as Trustee

 

SUBORDINATED INDENTURE

 

Dated as of

 

_________________, _______

 

Providing for the Issuance of Subordinated Debt Securities

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

 

Trust Indenture Act Section		Indenture Section
310(a)(1)		6.09
(a)(2)		6.09
(a)(3)		N.A.
(a)(4)		N.A.
(a)(5)		6.08
(b)		6.08
311(a)		6.13
(b)		6.13
312(a)		7.01;7.02
(b)		7.02
(c)		7.02
313(a)		7.03
(b)(2)		7.03
(c)		7.03
(d)		7.03
314(a)		7.04;1.02
(c)(1)		1.02
(c)(2)		1.02
(c)(3)		N.A.
(e)		1.02
(f)		N.A.
315(a)		6.01
(b)		6.02;1.06
(c)		6.01
(d)		6.01
(e)		5.14
316(a)(last sentence)		1.01
(a)(1)(A)		5.12
(a)(1)(B)		5.02;5.13
(a)(2)		N.A.
(b)		5.08
(c)		3.07;3.08;1.04
317(a)(1)		5.03
(a)(2)		5.04
(b)		4.06;10.03
318(a)		1.07
(b)		N.A.
(c)		1.07

 

N.A means not applicable.

*

This Cross Reference Table is not part of the Indenture.

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION		1
Section 1.01	Definitions	1
Section 1.02	Officers’ Certificates and Opinions	6
Section 1.03	Form and Documents Delivered to Trustee	6
Section 1.04	Acts of Securityholders	6
Section 1.05	Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company	7
Section 1.06	Notice to Securityholders; Waiver	7
Section 1.07	Conflict with Trust Indenture Act	8
Section 1.08	Effect of Headings and Table of Contents	8
Section 1.09	Successors and Assigns	8
Section 1.10	Separability Clause	8
Section 1.11	Benefits of Indenture	8
Section 1.12	Governing Law	8
Section 1.13	Counterparts	8
Section 1.14	Judgment Currency	8
Section 1.15	Legal Holidays	9
ARTICLE II SECURITY FORMS		9
Section 2.01	Forms Generally	9
Section 2.02	Forms of Securities	9
Section 2.03	Securities in Global Form	9
Section 2.04	Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication	9
ARTICLE III THE SECURITIES		10
Section 3.01	General Title; General Limitations; Issuable in Series; Terms of Particular Series	10
Section 3.02	Denominations and Currency	12
Section 3.03	Execution, Authentication and Delivery, and Dating	12
Section 3.04	Temporary Securities	14
Section 3.05	Registration, Transfer and Exchange	14
Section 3.06	Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities	16
Section 3.07	Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved	16
Section 3.08	Persons Deemed Owners	17
Section 3.09	Cancellation	18
Section 3.10	Computation of Interest	18
ARTICLE IV SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE		18
Section 4.01	Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture	18
Section 4.02	Discharge and Defeasance	19
Section 4.03	Covenant Defeasance	19
Section 4.04	Conditions To Defeasance Or Covenant Defeasance	20
Section 4.05	Application of Trust Money; Excess Funds	21
Section 4.06	Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held	21
Section 4.07	Return of Unclaimed Amounts	21

 

 

ARTICLE V REMEDIES		22
Section 5.01	Events of Default	22
Section 5.02	Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment	23
Section 5.03	Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee	23
Section 5.04	Trustee May File Proofs of Claim	24
Section 5.05	Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities	25
Section 5.06	Application of Money Collected	25
Section 5.07	Limitation on Suits	25
Section 5.08	Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal, Premium, and Interest	25
Section 5.09	Restoration of Rights and Remedies	26
Section 5.10	Rights and Remedies Cumulative	26
Section 5.11	Delay or Omission Not Waiver	26
Section 5.12	Control by Securityholders	26
Section 5.13	Waiver of Past Defaults	26
Section 5.14	Undertaking for Costs	27
Section 5.15	Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws	27
ARTICLE VI THE TRUSTEE		27
Section 6.01	Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee	27
Section 6.02	Notice of Defaults	28
Section 6.03	Certain Rights of Trustee	28
Section 6.04	Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities	28
Section 6.05	May Hold Securities	29
Section 6.06	Money Held in Trust	29
Section 6.07	Compensation and Reimbursement	29
Section 6.08	Disqualification; Conflicting Interests	29
Section 6.09	Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility	30
Section 6.10	Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor	30
Section 6.11	Acceptance of Appointment by Successor	31
Section 6.12	Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business	31
Section 6.13	Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company	32
Section 6.14	Appointment of Authenticating Agent	32
ARTICLE VII SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY		33
Section 7.01	Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders	33
Section 7.02	Preservation of Information; Communications to Securityholders	33
Section 7.03	Reports by Trustee	34
Section 7.04	Reports by Company	34
ARTICLE VIII CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER		35
Section 8.01	Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms	35
Section 8.02	Successor Corporation Substituted	35
ARTICLE IX SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES		35
Section 9.01	Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders	35
Section 9.02	Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders	36
Section 9.03	Execution of Supplemental Indentures	37
Section 9.04	Effect of Supplemental Indentures	37
Section 9.05	Conformity With Trust Indenture Act	37
Section 9.06	Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures	37

 

 

ARTICLE X COVENANTS		38
Section 10.01	Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest	38
Section 10.02	Maintenance of Office or Agency	38
Section 10.03	Money or Security Payments to Be Held in Trust	38
Section 10.04	Certificate to Trustee	39
Section 10.05	Corporate Existence	39
ARTICLE XI REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES		39
Section 11.01	Applicability of Article	39
Section 11.02	Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee	39
Section 11.03	Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed	39
Section 11.04	Notice of Redemption	40
Section 11.05	Deposit of Redemption Price	40
Section 11.06	Securities Payable on Redemption Date	40
Section 11.07	Securities Redeemed in Part	41
Section 11.08	Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds	41
ARTICLE XII REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS		42
Section 12.01	Applicability of Article	42
Section 12.02	Repayment of Securities	42
Section 12.03	Exercise of Option	42
Section 12.04	When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable	43
Section 12.05	Securities Repaid in Part	43
ARTICLE XIII SUBORDINATION		43
Section 13.01	Agreement to Subordinate	43
Section 13.02	Payments to Securityholders	43
Section 13.03	Subrogation	44
Section 13.04	Authorization by Securityholders	45
Section 13.05	Notice to Trustee	45
Section 13.06	Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness	46
Section 13.07	No Impairment of Subordination	46

 

 

THIS SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, between Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation (hereinafter called the “Company”) having its principal office at 1460 Fifth Avenue, Bay Shore, New York 11706 and _________________, a _________________________, as trustee (hereinafter called the “Trustee”), is made and entered into as of this _____ day of ______________, _________.

 

Recitals of the Company

 

The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of its subordinated unsecured debentures, notes, bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness, to be issued in one or more fully registered series.

 

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

 

Agreements of the Parties

 

To set forth or to provide for the establishment of the terms and conditions upon which the Securities (as hereinafter defined) are and are to be authenticated, issued, and delivered, and in consideration of the premises thereof, and the purchase of Securities by the Holders (as hereinafter defined) thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed as follows, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders from time to time of the Securities or of any series thereof, as the case may be:

 

ARTICLE I

DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

 

Section 1.01 Definitions.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental hereto, except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

(d) all references in this instrument to designated “Articles”, “Sections” and other subdivisions are to the designated Articles, Sections and other subdivisions of this instrument as originally executed. The words “herein”, “hereof”, and “hereunder” and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any particular Article, Section, or other subdivision.

 

(e) the following terms will have the meanings set forth below:

 

“Act”, when used with respect to any Securityholder (as hereinafter defined), has the meaning specified in Section 1.04.

 

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

 

 

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

 

“Authentication Order” has the meaning specified in Section 3.03.

 

“Board of Directors” means (i) the board of directors of the Company, (ii) any duly authorized committee of that board, or (iii) any officer, director, or authorized representative of the Company, in each case duly authorized by such Board to act hereunder.

 

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

 

“Business Day” means (except, with respect to any particular series of Securities, as may be otherwise provided in the form of such Securities) any day other than a Saturday or Sunday that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law, regulation, or executive order to be closed in the applicable Place of Payment (if there is no applicable Place of Payment, then the City of New York in the State of New York shall be applicable for purposes of this definition).

 

“Capital Stock” means, with respect to any Person, any capital stock (including preferred stock), shares, interests, participations or other ownership interests (however designated) of such Person and any rights (other than debt securities convertible or exchangeable for corporate stock), warrants or options to purchase any thereof.

 

“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or, if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

 

“Company” means Air Industries Group, unless and until a successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Company” shall mean such successor corporation.

 

“Company Request”, “Company Order”, and “Company Consent” mean, respectively, a written request, order, or consent signed in the name of the Company by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or the controller of the Company, or by any other officer or officers of the Company pursuant to an applicable Board Resolution, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Corporate Trust Office” means the office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be principally administered, which office at the date hereof is located at ________________.

 

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

 

“Covenant Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 4.03.

 

“Defaulted Interest” has the meaning specified in Section 3.07.

 

“Defeasance” has the meaning specified in Section 4.02.

 

“Depositary” means with respect to the Securities of any series issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01, unless and until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter “Depositary” shall mean or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person, “Depositary” as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall mean the “Depositary” with respect to the Securities of that series. 

 

“Equivalent Government Securities” means, in relation to Securities denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars, securities of the government that issued the currency in which such Securities are denominated or securities of government agencies backed by the full faith and credit of such government.

 

“Event of Default” has the meaning specified in Article 5.

 

“Holder”, “Securityholder” and “Holder of Securities” means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the Security Register (as hereinafter defined).

 

 

“Guarantee” by any Person means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of such Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness or other obligation of any other Person and, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, by agreement to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay, or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness or other obligation of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part), provided that the term Guarantee shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term “Guarantee” when used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

 

“Indebtedness” with respect to any Person means (1) any liability of such Person (a) for borrowed money, or (b) evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument (including purchase money obligations but excluding Trade Payables), or (c) for the payment of money relating to a lease that is required to be classified as a capitalized lease obligation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; (2) mandatorily redeemable preferred or preference stock of a Subsidiary held by Persons other than the Company or a Subsidiary; (3) any liability of others described in the preceding clause (1) that such Person has Guaranteed, that is recourse to such Person or that is otherwise such Person’s legal liability; and (4) any amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or refunding of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (1), (2) and (3) above.

 

“Indenture” or “this Indenture” means this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of any particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01.

 

“Interest Payment Date”, when used with respect to any series of Securities, means any date on which an installment of interest on those Securities is scheduled to be paid.

 

“Maturity”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date on which the principal amount outstanding under such Security or an installment of principal amount outstanding under such Security becomes due and payable, as therein or herein provided, whether on the Scheduled Maturity Date (as hereinafter defined), by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, or otherwise.

 

“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by any two of the chairman of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, any vice president or the treasurer of the Company or by any other officer or officers of the Company pursuant to an applicable Board Resolution, and delivered to the Trustee.

 

“Opinion of Counsel” means a written opinion of counsel to the Company, which counsel may be an employee of the Company or other counsel who shall be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

 

“Option to Elect Repayment” has the meaning specified in Section 12.03.

 

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any Security which is initially sold at a discount from the principal amount thereof and the terms of which provide that upon redemption or acceleration of the Maturity thereof, an amount less than the principal amount thereof would become due and payable.

 

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

 

(i) such Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation;

 

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

 

(iii) such Securities in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, or which shall have been paid, in each case, pursuant to the terms of Section 3.06 (except with respect to any such Security as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a Person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid, and binding obligation of the Company).

 

 

In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Securities Outstanding have given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of any Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of such Securities Outstanding have given a direction concerning the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or concerning the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee under this Indenture, or concerning a consent on behalf of the Holders of any series of Securities to the waiver of any past default and its consequences, Securities owned by the Company, any other obligor upon the Securities, or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding. In determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, or waiver, only Securities which a Responsible Officer assigned to the corporate trust department of the Trustee knows to be owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee’s right to act as owner with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor.

 

“Paying Agent” means, with respect to any Securities, any Person appointed by the Company to distribute amounts payable by the Company on such Securities. If at any time there shall be more than one such Person, “Paying Agent” as used with respect to the Securities of any particular series shall mean the Paying Agent with respect to Securities of that series. As of the date of this Indenture, the Company has appointed __________ as Paying Agent with respect to all Securities issuable hereunder.

 

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

 

“Place of Payment” means with respect to any series of Securities issued hereunder the city or political subdivision so designated with respect to the series of Securities in question in accordance with the provisions of Section 3.01.

 

“Predecessor Securities” of any particular Security means every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.06 in lieu of a lost, destroyed, mutilated, or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed, mutilated, or stolen Security.

 

“Record Date” means any date as of which the Holder of a Security will be determined for any purpose described herein, such determination to be made as of the close of business on such date by reference to the Security Register.

 

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

 

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

 

“Repayment Date”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, means the date fixed for such repayment pursuant to such Security.

 

“Repayment Price”, when used with respect to any Security to be repaid, means the price at which it is to be repaid pursuant to such Security.

 

“Responsible Officer”, when used with respect to the Trustee, shall mean an officer or assistant officer of the Trustee in the Corporate Trust Office, having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of such officer’s knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

 

“Scheduled Maturity Date”, when used with respect to any Security, means the date specified in such Security as the date on which all outstanding principal and interest will be due and payable.

 

 

“Security” or “Securities” means any subordinated note or notes, bond or bonds, debenture or debentures, or any other evidences of indebtedness, as the case may be, of any series authenticated and delivered from time to time under this Indenture.

 

“Security Register” shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.05.

 

“Security Registrar” means the Person who maintains the Security Register, which Person shall be the Trustee unless and until a successor Security Registrar is appointed by the Company.

 

“Senior Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness of, or Guaranteed or assumed by, the Company, whether or not represented by bonds, debentures notes or similar instruments, for borrowed money, and any amendments, renewals, extensions, modifications and refundings of any such Indebtedness, unless in the instrument creating or evidencing any such Indebtedness or pursuant to which the same is outstanding it is specifically stated, at or prior to the time the Company becomes liable in respect thereof, that any such Indebtedness or such amendment, renewal, extension, modification and refunding thereof is not Senior Indebtedness.

 

“Significant Subsidiary” means each Subsidiary which is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X, as amended or modified and in effect from time to time.

 

“Special Record Date” for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.07.     

 

“Specified Currency” has the meaning specified in Section 3.01.

 

“Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership or other entity of which at the time of determination the Company owns or controls directly or indirectly more than 50% of the shares of Voting Stock or equivalent interest.

 

“Trade Payables” means accounts payable or any other Indebtedness or monetary obligations to trade creditors created or assumed in the ordinary course of business in connection with the obtaining of materials, finished products, inventory or services.

 

“Trust Indenture Act” or “TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as in force as of the date hereof, except as provided in Section 9.05.

 

“Trustee” means the party named as such above until a successor becomes such pursuant to this Indenture and thereafter means or includes each party who is then a trustee hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such party, “Trustee” as used with respect to the Securities of any series means the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series. If Trustees with respect to different series of Securities are trustees under this Indenture, nothing herein shall constitute the Trustees co-trustees of the same trust, and each Trustee shall be the trustee of a trust separate and apart from any trust administered by any other Trustee with respect to a different series of Securities.

 

“U.S. Government Obligations” means (i) securities that are direct obligations of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America and (ii) securities that are obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America, the payment of which is unconditionally Guaranteed by the full faith and credit of the United States of America, and also includes depository receipts issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any of the securities described in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii), and any payment of interest or principal payable under any of the securities described in the preceding clauses (i) and (ii) that is held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of such depository receipt, or from any amount received by the custodian in respect of such securities, or from any specific payment of interest or principal payable under the securities evidenced by such depository receipt.

 

“Voting Stock”, as applied to the stock of any corporation, means stock of any class or classes (however designated), the outstanding shares of which have, by the terms thereof, ordinary voting power to elect a majority of the members of the board of directors (or other governing body) of such corporation, other than stock having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency.

 

 

Section 1.02 Officers’ Certificates and Opinions.

 

Every Officers’ Certificate, Opinion of Counsel, and other certificate or opinion to be delivered to the Trustee under this Indenture with respect to any action to be taken by the Trustee (except for the Officers’ Certificate required by Section 10.04) shall include the following:

 

(a) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or opinion has read all covenants and conditions of this Indenture relating to such proposed action, including the definitions herein relating thereto;

 

(b) 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;

 

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

 

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

 

Section 1.03 Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

 

In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to the other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

  

Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, legal counsel, unless such officer knows that any such certificate, opinion, or representation is erroneous. Any opinion of counsel for the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company, unless such counsel knows that any such certificate, opinion, or representation is erroneous.

 

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

 

Section 1.04 Acts of Securityholders.

 

(a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver, or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Securityholders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar tenor signed by such Securityholders in person or by an agent of such Securityholders duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered to the Trustee and (if expressly required by the applicable terms of this Indenture) to the Company. If any Securities are denominated in coin or currency other than that of the United States, then for the purposes of determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities have taken any action as herein described, the principal amount of such Securities shall be deemed to be that amount of United States dollars that could be obtained for such principal amount on the basis of the spot rate of exchange into United States dollars for the currency in which such Securities are denominated (as evidenced to the Trustee by a certificate provided by a financial institution, selected by the Company, that maintains an active trade in the currency in question, acting as conversion agent) as of the date the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal amount is evidenced to the Trustee as provided in the immediately preceding sentence. Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the “Act” of the Securityholders signing such instrument or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture and (subject to Section 6.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

 

(b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness to such execution or by the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such execution is by an officer of a corporation or a member of a partnership, on behalf of such corporation or partnership, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument or writing, or the authority of the person executing the same, may also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

 

(c) The ownership of Securities shall for all purposes be determined by reference to the Security Register, as such register shall exist as of the applicable date.

 

 

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

 

(e) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action by the Holder of any Security shall bind each subsequent Holder of such Security, and each Holder of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof, with respect to anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee or the Company in reliance upon such action, whether or not notation of such action is made upon such Security.

 

Section 1.05 Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company.

 

Any request, order, authorization, direction, consent, waiver, or other action to be taken by the Trustee, the Company, or the Securityholders hereunder (including any Authentication Order), and any notice to be given to the Trustee or the Company with respect to any action taken or to be taken by the Trustee, the Company, or the Securityholders hereunder, shall be sufficient if made in writing and

 

(a)(if to be furnished or delivered to or filed with the Trustee by the Company or any Securityholder) delivered to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office, Attention: __________________________; or

 

(b)(if to be furnished or delivered to the Company by the Trustee or any Securityholder, and except as otherwise provided in Section 5.01(d) and, in the case of a request for repayment, except as specified in the Security carrying the right to repayment) mailed to the Company, first-class postage prepaid, at its principal office (as specified in the first paragraph of this instrument), Attention: Chief Financial Officer, or at any other address hereafter furnished in writing by the Company to the Trustee.

 

Section 1.06 Notice To Securityholders; Waiver.

 

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

 

In case, by reason of the suspension of regular mail service as a result of a strike, work stoppage or otherwise, it shall be impractical to mail notice of any event to any Securityholder when such notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture or the applicable Security, then any method of notification as shall be satisfactory to the Trustee and the Company shall be deemed to be sufficient for the giving of such notice.

 

 

Section 1.07 Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

 

If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of the TIA, such provision required by the TIA shall control.

 

Section 1.08 Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

 

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

 

Section 1.09 Successors and Assigns.

 

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

 

Section 1.10 Separability Clause.

 

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

 

Section 1.11 Benefits Of Indenture.

 

Nothing in this Indenture or in any Securities, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto, their successors hereunder, the Authenticating Agent, the Security Registrar, any Paying Agent, and the Holders of Securities (or such of them as may be affected thereby), any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

 

Section 1.12 Governing Law.

 

This Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of __________.

 

Section 1.13 Counterparts.

 

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

 

Section 1.14 Judgment Currency.

 

The Company agrees, to the fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court with respect to the Securities of any series it is necessary to convert the sum due in respect of the principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, payable with respect to such Securities into a currency in which a judgment can be rendered (the “Judgment Currency”), the rate of exchange from the currency in which payments under such Securities is payable (the “Required Currency”) into the Judgment Currency shall be the highest bid quotation (assuming European-style quotation - i.e., Required Currency per Judgment Currency) received by the Company from three recognized foreign exchange dealers in the City of _________________ for the purchase of the aggregate amount of the judgment (as denominated in the Judgment Currency) on the Business Day preceding the date on which a final unappealable judgment is rendered, for settlement on such payment date, and at which the applicable dealer timely commits to execute a contract, and (b) the Company’s obligations under this Indenture to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or satisfied by any tender, or by any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or not entered in accordance with the preceding clause (a)), in any currency other than the Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall result in the actual receipt by the judgment creditor of the full amount of the Required Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so expressed to be payable, and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.

 

 

Section 1.15 Legal Holidays.

 

In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) need not be made at such Place of Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Repayment Date or at Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, Repayment Date or Maturity, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE II

SECURITY FORMS

Section 2.01 Forms Generally.

 

The Securities of each series shall have such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon, as may be required to comply with the rules of any securities exchange, or as may, consistently herewith, be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of the Securities. Any portion of the text of any Security may be set forth on the reverse thereof, with an appropriate reference thereto on the face of the Security.

 

The definitive Securities, if any, shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner permitted by the rules of any securities exchange, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

 

Section 2.02 Forms of Securities.

 

Each Security shall be in one of the forms approved from time to time by or pursuant to any Board Resolution, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Prior to the delivery to the Trustee for authentication of any Security in any form approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee a copy of such Board Resolution, together with a true and correct copy of the form of Security which has been approved thereby, or, if a Board Resolution authorizes a specific officer or officers to approve a form of Security, together with a certificate of such officer or officers approving the form of Security attached thereto, provided, however, that with respect to all Securities issued pursuant to the same Board Resolution, the required copy of such Board Resolution, together with the appropriate attachment, need be delivered only once. Any form of Security approved by or pursuant to a Board Resolution must be acceptable as to form to the Trustee, such acceptance to be evidenced by the Trustee’s authentication of Securities in that form or by a certificate signed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee and delivered to the Company.

 

Section 2.03 Securities in Global Form.

 

If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in global form, the global security representing such Securities may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced to reflect exchanges or increased to reflect the issuance of additional Securities. Any endorsement of a Security in global form to reflect the amount (or any increase or decrease in the amount) of Outstanding Securities represented thereby shall be made in such manner and by such Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Authentication Order delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 3.03 hereof.

 

Section 2.04 Form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication.

 

The form of Trustee’s Certificate of Authentication for any Security issued pursuant to this Indenture shall be substantially as follows:

 

TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

 

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

 

By:
Authorized Officer:

 

 

ARTICLE III

THE SECURITIES

 

Section 3.01 General Title; General Limitations; Issuable in Series; Terms of Particular Series.

 

(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated, delivered, and Outstanding at any time under this Indenture is not limited.

 

(b) The Securities may be issued in one or more series in such aggregate principal amount as may from time to time be authorized by the Board of Directors. All Securities of a series issued under this Indenture shall in all respects be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits hereof, without preference, priority, or distinction on account of the actual time of the authentication and delivery or Scheduled Maturity Date thereof, but all Securities issued hereunder shall be subordinate and junior in right and payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in Article XIII, to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company.

 

(c) Each series of Securities shall be created either by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions, by an Officers’ Certificate or by one or more indentures supplemental hereto. Any such Board Resolution or supplemental indenture (or, in the case of a series of Securities created pursuant to a Board Resolution, any officer or officers authorized by such Board Resolution) shall establish the terms of any such series of Securities, including the following (as and to such extent as may be applicable):

 

(1) the title of such series;

 

(2) the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount or issue price of the Securities of such series;     

 

(3) the issue date or issue dates of the Securities of such series;

 

(4) the Scheduled Maturity Date of the Securities of such series;

 

(5) the place or places where the principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, and additional amounts, if any, payable with respect to the Securities of such series shall be payable; 

 

(6) whether the Securities of such series will be issued at par or at a premium over or a discount from their face amount;

 

(7) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the Securities of such series shall bear interest, if any, and, if applicable, the method by which such rate or rates may be determined;

 

(8) the date or dates (or the method by which such date or dates may be determined) from which interest, if any, shall accrue, and the Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable;

 

 

(9) the rights, if any, to defer payments of interest on the Securities by extending the interest payment periods and the duration of such extension;

 

(10) the period or periods within which, the Redemption Price(s) or Repayment Price(s) at which, and any other terms and conditions upon which the Securities of such series may be redeemed or repaid, in whole or in part, by the Company;

 

(11) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay, or purchase any of the Securities of such series pursuant to any sinking fund, mandatory redemption, purchase obligation, or analogous provision at the option of a Holder thereof, and the period or periods within which, the Redemption Price(s) or Repayment Price(s) or other price or prices at which, and any other terms and conditions upon which the Securities of such series shall be redeemed, repaid, or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

 

(12) the issuance of the Securities of such series in whole or in part in global form and, if so, the identity of the Depositary for such global security and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in the Securities represented by such global security may be exchanged, in whole or in part, for the individual Securities represented thereby (if other than as provided in Section 3.05);

 

(13) the denominations in which the Securities of such series will be issued (which may be any denomination as set forth in the terms of such Securities) if other than U.S. $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof;

 

(14) whether and under what circumstances additional amounts on the Securities of such series shall be payable in respect of any taxes, assessments, or other governmental charges withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay such additional amounts;

 

(15) the basis upon which interest shall be calculated;

 

(16) if the Securities of such series are to be issuable in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a temporary Security for a definitive Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or upon satisfaction of other conditions, then the form and terms of such certificates, documents, and/or conditions;

 

(17) the exchange or conversion of the Securities of that series, whether or not at the option of the Holders thereof, for or into new Securities of a different series or for or into any other securities which may include shares of Capital Stock of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or securities directly or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for any such shares or securities of entities unaffiliated with the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company;

 

(18) if other than U.S. dollars, the foreign or composite currency or currencies (each such currency a “Specified Currency”) in which the Securities of such series shall be denominated and in which payments of principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or additional amounts, if any, payable with respect to such Securities shall or may be payable;

 

(19) if the principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or additional amounts, if any, payable with respect to the Securities of such series are to be payable in any currency other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, whether at the election of the Company or of a Holder thereof, the period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made;

 

(20) if the amount of any payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, or other sum payable with respect to the Securities of such series may be determined by reference to the relative value of one or more Specified Currencies, commodities, securities, or instruments, the level of one or more financial or non-financial indices, or any other designated factors or formulas, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

 

(21) the exchange of Securities of such series, at the option of the Holders thereof, for other Securities of the same series of the same aggregate principal amount of a different authorized kind or different authorized denomination or denominations, or both;

 

(22) the appointment by the Trustee of an Authenticating Agent in one or more places other than the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, with power to act on behalf of the Trustee, and subject to its direction, in the authentication and delivery of the Securities of such series;

 

 

(23) any trustees, depositaries, paying agents, transfer agents, exchange agents, conversion agents, registrars, or other agents with respect to the Securities of such series if other than the Trustee, Paying Agent and Security Registrar named herein;

 

(24) the portion of the principal amount of Securities of such series, if other than the principal amount thereof, that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.02 or provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.04;

 

(25) any Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series, if not set forth herein, or any modification of any Event of Default set forth herein with respect to such series;

 

(26) any covenant solely for the benefit of the Securities of such series;

 

(27) the inapplicability of Section 4.02 and Section 4.03 of this Indenture to the Securities of such series and if Section 4.03 is applicable, the covenants subject to Covenant Defeasance under Section 4.03; and

 

(28) any other terms of the securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, but which may modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such series).

 

If all of the Securities issuable by or pursuant to any Board Resolution are not to be issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required by Section 3.03 hereof at the time of issuance of each such Security, but such Officers’ Certificate and Opinion of Counsel shall be delivered at or before the time of issuance of the first such Security.

 

If any series of Securities shall be established by action taken pursuant to any Board Resolution, the execution by the officer or officers authorized by such Board Resolution of an Authentication Order (as defined in Section 3.03 below) with respect to the first Security of such series to be issued, and the delivery of such Authentication Order to the Trustee at or before the time of issuance of the first Security of such series, shall constitute a sufficient record of such action. Except as otherwise permitted by Section 3.03, if all of the Securities of any such series are not to be issued at one time, the Company shall deliver an Authentication Order with respect to each subsequent issuance of Securities of such series, but such Authentication Orders may be executed by any authorized officer or officers of the Company, whether or not such officer or officers would have been authorized to establish such series pursuant to the aforementioned Board Resolution.

 

Unless otherwise provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture creating such series (i) a series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series, and (ii) all Securities of the same series shall be substantially identical, except for the initial Interest Payment Date, issue price, initial interest accrual date and the amount of the first interest payment.

 

The form of the Securities of each series shall be established in a supplemental indenture or by or pursuant to the Board Resolution creating such series. The Securities of each series shall be distinguished from the Securities of each other series in such manner as the Board of Directors or its authorized representative or representatives may determine.

 

Unless otherwise provided with respect to Securities of a particular series, the Securities of any series may only be issuable in registered form, without coupons.

 

Section 3.02 Denominations and Currency.

 

The Securities of each series shall be issuable in such denominations and currency as shall be provided in the provisions of this Indenture or by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture creating such series. In the absence of any such provisions with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of that series shall be issuable only in fully registered form in denominations of U.S. $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

 

Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication and Delivery, and Dating.

 

The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by the president, the chief executive officer, the chief financial officer, any vice president, the treasurer or any assistant treasurer and attested by the secretary or any one of its assistant secretaries, under its corporate seal. The signature of any of these officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile. The seal of the Company, if set forth thereon, may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted, or otherwise reproduced on the Securities. Typographical and other minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of the seal or any such signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

 

 

Unless otherwise provided in the form of Security for any series, all Securities shall be dated the date of their authentication.

 

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

 

At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for authentication and delivery (such Order an “Authentication Order”) with respect to such Securities, and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of such Authentication Order, in accordance with procedures acceptable to the Trustee set forth in the Authentication Order, and subject to the provisions hereof, authenticate and deliver such Securities to such recipients as may be specified from time to time pursuant to such Authentication Order. The material terms of such Securities shall be determinable by reference to such Authentication Order and procedures. If provided for in such procedures, such Authentication Order may authorize authentication and delivery of such Securities pursuant to oral instructions from the Company or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing. In authenticating such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to the provisions of Section 6.01 hereof) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

 

(1) an executed supplemental indenture, if any;

 

(2) an Officers’ Certificate, certifying as to the authorized form or forms and terms of such Securities; and

 

(3) an Opinion of Counsel, stating that:

 

(a) the form or forms and terms of such Securities have been established by and in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; provided that if all such Securities are not to be issued at the same time, such Opinion of Counsel may state that such terms will be established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture, subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel; and

 

(b) such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, moratorium, reorganization, and other laws of general applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and to general principles of equity;

 

provided, however, that if all Securities issuable by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture are not to be originally issued at one time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel otherwise required pursuant to this paragraph at or prior to the time of authentication of each such Security if such documents are delivered at or prior to the time of authentication upon original issuance of the first such Security to be issued. After the original issuance of the first such Security to be issued, any separate request by the Company that the Trustee authenticate such Securities for original issuance will be deemed to be a certification by the Company that it is in compliance with all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the authentication and delivery of such Securities.

 

The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue thereof will adversely affect the Trustee’s own rights, duties, or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture.

 

If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in global form, then the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall (in accordance with this Section 3.03 and the Authentication Order with respect to such series) authenticate and deliver, one or more Securities in global form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such one or more Securities in global form, (ii) shall be registered, in the name of the Depositary for such Security or Securities in global form, or in the name of a nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositary’s instruction, and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially as follows: “Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in certificated form, this Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary.” Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 for a Security in global form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any other applicable statute or regulation.

 

 

No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by the Trustee by manual signature of an authorized officer, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.

 

Section 3.04 Temporary Securities.

 

Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and, upon receipt of the documents required by Sections 2.02, 3.01 and 3.03 hereof, together with an Authentication Order, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities of such series that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed, or otherwise produced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued in registered form, without coupons, and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions, and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities. In the case of Securities of any series for which a temporary Security may be issued in global form, such temporary global security shall represent all of the Outstanding Securities of such series and tenor.

 

Except in the case of temporary Securities in global form, which shall be exchanged in accordance with the provisions thereof, if temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will cause definitive Securities of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay. After the preparation of definitive Securities, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, or at such other office or agency as may be maintained by the Company in a Place of Payment pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof, for definitive Securities of such series having identical terms and provisions, upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series, at the Company’s own expense and without charge to the Holder; and upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of such series in authorized denominations containing identical terms and provisions. Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to a temporary Security in global form, until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of such series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.

 

Section 3.05 Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

 

With respect to the Securities of each series, the Trustee shall keep a register (herein sometimes referred to as the “Security Register”) which shall provide for the registration of Securities of such series, and for transfers of Securities of such series, in accordance with information to be provided to the Trustee by the Company, subject to such reasonable regulations as the Trustee may prescribe. Such register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all reasonable times the information contained in such register or registers shall be available for inspection at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or at such other office or agency to be maintained by the Company pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof.

 

Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or at any other office or agency maintained by the Company with respect to that series pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of such series of any authorized denominations, of like aggregate principal amount, tenor, terms and Scheduled Maturity Date.

 

 

Any other provision of this Section 3.05 notwithstanding, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Securities represented thereby, in definitive form, a Security in global form representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of such Depositary, or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary, or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor Depositary.

 

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

 

If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series represented by one or more Securities in global form notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Securities of such series, or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 3.03 hereof, the Company, by Company Order, shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series. If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Company’s election pursuant to Section 3.01 that such Securities be represented by one or more Securities in global form shall no longer be effective with respect to the Securities of such series and the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive form, in authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount, and of like terms and tenor, equal to the principal amount of the Security or Securities in global form representing such series, in exchange for such Security or Securities in global form.

 

The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion and subject to the procedures of the Depositary determine that individual Securities of any series issued in global form shall no longer be represented by such Security or Securities in global form. In such event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series and of the same terms and tenor, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series in definitive form, in authorized denominations, and in aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Security or Securities in global form representing such series in exchange for such Security or Securities in global form.

 

If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities issued in global form, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Security in global form for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of such series in definitive form and of like terms and tenor on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee upon receipt of an Authentication Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:

 

(a) to each Person specified by such Depositary, a new definitive Security or Securities of the same series and of the same tenor and terms, in authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person’s beneficial interest in the Security in global form; and

 

(b) to such Depositary, a new Security in global form in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Security in global form and the aggregate principal amount of the definitive Securities delivered to Holders pursuant to clause (a) above.

 

Upon the exchange of a Security in global form for Securities in definitive form, such Security in global form shall be canceled by the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee. Securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a Security in global form pursuant to this Section 3.05 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Security in global form, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Company or the Trustee in writing. The Trustee or such agent shall deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered or to the Depositary.

 

Whenever any securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

 

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

 

 

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

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Security to be transferred or exchanged, no service charge shall be imposed for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, but the Company may (unless otherwise provided in such Security) require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.06, 9.06 and 11.07 hereof not involving any transfer.

 

The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of, or exchange any Security of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 11.03 and ending at the close of business on the date of such mailing, or (ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except in the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be redeemed.

 

Section 3.06 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

 

If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, or the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and (ii) there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company may in its discretion execute and upon request of the Company the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security of like tenor, terms, series, Scheduled Maturity Date, and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Section 3.07 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

 

Interest on any Security which is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall, if so provided in such Security, be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the applicable Record Date, notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Security subsequent to such Record Date and prior to such Interest Payment Date (unless such Interest Payment Date is also the date of Maturity of such Security).

 

 

Any interest on any Security which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein called “Defaulted Interest”) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holder on the applicable Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder; and, except as hereinafter provided, such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (a) or clause (b) below:

 

(a) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names any 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 be not 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, to the Holder of each such Security at his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the 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 at the close of business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following clause (b).

 

(b) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such 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.

 

Interest on Securities of any series that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto at such address as shall appear in the Securities Register for such series or by such other means as may be specified in the form of such Security.

 

Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.07 and the provisions of Section 3.05 hereof, each Security delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange for or in lieu of any other Security shall carry the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.

 

Section 3.08 Persons Deemed Owners.

 

Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered on the applicable Record Date(s) as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal, premium, if any, interest, if any (subject to Sections 3.05 and 3.07 hereof), and any additional amounts payable with respect to such Security, and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

 

 

None of the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, the Security Registrar, or any co-Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of a Security in global form or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests and each of them may act or refrain from acting without liability on any information relating to such records provided by the Depositary.

 

Section 3.09 Cancellation.

 

All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer, exchange, or credit against a sinking or analogous fund shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and, if not already canceled, shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. Acquisition of such Securities by the Company 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. No Security shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all canceled Securities in accordance with its customary procedures and deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company.

 

Section 3.10 Computation of Interest.

 

Unless otherwise provided as contemplated in Section 3.01, interest on the Securities shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

 

ARTICLE IV

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

 

Section 4.01 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

 

This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect with respect to any series of Securities (except as to any surviving rights of conversion or transfer or exchange of Securities of such series expressly provided for herein or in the form of Security for such series and obligations described as surviving below), and the Trustee, on demand of and 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 that series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost, or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.06, and (B) Securities of such series for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 4.07) have been delivered to the Trustee canceled or for cancellation; or

 

(ii) all such Securities of that series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee canceled or for cancellation

 

(A) have become due and payable, or

 

(B) will, in accordance with their Scheduled Maturity Date, become due and payable within one year, or

 

 

(C) are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and, in any of the cases described in subparagraphs (A), (B), or (C) above, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee, as trust funds in trust for the purpose, (x) an amount in money sufficient, (y) U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money sufficient, or (z) a combination of (x) and (y) sufficient, in the opinion with respect to (y) and (z) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on such Securities with respect to principal, 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 Scheduled Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be; provided, however, that if such U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities are callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, the amount of such money, U.S. Government Obligations, and Equivalent Government Securities deposited with the Trustee must be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness referred to above if such issuer elects to exercise such call or redemption provisions at any time prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date or Redemption Date, as the case may be, and the Company, but not the Trustee, shall be responsible for monitoring any such call or redemption provision; and

 

(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

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

 

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities, the obligations of the Company under paragraph (a) of this Section 4.01 and its obligations to the Trustee with respect to that series under Section 6.07 shall survive, and the obligations of the Trustee under Sections 4.05, 4.07 and 10.03 shall survive.

 

Section 4.02 Discharge and Defeasance.

 

The provisions of this Section and Section 4.04 (insofar as relating to this Section) shall apply to the Securities of each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to Section 3.01. In addition to discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Section 4.01, in the case of any series of Securities with respect to which the exact amount described in subparagraph (a) of Section 4.04 can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in such subparagraph (a), the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Securities of such a series as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 4.04 are satisfied, and the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series shall no longer be in effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series, (ii) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities of such series, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, solely from the trust fund described in subparagraph (a) of Section 4.04, payments of principal thereof, premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon upon the original stated due dates or upon the Redemption Dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders of Securities of such series to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, (v) this Section 4.02, Section 4.07, Section 10.02 and Section 10.03 and (vi) the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them) (hereinafter called “Defeasance”), and the Trustee at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same.

 

Section 4.03 Covenant Defeasance.

 

The provisions of this Section and Section 4.04 (insofar as relating to this Section) shall apply to the Securities of each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to Section 3.01. In the case of any series of Securities with respect to which the exact amount described in subparagraph (a) of Section 4.04 can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in such subparagraph (a), (i) the Company shall be released from its obligations under any covenants specified in or pursuant to Section 3.01 as being subject to Covenant Defeasance with respect to such series (except as to (a) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series and rights under Section 4.07, Section 10.02 and Section 10.03, (b) substitution of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities of such series, (c) rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the Company pursuant to Section 10.01, payments of principal thereof and interest, if any, thereon upon the original stated due dates or upon the Redemption Dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders of Securities of such series to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (d) the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (e) the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them), and (ii) the occurrence of any event specified in Section 5.01(d) (with respect to any of the covenants specified in or pursuant to Section 3.01 as being subject to Covenant Defeasance with respect to such series) shall be deemed not to be or result in a default or an Event of Default, in each case with respect to the Outstanding Securities of such series as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 4.04 are satisfied (hereinafter called “Covenant Defeasance”), and the Trustee at the cost and expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same. For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means that the Company may omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant (to the extent so specified in the case of Section 5.01(d)), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this Indenture and the Securities of such series shall be unaffected thereby.

 

 

Section 4.04 Conditions To Defeasance Or Covenant Defeasance.

 

The following shall be the conditions to application of either Section 4.02 or Section 4.03 to the Outstanding Securities:

 

(a) with reference to Section 4.02 or Section 4.03, the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the Trustee as funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series (i) money in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities which through the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii) a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient, in the opinion (with respect to (ii) and (iii)) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including mandatory sinking fund payments) of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest, premium or principal are due, including upon redemption; provided, however, that if such U.S. Government Obligations and Equivalent Government Securities are callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, the amount of such money, U.S. Government Obligations, and/or Equivalent Government Securities deposited with the Trustee must be sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness referred to above if the issuer of any such U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities elects to exercise such call or redemption provisions at any time prior to the Scheduled Maturity Date or Redemption Date of such Securities, as the case may be. The Company, but not the Trustee, shall be responsible for monitoring any such call or redemption provision.

 

(b) in the case of Defeasance under Section 4.02, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel based on the fact that (x) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or (y) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable United States federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit, Defeasance and discharge had not occurred;

 

(c) in the case of Covenant Defeasance under Section 4.03, the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that, and such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such deposit and Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times, as would have been the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;

 

(d) no Event of Default or event which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit, after giving effect to such deposit or, in the case of a Defeasance under Section 4.02, no Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(e) or Section 5.01(f) shall have occurred, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of such deposit or, if longer, ending on the day following the expiration of the longest preference period applicable to the Company in respect of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period);

 

 

(e) such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not cause the Trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the TIA assuming all Securities of a series were in default within the meaning of the TIA;

 

(f) such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound;

 

(g) such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance will not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless the trust is registered under such Act or exempt from registration;

 

(h) if the Securities of such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity Date (other than from mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments), notice of such redemption shall have been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made; and

 

(i) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent provided for herein relating to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, have been complied with.

 

Section 4.05 Application of Trust Money; Excess Funds.

 

All money and U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01 or Section 4.04 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and of the series of Securities in respect of which it was deposited, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent), as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; 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 U.S. Government Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 4.01 or Section 4.04 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.

 

Anything in this Article 4 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any money or U.S. Governmental Obligations or Equivalent Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 4.01 or Section 4.04 which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized investment bank, appraisal firm or firm of independent public accountants, expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 4.01 or Section 4.04, as applicable), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent satisfaction and discharge, Covenant Defeasance or Defeasance of the applicable series.

 

Section 4.06 Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.

 

Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, all moneys then held by any Paying Agent of the Securities (other than the Trustee) shall, upon demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and thereupon such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such moneys.

 

Section 4.07 Return of Unclaimed Amounts.

 

Any amounts deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any Paying Agent or then held by the Company, in trust for payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Securities and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the Holders of such Securities for two years after the date upon which the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company by the Trustee on Company Request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of any of such Securities shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such Holder may be entitled to collect (until such time as such unclaimed amounts shall escheat, if at all, to the State of _________________) and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Trustee or Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once a week for two successive weeks (in each case on any day of the week) in a newspaper printed in the English language and customarily published at least once a day at least five days in each calendar week and of general circulation in the City of ________________and State of _____, a notice that said amounts have not been so applied and that after a date named therein any unclaimed balance of said amounts then remaining will be promptly returned to the Company.

 

 

ARTICLE V

REMEDIES

 

Section 5.01 Events of Default.

 

“Event of Default”, wherever used herein, means with respect to any series of Securities any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body), unless such event is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated by Section 3.01:

 

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

 

(b) default in the payment of the principal amount of (or premium, if any, on) any Security of such series as and when the same shall become due, either at Maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, or otherwise; or

 

(c) default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of such series and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days; or

 

(d) default in the performance or breach of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture in respect of the Securities of such series (other than a covenant or warranty in respect of the Securities of such series a default in the performance of which or the breach of which is elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with), and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in the principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder; or

 

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

 

(f) the consent by the Company to the institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other applicable Federal or State law, or the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or

 

(g) any other Event of Default provided for with respect to the Securities of such series in accordance with Section 3.01.

 

A default under any indebtedness of the Company other than the Securities will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture, and a default under one series of Securities will not constitute a default under any other series of Securities. The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of an Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer at the Corporate Trust Office has actual knowledge thereof.

 

 

Section 5.02 Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission, and Annulment.

 

If any Event of Default described in Section 5.01 above (other than Event of Default described in Section 5.01(e) and Section 5.01(f)) shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to any series, then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all the Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 51% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding hereunder, by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), may declare the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of all the Securities of such series and any and all accrued interest thereon to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable, any provision of this Indenture or the Securities of such series to the contrary notwithstanding. If an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(e) or Section 5.01(f) occurs, the principal amount of the Securities of such series and any and all accrued interest thereon shall immediately become and be due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. No declaration of acceleration by the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall constitute a declaration of acceleration by the Trustee with respect to any other series of Securities, and no declaration of acceleration by the Holders of at least 51% in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series shall constitute a declaration of acceleration or other action by any of the Holders of any other series of Securities, in each case whether or not the Event of Default on which such declaration is based shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to more than one series of Securities, and whether or not any Holders of the Securities of any such affected series shall also be Holders of Securities of any other such affected series.

 

At any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to the Securities of any series and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article provided, the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series, by written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to such series of Securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal of the Securities of such series which have become due solely by such acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 5.13, if such cure or waiver does not conflict with any judgment or decree set forth in Section 5.01(e) and Section 5.01(f) and if all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel have been paid.

 

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

 

Section 5.03 Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

 

The Company covenants that if:

 

(a) default is made in the payment of any installment of interest on any Security of any series when such interest becomes due and payable, or

 

(b) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof, or

 

(c) default is made in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of any series, and

 

(d) any such default continues for any period of grace provided in relation to such default pursuant to Section 5.01, then, with respect to the Securities of such series, the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the Holder of any such Security (or the Holders of any such series in the case of clause (c) above), the whole amount then due and payable on any such Security (or on the Securities of any such series in the case of clause (c) above) for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, with interest (to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable) upon the overdue principal (and premium, if any) and upon overdue installments of interest, if any, at such rate or rates as may be prescribed therefor by the terms of any such Security (or of Securities of any such series in the case of clause (c) above); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07.

 

 

If the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series and collect the money adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever situated.

 

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

 

Section 5.04 Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

 

In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition, or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings or otherwise,

 

(a) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (or, with respect to Original Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such Securities), premium, if any, and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities, and to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary and advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements, and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and all other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07) and of the Securityholders allowed in such judicial proceedings, and

 

(b) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee and its agent and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07 hereof.

 

Nothing herein contained 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 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 5.05 Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

 

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

 

Section 5.06 Application of Money Collected.

 

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

 

First: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 6.07 hereof.

 

Second: To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the Securities of that series for principal, premium, if any, interest, if any, and additional amounts, if any, in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind.

 

Section 5.07 Limitation on Suits.

 

No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless

 

(a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series;

 

(b) the Holders of not less than 51% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder;

 

(c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request;

 

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

 

(e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders of Securities of such series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and proportionate benefit of all the Holders of all Securities of such series.

 

Section 5.08 Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Receive Principal, Premium, and Interest.

 

Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal, premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.07) interest, if any, (and additional amounts, if any) on such Security on or after the respective payment dates expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on the Redemption Date or Repayment Date, as the case may be) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective date, and such right shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

 

 

Section 5.09 Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

 

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

 

Section 5.10 Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

 

No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Securityholders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right or remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

 

Section 5.11 Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

 

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

 

Section 5.12 Control by Securityholders.

 

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

 

(a) the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that the action so directed may not lawfully be taken or would conflict with this Indenture or if the Trustee in good faith shall, by a Responsible Officer, determine that the proceedings so directed would involve it in personal liability or be unjustly prejudicial to the Holders not taking part in such direction, and

 

(b) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction.

 

Section 5.13 Waiver of Past Defaults.

 

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

 

(a) in the payment of principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any Security of such series, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation with respect to the Securities of such series, or

 

(b) in respect of a covenant or provision in this Indenture which, under Article Nine hereof, cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of such series.

 

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

 

 

Section 5.14 Undertaking for Costs.

 

All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by such Holder’s acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken 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 in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series to which the suit relates, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any Security on or after the respective payment dates expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or Repayment Date).

 

Section 5.15 Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.

 

The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law (other than any bankruptcy law) wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

 

ARTICLE VI

THE TRUSTEE

 

Section 6.01 Certain Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

 

(a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities,

 

(i) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

 

(ii) in the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may, with respect to Securities of such series, conclusively rely 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 on their face to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of calculations or other facts stated therein).

 

(b) If an Event of Default with respect to any series of Securities actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise, with respect to the Securities of such 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.

 

(c) No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that

 

(i) this Subsection 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 Responsible Officer, 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 Outstanding Securities of any series relating to the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series; and

 

(iv) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

 

(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section.

 

 

Section 6.02 Notice of Defaults.

 

Within 90 days after receipt of notice of the occurrence of any default hereunder with respect to Securities of any series, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Securityholders of such series, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, notice of such default hereunder known to the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided, however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any Security of such series or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment or analogous obligation with respect to Securities of such series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee or a trust committee of directors and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such series and; provided, further, that, in the case of any default of the character specified in Section 5.01(d) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to Securityholders of such series shall be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof. For the purpose of this Section, the term “default”, with respect to Securities of any series, means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series.

 

Section 6.03 Certain Rights of Trustee.

 

Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01 above:

 

(a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture 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 or order of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

 

(c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part, rely upon an Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel or both, and shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith reliance on such certificate or opinion;

 

(d) the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel as to matters of law shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

 

(e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction;

 

(f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or attorney; and

 

(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.

 

Section 6.04 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

 

The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

 

 

Section 6.05 May Hold Securities.

 

The Trustee or any Paying Agent, Security Registrar, or other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 6.08 and 6.13 hereof, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Security Registrar, or such other agent.

 

Section 6.06 Money Held in Trust.

 

Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law. The Trustee shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

 

Section 6.07 Compensation and Reimbursement.

 

The Company covenants and agrees

 

(a) to pay the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust);

 

(b) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad faith; and

 

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

 

Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(e) and Section 5.01(f) above, such expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and compensation for such services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, or other similar law.

 

The Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities upon all property and funds held or collected by it as such for any amount owing to it or any predecessor Trustee pursuant to this Section 6.07, except with respect to funds held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities.

 

The provisions of this Section shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.

 

Section 6.08 Disqualification; Conflicting Interests.

 

If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, it shall either eliminate such interest or resign as Trustee with respect to one or more series of Securities, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to Securities of more than one series.

 

 

Section 6.09 Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

 

There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder with respect to each series of Securities that shall be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority and having its principal office and place of business in the ____________, if there be such a corporation having its principal office and place of business in said __________________ and willing to act as Trustee on customary and usual terms. If such corporation 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 shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.

 

Section 6.10 Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

 

(a) No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under Section 6.11.

 

(b) The Trustee may resign with respect to any one or more series of Securities at any time by giving at least 60 days’ written notice thereof to the Company. If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

 

(c) The Trustee may be removed with respect to any series of Securities at any time by Act of the Holders of 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series, delivered to the Trustee and to the Company.

 

(d) If at any time:

 

(i) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 6.08 above with respect to any series of Securities after written request therefor by the Company or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least six months, or

 

(ii) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 6.09 above with respect to any series of Securities 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 with respect to any series of Securities, or

 

(iv) the Trustee shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation, then, in any such case (A) the Company may remove the Trustee, with respect to the series or, in the case of clause (iv), with respect to all series, or (B) subject to Section 5.14, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such series for at least 6 months may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the series or, in the case of clause (iv), with respect to all series.

 

(e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting with respect to any series of Securities, or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee with respect to any series of Securities for any cause, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee for that series of Securities. If, within one year after such resignation, removal or incapacity, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with respect to such series of Securities shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee with respect to such series and supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company with respect to such series. If no successor Trustee with respect to such series shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Securityholders of such series and accepted appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of that series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself or herself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such series.

 

(f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of the Trustee with respect to any series and each appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to any series by mailing written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the Holders of Securities of that series as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register. Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the address of its principal Corporate Trust Office.

 

 

Section 6.11 Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

 

Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder with respect to all series of Securities shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the predecessor Trustee an instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the predecessor 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 predecessor Trustee with respect to any such series; but, on request of the Company or the successor Trustee, such predecessor Trustee shall, upon payment of its reasonable charges, if any, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the predecessor Trustee, and shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by such predecessor Trustee hereunder.

 

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

 

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

 

No successor Trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall accept its appointment unless at the time of such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible with respect to that series under this Article.

 

Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Company’s obligations under Section 6.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

 

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

 

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

 

 

Section 6.13 Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

 

If and when the Trustee shall be or shall become a creditor, of the Company (or of any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against the Company (or against any such other obligor, as the case may be).

 

Section 6.14 Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

 

At any time when any of the Securities remain Outstanding the Trustee, with the approval of the Company, may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof or pursuant to Section 3.06, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the Trustee or the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as an Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

 

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

 

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

 

 

The Company agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

 

If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant to this Section, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to the Trustee’s certificate of authentication, an alternate certificate of authentication in the following form:

 

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

 

______________________, as Trustee

 

By: ______________________

 

As Authenticating Agent:

 

By: _______________________

 

Authorized Officer:

 

ARTICLE VII

SECURITYHOLDERS’ LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

 

Section 7.01 Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Securityholders. The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:

 

(a) semiannually, not more than 15 days after January 1 and July 1 in each year, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, a list of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of such date, and

 

(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished, provided that if the Trustee shall be the Security Registrar for such series, such list shall not be required to be furnished.

 

Section 7.02 Preservation of Information; Communications to Securityholders.

 

(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Securities contained in the most recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 7.01 and the names and addresses of Holders of Securities received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 7.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

 

(b) If three or more Holders of Securities of any series (hereinafter referred to as “applicants”) apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security of such series for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders of Securities of such series or with the Holders of all Securities with respect to their rights under this Indenture or under such Securities and is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either:

 

(i) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02(a), or

 

 

(ii) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders of Securities of such series or all Securities, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02(a), and as to the approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

 

If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such applicants access to such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such applicants, mail to each Holder of a Security of such series or to all Securityholders, as the case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 7.02(a), a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which is specified in such request, with reasonable promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or all Securityholders, as the case may be, or would be in violation of applicable law. Such written statement shall specify the basis of such opinion. If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all Securityholders of such series or all Securityholders, as the case may be, with reasonable promptness after the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their application.

 

(c) Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee shall be held accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 7.02(b), regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under Section 7.02(b).

 

Section 7.03 Reports by Trustee.

 

(a) The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each June 1 following the date of this Indenture, deliver to each Holder, as provided in Trust Indenture Act Section 313(c), a brief report dated as of such June 1, which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

 

(b) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company as required by Trust Indenture Act Section 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.

 

Section 7.04 Reports by Company.

 

The Company will:

 

(a) file with the Trustee, within 30 days after the Company is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then it will file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

 

(b) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

 

(c) transmit by mail to all Securityholders, as their names and addresses appear in the Security Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission.

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE OR TRANSFER

 

Section 8.01 Company May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms.

 

The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other corporation or convey or transfer all or substantially all of its properties and assets and the properties and assets of the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any Person, unless:

 

(a) either the Company shall be the continuing corporation, or the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, shall be a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on all the Securities and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

 

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

 

(c) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that any such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and any assumption permitted or required by this Article complies with the provisions of this Article.

 

Section 8.02 Successor Corporation Substituted.

 

Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company in accordance with Section 8.01, the successor corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or the Person to which such conveyance or transfer is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been named as the Company herein and the Company shall thereupon be released from all obligations hereunder and under the Securities. Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed and may issue any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor corporation, instead of the Company, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Company to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities which such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All of the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

 

In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the Securities thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

 

ARTICLE IX

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

 

Section 9.01 Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders.

 

Without the consent of the Holders of any Securities, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act as in force at the date of execution thereof), in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

 

(a) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Company pursuant to Article 8 hereof; or

 

 

(b) to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the Holders of the Securities of any or all series as the Company and the Trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of the Securities of any or all series or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company (and if such covenants or the surrender of such right or power are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants are expressly being included or such surrenders are expressly being made solely for the benefit of one or more specified series); or

 

(c) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision herein which may be inconsistent with any other provision herein or in any supplemental indenture, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Indenture that do not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect; or

 

(d) to add to this Indenture such provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, excluding, however, the provisions referred to in Section 316(a)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act as in effect at the date as of which this instrument is executed or any corresponding provision in any similar federal statute hereafter enacted; or

 

(e) to secure any series of Securities; or

 

(f) to establish any form of Security, as provided in Article 2 hereof, and to provide for the issuance of any series of Securities, as provided in Article 3 hereof, and to set forth the terms thereof, and/or to add to the rights of the Holders of the Securities of any series; or

 

(g) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by another corporation as a successor Trustee hereunder with respect to one or more series of Securities and to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to Section 6.11 hereof; or

 

(h) to add any additional Events of Default in respect of the Securities of any or all series (and if such additional Events of Default are to be in respect of less than all series of Securities, stating that such Events of Default are expressly being included solely for the benefit of one or more specified series); or

 

(i) to comply with the requirements of the Commission in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

 

(j) to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders of such Securities.

 

Section 9.02 Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders.

 

With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture or indentures, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

 

(a) change the Scheduled Maturity Date or the stated payment date of any payment of premium or interest payable on any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or any amount of interest or premium payable thereon, or

 

(b) change the method of computing the amount of principal of any Security or any interest payable thereon on any date, or change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any Security or any payment of premium or interest thereon is payable, or

 

 

(c) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment described in clauses (a) or (b) on or after the same shall become due and payable, whether at Maturity or, in the case of redemption or repayment, on or after the Redemption Date or the Repayment Date, as the case may be; or

 

(d) change or waive the redemption or repayment provisions of any series;

 

(e) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences, provided for in this Indenture; or

 

(f) modify any of the provisions of this Section or Section 5.13, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided, however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with respect to changes in the references to “the Trustee” and concomitant changes in this Section, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 6.11 and 9.01(g); or

 

(g) adversely affect the ranking or priority of any series; or

 

(h) waive any Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.01(a), Section 5.01(b) or Section 5.01(c) hereof with respect to such Security.

 

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

 

It shall not be necessary for any Act of Securityholders under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

 

Section 9.03 Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon request of the Company and upon filing with the Trustee of evidence of an Act of Securityholders as aforementioned, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of such supplemental indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee’s own rights, powers, trusts, 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. In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 6.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

 

Section 9.04 Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

 

Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this Article, this Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith, and such supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and the respective rights, limitation of rights, duties, powers, trusts and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company, and every Holder of Securities theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered hereunder shall be determined, exercised and enforced thereunder to the extent provided therein.

 

Section 9.05 Conformity With Trust Indenture Act.

 

Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.

 

Section 9.06 Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

 

Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article may, and shall if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Company, to any modification of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in exchange for Outstanding Securities.

 

 

ARTICLE X

COVENANTS

 

Section 10.01 Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

 

With respect to each series of Securities, the Company will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on such Securities in accordance with their terms and this Indenture, and will duly comply with all the other terms, agreements and conditions contained in the Indenture for the benefit of the Securities of such series.

 

Section 10.02 Maintenance of Office or Agency.

 

So long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, the Company will maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and of any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain such office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

 

Section 10.03 Money or Security Payments to Be Held in Trust.

 

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

 

Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any Securities of such series, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal, premium, or interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities entitled to the same and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

 

The Company will cause each Paying Agent other than the Trustee for any series of Securities to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section, that such Paying Agent will:

 

(a) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on Securities of such series in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Holders of such Securities or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

 

(b) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series) in the making of any such payment of principal of, premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on the Securities of such series; and

 

(c) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.

 

The Company may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to any series of Securities or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or such Paying Agent in respect of each and every series of Securities as to which it seeks to discharge this Indenture or, if for any other purpose, all sums so held in trust by the Company in respect of all Securities, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such money.

 

 

Section 10.04 Certificate to Trustee.

 

The Company will deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate, one of whose signatories shall be the Company’s principal executive, accounting or financial officer, stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any default by the Company in the performance of any of its covenants, conditions or agreements contained herein (without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder), stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so, specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature thereof.

 

Section 10.05 Corporate Existence.

 

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

 

ARTICLE XI

REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

 

Section 11.01 Applicability of Article.

 

The Company may reserve the right to redeem and pay before the Scheduled Maturity Date all or any part of the Securities of any series, either by optional redemption, sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation or otherwise, by provision therefor in the form of Security for such series established and approved pursuant to Section 2.02 and 2.03 or as otherwise provided in Section 3.01, and on such terms as are specified in such form or in the indenture supplemental hereto with respect to Securities of such series as provided in Section 3.01. Redemption of Securities of any series shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and, to the extent that this Article does not conflict with such terms, the succeeding Sections of this Article.

 

Section 11.02 Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

 

In case of any redemption at the election of the Company, the Company shall, at least 60 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) notify the Trustee in writing of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed. In the case of any redemption of Securities (a) prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, or (b) pursuant to an election of the Company which is subject to a condition specified in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers’ Certificate evidencing compliance with such restriction or condition.

 

Section 11.03 Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.

 

If fewer than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate, which may include provision for the selection for redemption of portions of the principal of Securities of such series of a denomination larger than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of that series. Unless otherwise provided in the terms of a particular series of Securities, the portions of the principal of Securities so selected for partial redemption shall be equal to the minimum authorized denomination of the Securities of such series, or an integral multiple thereof, and the principal amount which remains outstanding shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of such series.

 

 

The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and, in the case of any Security selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.

 

For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the principal of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

 

Section 11.04 Notice of Redemption.

 

Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage prepaid, mailed not fewer than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at such Holder’s address appearing in the Security Register on the applicable Record Date.

 

All notices of redemption shall state:

 

(1) the Redemption Date;

 

(2) the Redemption Price, or if not then ascertainable, the manner of calculation thereof;

 

(3) if fewer than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the Securities to be redeemed, from the Holder to whom the notice is given and that on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of the same series in the aggregate principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued in accordance with Section 11.07;

 

(4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security, and that interest, if any, thereon shall cease to accrue from and after said date;

 

(5) the place where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price, which shall be the office or agency maintained by the Company in the Place of Payment pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof; and

 

(6) that the redemption is on account of a sinking or purchase fund, or other analogous obligation, if that be the case.

 

Notice of redemption of Securities to be redeemed at the election of the Company shall be given by the Company or, at the Company’s request, made at least five Business Days prior to the date on which notice is to be given, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company.

 

Section 11.05 Deposit of Redemption Price.

 

On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money, in immediately available funds, sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

 

Section 11.06 Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

 

Notice of Redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price therein specified and from and after such date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of such Securities for redemption in accordance with the notice, such Securities shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price. Any installment of interest due and payable on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders of such Securities registered as such on the relevant Record Date according to the terms and the provisions of Section 3.07 above; unless, with respect to an Interest Payment Date that falls on a Redemption Date, such Securities provide that interest due on such date is to be paid to the Person to whom principal is payable.

 

 

If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Security, or as otherwise provided in such Security.

 

Section 11.07 Securities Redeemed in Part.

 

Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the office or agency maintained by the Company in the Place of Payment pursuant to Section 10.02 hereof with respect to that series (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his or her attorney duly authorized in writing) and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, tenor, terms and Scheduled Maturity Date, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holders in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered.

 

Section 11.08 Provisions with Respect to any Sinking Funds.

 

Unless the form or terms of any series of Securities shall provide otherwise, in lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund payment with respect to such series of Securities in cash, the Company may at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation any Securities of such series theretofore acquired by the Company, or (b) receive credit for any Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired or redeemed by the Company (other than through operation of a mandatory sinking fund) and theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, and if it does so then (i) Securities so delivered or credited shall be credited at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, and (ii) on or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to such series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee (A) an Officers’ Certificate specifying the portions of such sinking fund payment to be satisfied by payment of cash and by the delivery or credit of Securities of such series acquired or redeemed by the Company, and (B) such Securities, to the extent not previously surrendered. Such Officers’ Certificate shall also state the basis for any such credit and that the Securities for which the Company elects to receive credit have not been previously so credited and were not acquired by the Company through operation of the mandatory sinking fund, if any, provided with respect to such Securities and shall also state that no Event of Default with respect to Securities of such series has occurred and is continuing. All Securities so delivered to the Trustee shall be canceled by the Trustee and no Securities shall be authenticated in lieu thereof.

 

If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) with respect to any series of Securities made in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments with respect to Securities of such series made in cash shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request), unless otherwise provided by the terms of such series of Securities, that cash shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund Redemption Date with respect to Securities of such series next following the date of such payment to the redemption of Securities of such series at the applicable sinking fund Redemption Price with respect to Securities of such series, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption, with the effect provided in Section 11.06. The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 11.03, for redemption on such sinking fund Redemption Date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to utilize that cash and shall thereupon cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series for the sinking fund to be given in the manner provided in Section 11.04 (and with the effect provided in Section 11.06) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or allocated by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment with respect to Securities of such series received by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.08. Any and all sinking fund moneys with respect to Securities of any series held by the Trustee at the Maturity of Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee, together with other moneys, if necessary, be deposited sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.

 

 

On or before each sinking fund Redemption Date provided with respect to Securities of any series, the Company shall pay to the Trustee in cash a sum equal to all accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund Redemption Date pursuant to this Section 11.08.

 

The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of Securities by operation of the applicable sinking fund during the continuance of a default in payment of interest on Securities of such series or of any Event of Default with respect to such series, except that if the notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities if cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this Article 11. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund with respect to Securities of any series at the time when any such default or Event of Default with respect to such series shall occur, and any moneys thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such default or Event of Default with respect to such series, be held as security for the payment of all Securities of such series; provided, however, that in case such default or Event of Default with respect to such series shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next sinking fund payment date on which such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 11.08.

 

ARTICLE XII

REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS

 

Section 12.01 Applicability of Article.

 

Repayment of Securities of any series before their Scheduled Maturity Date at the option of Holders thereof shall be made in accordance with the terms of such Securities and (except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article.

 

Section 12.02 Repayment of Securities.

 

Securities of any series subject to repayment in whole or in part at the option of the Holders thereof will, unless otherwise provided in the terms of such Securities, be repaid at a price equal to the principal amount thereof, together with interest thereon accrued to the Repayment Date specified in the terms of such Securities. On or before the Repayment Date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 10.03) an amount of money, in immediately available funds, sufficient to pay the Repayment Price of all the Securities which are to be repaid on such date.

 

Section 12.03 Exercise of Option.

 

Securities of any series subject to repayment at the option of the Holders thereof will contain an “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Securities. To be repaid at the option of the Holder, any Security so providing for such repayment, with the “Option to Elect Repayment” form on the reverse of such Security duly completed by the Holder, must be received by the Company at the Place of Payment therefor specified in the terms of such Security (or at such other place or places of which the Company shall from time to time notify the Holders of such Securities) not earlier than 30 days nor later than 15 days prior to the Repayment Date. If less than the entire principal amount of such Security is to be repaid in accordance with the terms of such Security, the principal amount of such Security to be repaid, in increments of $1,000 unless otherwise specified in the terms of such Security, and the denomination or denominations of the Security or Securities to be issued to the Holder for the portion of the principal amount of such Security surrendered that is not to be repaid must be specified. The principal amount of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof may not be repaid in part, if, following such repayment, the unpaid principal amount of such Security would be less than the minimum authorized denomination of Securities of the series of which such Security to be repaid is a part. Except as otherwise may be provided by the terms of any Security providing for repayment at the option of the Holder thereof, exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable unless waived by the Company.

 

 

Section 12.04 When Securities Presented for Repayment Become Due and Payable.

 

If Securities of any series providing for repayment at the option of the Holders thereof shall have been surrendered as provided in this Article and as provided by the terms of such Securities, such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, to be repaid shall become due and payable and shall be paid by the Company on the Repayment Date therein specified, and on and after such Repayment Date (unless the Company shall default in the payment of such Securities on such Repayment Date) interest on such Securities or the portions thereof, as the case may be, shall cease to accrue.

 

Section 12.05 Securities Repaid in Part.

 

Upon surrender of any Security which is to be repaid in part only, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security, without service charge and at the expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, tenor, terms and Scheduled Maturity Date, of any authorized denomination specified by the Holder, in an aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the portion of the principal of such Security so surrendered which is not to be repaid.

 

ARTICLE XIII

SUBORDINATION

 

Section 13.01 Agreement to Subordinate.

 

The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security issued hereunder, by such Holder’s acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities issued hereunder shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article; and each Person holding any Security issued hereunder, whether upon original issue or upon transfer, assignment or exchange thereof, accepts and agrees that the principal of and interest on all Securities issued hereunder shall, to the extent and in the manner herein set forth, be subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, and that the subordination is for the benefit of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness.

 

Section 13.02 Payments to Securityholders.

 

As to each series of Securities, if any, issued hereunder, in the event (a) of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, or any receivership, dissolution, winding-up, total or partial liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in respect of the Company or a substantial part of its property, whether voluntary or involuntary, or (b) that (i) a default shall have occurred with respect to the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or other monetary amounts due and payable with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, or (ii) there shall have occurred an event of default (other than a default in the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on or other monetary amounts due and payable) in respect of any Senior Indebtedness, as defined in such Senior Indebtedness or in the instrument under which the same is outstanding, permitting the holder or holders thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof, and such default or event of default shall not be cured or was continued beyond the period of grace, if any, in respect thereof, and such default or event of default shall not have been waived or shall not have ceased to exist, or (c) separately with respect to each series of Securities issued hereunder, that the principal of or premium, if any, on and accrued interest, if any, on such Securities shall have been declared due and payable pursuant to Section 5.02 and such declaration shall not have been rescinded and annulled as provided in Section 5.02, then the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due thereon, or provision shall be made, in accordance with the terms of such Senior Indebtedness, for such payment in money or money’s worth, before the Holders of such series of Securities issued hereunder are entitled to receive a payment on account of the principal of or premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on the indebtedness evidenced by such series of Securities, including, without limitation, any payments made pursuant to Article XI, or any cash payments to purchase such series of Securities at the option of the Holders thereof.

 

 

Upon any such insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding, receivership, dissolution, winding-up, total or partial liquidation, reorganization, or other similar proceeding referred to in clause (a) of the immediately preceding paragraph, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee under this Indenture would be entitled, except for the provisions hereof, shall be paid by the Company or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution or, to the extent required by the next succeeding paragraph, by the Holders of the Securities or the Trustee, if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders) or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Indebtedness in full after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness, before any payment or distribution is made to the Holders of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities issued hereunder (including any cash payments to repurchase such Securities at the option of the Holders thereof) or to the Trustee under this Indenture.

 

In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing provisions of this Section, shall be received by the Trustee under this Indenture or the Holders of the Securities before all Senior Indebtedness is paid in full or provision is made for such payment in accordance with its terms, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the time of such payment or distribution, have been known to the Trustee, then such payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any of such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Senior Indebtedness shall have been paid in full in accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

 

For purposes of this Article only, the words, “cash, property or securities” shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of arrangement, reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is subordinated (at least to the extent provided in this Article with respect to the Securities) to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness which may at the time be outstanding; provided that (i) the Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such arrangement, reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of the Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such arrangement, reorganization or readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the Company with or into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer of all or substantially all of its assets to another corporation upon the terms and conditions provided in Article VIII shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this Section if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article VIII. Nothing in this Section shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Article VI, except as expressly provided therein. This Section shall be subject to the further provisions of Section 13.05.

 

Section 13.03 Subrogation.

 

Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the Securities subject to the provisions of Section 13.02 shall be subrogated (equally and ratably with the holders of all obligations of the Company which by their express terms are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness of the Company to the same extent as the Securities are subordinated and which are entitled to like rights of subrogation) to the rights of the holders of Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to the Senior Indebtedness until the principal of or, premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on such Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purpose of such subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee on their behalf would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article to the holders of Senior Indebtedness by Holders of such Securities or the Trustee on their behalf, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of such Securities, be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or on account of the Senior Indebtedness; and no payments or distributions of cash, property or securities to or for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities pursuant to the subrogation provision of this Article, which would otherwise have been paid to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, shall be deemed to be a payment by the Company to or for the account of such Securities. The provisions of this Article are intended solely for the purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of the Senior Indebtedness, on the other hand.

 

 

Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the Holders of the Securities the principal of or premium, if any, on and interest, if any, on the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights against the Company of the Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the Holder of any Security or the Trustee on his or her behalf from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article of the holders of Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

 

Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 6.01 and Section 6.03, and the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, arrangement or reorganization proceedings are pending, or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the Holders of the Securities, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and other Indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article.

 

Section 13.04 Authorization by Securityholders.

 

Each Holder of a Security by his or her acceptance thereof authorizes the Trustee on such Holder’s behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article and appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

 

Section 13.05 Notice to Trustee.

 

The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and to any Paying Agent of any fact known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee or any Paying Agent in respect of the Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article. Regardless of anything to the contrary contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of any Senior Indebtedness or of any default or event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness or of any other facts which would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless and until the Trustee shall have received notice in writing (which may be by telegram, telecopy or other similar writing) at its Corporate Trust Office to that effect signed by an officer of the Company, or by a holder or agent of a holder of Senior Indebtedness who shall have been certified by the Company or otherwise established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee to be such holder or agent, or by the trustee under any indenture pursuant to which Senior Indebtedness shall be outstanding, and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee shall, subject to Section 6.01 and Section 6.03, be entitled to assume that no such facts exist; provided that if on a date at least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any such monies shall become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on or interest, if any, on any Security) the Trustee shall not have received with respect to such monies the notice provided for in this Section, then, regardless of anything herein to the contrary, the Trustee shall have full power and authority to receive such monies and to apply the same to the purpose for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which may be received by it on or after such prior date.

 

 

Regardless of anything to the contrary herein (but subject, in the case of clause (a) of this paragraph, to the second paragraph of Section 13.02), nothing shall prevent (a) any payment by the Company or the Trustee to the Securityholders of amounts in connection with a redemption of Securities if (i) notice of such redemption has been given pursuant to Article XI prior to the receipt by the Trustee of written notice as aforesaid, and (ii) such notice of redemption is given not earlier than 60 days before any redemption date, or (b) any payment by the Trustee to the Securityholders of amounts deposited with it pursuant to Section 4.01, provided, that, in the case of Section 4.02, the applicable Securities are deemed to have been paid and discharged, and in the case of Section 4.01, the Trustee shall not have received, by at least two Business Days prior to the date of execution of instruments acknowledging the satisfaction of and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the applicable Securities, the notice provided in the preceding paragraph.

 

Subject to Section 6.01 and Section 6.03, the Trustee shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing himself or herself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article, and if such evidence is not furnished the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment.

 

Section 13.06 Trustee’s Relation to Senior Indebtedness.

 

The Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at any time be held by it in its individual or any other capacity to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee or any such agent of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.07.

 

With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article, and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.01 and Section 6.03, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of Senior Indebtedness if it shall in good faith pay over or deliver to Holders of Securities, the Company or any other Person monies or assets to which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise.

 

Section 13.07 No Impairment of Subordination.

 

No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or otherwise be charged with.

 

(signature page follows)

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and attested; all as of the day and year first above written.

 

			AIR INDUSTRIES GROUP.
			By:
			Name:
			Title:
ATTEST:
By:
Name:
Title:
					, TRUSTEE
			By:
			Name:
			Title:
ATTEST:
By:
Name:
Title:

 

State of

 

County of

 

On the _____ day of _______, _________ before me personally came ___________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he or she resides at ____________________; that he or she is the ________ of ___________, one of the parties described in and which executed the above instrument; that he or she knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to that instrument is such corporate seal; that it was affixed by authority of the board of directors of said corporation; and that he or she signed his or her name thereto by like authority.

 

Name

 

Notary Public

 

State of

 

County of

 

On the _____ day of _______, _____ before me personally came __________, to me known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he or she resides at __________________; that he or she is the _______________ of Air Industries Group, one of the parties described in and which executed the above instrument; that he or she knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to that instrument is such corporate seal; that it was affixed by authority of the board of directors of said corporation; and that he or she signed his or her name thereto by like authority.

 

Name

 

Notary Public

 

 

Exhibit 5.1

 

Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP 1345 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10105 Telephone: 212-370-1300 Facsimile: 212-370-7889

 

December 13, 2024

 

Board of Directors 

Air Industries Group

1460 Fifth Avenue

Bay Shore, NY 11706

 

Re: Registration Statement on Form S-3

 

Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Air Industries Group, a Nevada corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the filing by the Company of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the “Registration Statement”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933 as amended (the “Securities Act”) relating to the offer and sale from time to time by the Company of up to a maximum of $10,000,000 aggregate initial offering price of a presently indeterminate amount of the following securities (each a “Company Security” and collectively, or in any combination, the “Company Securities”): (i) shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”); (ii) shares of preferred stock of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Preferred Stock”); (iii) debt securities which may be issued in one or more series (the “Debt Securities”); (iv) warrants to purchase shares of the Common Stock, the Preferred Stock, and Debt Securities or any combination of such securities (the “Warrants”); and (v) units consisting of Common Stock, Preferred Stock, Debt Securities and Warrants or a combination thereof (the “Units”).

 

The Company Securities may be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to applicable provisions of Rule 415 under the Securities Act, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of market conditions at the time of sale, and as set forth in the Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, the prospectus contained therein (the “Prospectus”) and any supplements to the Prospectus (each, a “Prospectus Supplement”). The Company Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect.

 

Additionally, we have acted as counsel to the Company in connection with the sale through Craig-Hallum Capital Group LLC as the sales agent (the “Sales Agent”) from time to time by the Company of shares of Common Stock (the “Sales Agreement Shares”) having an aggregate offering price of up to $[*] pursuant to the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus and the related prospectus for the sale of Sales Agreement Shares (collectively, the “Sales Agreement Prospectus”).

 

You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the Registration Statement. For purposes of rendering the opinions set forth below, we have examined such documents and reviewed such questions of law as we have considered necessary and appropriate for the purposes of our opinion including (i) the Registration Statement, including the exhibits filed therewith, (ii) the Prospectus, (iii) the Sales Agreement Prospectus, (iv) the Company’s articles of incorporation, as amended through the date hereof (the “Articles of Incorporation”), (v) the Company’s amended and restated bylaws, as amended (the “Bylaws”), (vi) the corporate resolutions and other actions of the Company that authorize and provide for the filing of the Registration Statement, and we have made such other investigation as we have deemed appropriate. We have not independently established any of the facts so relied on.

 

 

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have assumed the accuracy and completeness of each document submitted to us, the genuineness of all signatures on original documents, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as facsimile, electronic, certified, conformed or photostatic copies thereof, and the due execution and delivery of all documents where due execution and delivery are prerequisites to the effectiveness thereof. We have further assumed the legal capacity of natural persons, that persons identified to us as officers of the Company are actually serving in such capacity, that the representations of officers and employees of the Company are correct as to questions of fact, that the board of directors will have taken all action necessary to set the issuance price of the Company Securities to be offered and sold and that each party to the documents we have examined or relied on (other than the Company) has the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and also have assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, the execution and delivery by such parties of such documents, and the validity and binding effect thereof on such parties. We have not independently verified any of these assumptions.

 

The opinions expressed in this opinion letter are limited to (i) the provisions of Chapter 76 of the Nevada Revised Statutes (“NRS”) and the applicable statutory provisions of the Nevada Constitution and the reported judicial decisions interpreting such statute and provisions and, solely in connection with the opinions given in numbered paragraphs 1, 2, and 6 below and (ii) the laws of the State of New York solely in connection with the other opinions given below. We are not opining on, and we assume no responsibility for, the applicability to or effect on any of the matters covered herein of (a) any other laws; (b) the laws of any other jurisdiction; or (c) the laws of any county, municipality or other political subdivision or local governmental agency or authority.

 

Based on the foregoing and in reliance thereon, and subject to the assumptions, qualifications, limitations and exceptions set forth below, we are of the opinion that:

 

1. With respect to shares of Common Stock, when (a) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including without limitation the due reservation of any Common Stock for issuance, and (b) certificates representing the shares of Common Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered, in each case in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws, either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors of the Company upon payment of the consideration therefor (which consideration shall not be less than the par value of the Common Stock) provided for in such definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, as applicable, or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Company Security in accordance with the terms of such Company Security or the instrument governing such Company Security providing for the conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the board of directors of the Company, for the consideration therefor set forth in the applicable agreement and approved by the board of directors of the Company, which consideration shall not be less than the par value of the Common Stock, such shares of Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable.

 

2. With respect to shares of any series of Preferred Stock, when (a) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and terms of the shares of such series, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the adoption of a certificate of designation or amendment to the Articles of Incorporation fixing and determining the terms of such Preferred Stock conforming to the provisions of Chapter 78 of the NRS, the filing of a certificate or amendment, as applicable, with the Secretary of State of Nevada, the payment in full of any filing fees attendant thereto, and the due reservation of any Common Stock and Preferred Stock for issuance, and (b) certificates representing the shares of such series of Preferred Stock have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered, in each case in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, either (i) in accordance with the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors of the Company upon payment of the consideration therefor (which consideration shall not be less than the par value of the Preferred Stock) provided for in such definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, as applicable, or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Company Security in accordance with the terms of such Company Security or the instrument governing such Company Security providing for the conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the board of directors of the Company, for the consideration therefor set forth in the applicable agreement and approved by the board of directors of the Company, which consideration shall not be less than the par value of the Preferred Stock, the shares of such series of Preferred Stock will be validly issued, fully paid, and non-assessable

 

 

3. With respect to the issuance of any warrants, when (a) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the warrant agreement to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any warrants and such warrant agreement has been validly executed and delivered by the warrant agent and Company, (b) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the specific issuance and terms of any warrants duly established in accordance with the applicable warrant agreement and (c) such warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, issued and delivered in accordance with the warrant agreement and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, as applicable, for the consideration therefor set forth in the applicable agreement and approved by the board of directors of the Company (assuming the securities issuable upon exercise of the warrants have been duly authorized and reserved for issuance by all necessary corporate action and in accordance with applicable law), such warrants will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability.

 

4. With respect to any debt securities, when (a) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve an applicable indenture, if any, or any amendment or supplement thereto or other agreement in respect thereof, if any, and such indenture, if any, or any amendment or supplement thereto or other agreement in respect thereof, if any, has been validly executed and delivered by the Company, (b) any applicable indenture, if required, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, if qualification is required thereunder, (c) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the specific issuance and terms of any series of debt security duly established in accordance with the applicable indenture, if any, and (d) such debt security have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, issued and delivered either (i) in accordance with the indenture, if any, or any amendment or supplement thereto or other agreement in respect thereof, if any, the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, as applicable, or (ii) upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any other Company Security in accordance with the terms of such Company Security or the instrument governing such Company Security providing for the conversion, exchange or exercise as approved by the board of directors of the Company, for the consideration therefor set forth in the applicable agreement and approved by the board of directors of the Company, such debt securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, provided that we express no opinion as to (x) the enforceability of any waiver of rights under any usury or state law, (y) the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision of the indenture that requires or relates to adjustments to the conversion rate at a rate or in an amount that a court would determine in the circumstances under applicable law to be commercially unreasonable or a penalty or forfeiture or (z) the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision that permits holders to collect any portion of stated principle amount upon acceleration of the debt securities to the extent determined to constitute unearned interest.

  

5. With respect to the issuance of any units, when (a) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the unit agreement, if any, to be entered into in connection with the issuance of any units and such unit agreement, if any, has been validly executed and delivered by the unit agent, if any, and Company, (b) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the specific issuance and terms of any units duly established in accordance with the applicable unit agreement, if any, and (c) such units have been duly executed, countersigned, registered, issued and delivered in accordance with the unit agreement, if any, and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement, as applicable, for the consideration therefor set forth in the applicable agreement and approved by the board of directors of the Company, such units will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability.

 

6. With respect to the Sales Agreement Shares which are a portion of the Common Stock being registered, when the Sales Agreement Shares have been duly registered on the books of the transfer agent and registrar therefor in the name or on behalf of the purchasers thereof, and have been issued by the Company against payment therefor (not less than par value) in the circumstances contemplated by the Sales Agreement Prospectus, the issuance and sale of the Sales Agreement Shares will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

 

The opinions set forth above are subject to the following additional assumptions:

 

(i) the Registration Statement, any amendments thereto (including post-effective amendments), will have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such effectiveness shall not have been terminated, suspended or rescinded;

 

(ii) all Company Securities will be issued and sold in compliance with applicable federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations and solely in the manner provided in the Registration Statement and the appropriate Prospectus Supplement and there will not have occurred any change in law or fact affecting the validity of any of the opinions rendered herein;

 

(iii) a definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement and any other necessary agreements with respect to any Company Securities offered or issued will have been duly authorized and duly executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto;

 

(iv) the final terms of any of the Company Securities (including any Company Securities comprising the same or subject thereto), and when issued, the issuance, sale and delivery thereof by the Company, and the incurrence and performance of the Company’s obligations thereunder or respect thereof in accordance with the terms thereof, and any consideration received by the Company for any such issuance, sale and delivery, will comply with, and will not violate, the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or any applicable law, rule or regulation, or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and will comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company or to which the issuance, sale and delivery of such Company Securities or the incurrence and performance of such obligations may be subject or violate any applicable public policy, or be subject to any defense in law or equity;

  

(v) the Company shall have taken any action required to be taken by the Company, based on the type of Company Security being offered, to authorize the offer and issuance thereof, and such authorization shall remain in effect and unchanged at all times during which the Company Securities are offered and issued and shall not have been modified or rescinded (subject to the further assumption that the sale of any Company Security takes place in accordance with such authorization), the board of directors of the Company shall have duly established the terms of such Company Security and duly authorized and taken any other necessary corporate action to approve the issuance and sale of such Company Security in conformity with the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws (subject to the further assumption that neither the Articles of Incorporation nor Bylaws have been amended from the date hereof in a manner that would affect the validity of any of the opinions rendered herein), and such authorization shall remain in effect and unchanged at all times during which the Company Securities are offered and issued and shall not have been modified or rescinded (subject to the further assumption that the sale of any Company Security takes place in accordance with such authorization); and

 

(vi) there will exist, under the Articles of Incorporation, the requisite number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock (and securities of any class into which any of the Preferred Stock may be convertible), as the case may be.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Sales Agreement Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement within the meaning of the term “expert,” as used in Section 11 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder by the Commission, nor do we admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.

 

Yours truly,

 

/s/ Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP
Ellenoff Grossman & Schole LLP

 

 

4

Exhibit 23.1

 

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of Air Industries Group (the “Company”) on Form S-3 of our report dated April 15, 2024, which includes an explanatory paragraph as to the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, with respect to our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Air Industries Group as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Air Industries Group for the year ended December 31, 2023. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.

 

 

/s/ Marcum LLP

 

Marcum LLP

Saddle Brook, New Jersey

December 13, 2024

 

 

Exhibit 107

 

Calculation of Filing Fee Tables

 

Form S-3

(Form Type)

 

Air Industries Group.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Table 1: Newly Registered and Carry Forward Securities

 

Security Type

Security Class Type(1)

Fee Calculation or Carry Forward Rule

Amount Registered (1)

Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Unit

Maximum Aggregate Offering Price

Fee Rate

Amount of Registration Fee

Carry Forward Form Type

Carry Forward File Number

Carry Forward Initial Effective Date

Filing Fee Previously Paid in Connection with Unsold Securities to be Carried Forward

Fees to be Paid

Equity

Common Stock

457(o)

457(o)

Equity

Preferred Stock

457(o)

457(o)

Debt

Debt Securities

457(o)

457(o)

Other

Warrants

457(o)

Other

Units

457(o)

Unallocated (Universal) Shelf

457(o)

10,000,000

N/A

(2)

10,000,000

$

.0001531

$

1,531

Total Offering Amounts

-

-

-

-

10,000,000

-

$

1,531

-

-

-

Total Fees Previously Paid

Net Fee Due

1,531

 

(1)

There are being registered hereunder such indeterminate amount of the securities of each identified class as may from time to time be offered hereunder by the Registrant at indeterminate prices which shall have an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $10,000,000. The securities being registered hereunder also include such indeterminate amount of securities as may be issued upon exercise, settlement, exchange or conversion securities offered or sold hereunder, or pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of any such securities. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the principal amount of such debt securities shall be in such greater amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed $10,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder.

(2)

The proposed maximum offering price per security for the primary offering will be determined, from time to time, by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder and is not specified as to each class of security pursuant to Instruction 2(A)(ii)(b) of Form S-3 under the Securities Act.

(3)

Debt securities may be senior or subordinated, convertible or non-convertible and secured or unsecured.

(4)

Warrants may represent rights to purchase debt securities, common stock, preferred stock or other securities registered hereunder.

(5)

Any securities registered under this registration statement may be sold separately or as units with other securities registered under this registration statement.