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TABLE OF CONTENTS
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 2, 2015
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM F-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
MARINE HARVEST ASA
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Norway (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization) |
Not Applicable (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
P.O. Box 4102 Sandviken
5835 Bergen, Norway
Telephone: +47 21 56 23 00
(Address and telephone number of
Registrant's principal executive offices)
C T Corporation System
111 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10011
Telephone: +1 212 894 8940
(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
Copies to:
James A. McDonald
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP
40 Bank Street, Canary Wharf
London, England E14 5DS
Telephone: +44 20 7519 7026
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o
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, check the following box. ý
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. o
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. o
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.C. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ý
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.C. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
|
||||||
Title of each Class of Securities to be Registered(1) |
Amount to be Registered |
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share / Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price |
Amount of Registration Fee(2) |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ordinary Shares, nominal value NOK 7.50 per share |
$0 | |||||
Preferred Shares(3) |
$0 | |||||
Debt Securities(3) |
$0 | |||||
Warrants(3)(4) |
$0 | |||||
Subscription Rights(5) |
$0 | |||||
|
PROSPECTUS
MARINE HARVEST ASA
Ordinary Shares
In the form of ordinary shares or American Depositary Shares
Preferred Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
Marine Harvest ASA, or the Company, we, or us, may offer and sell ordinary shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants or subscription rights from time to time. We may issue our ordinary shares in the form of American Depositary Shares, or ADSs. Each time we sell any of the securities described in this prospectus, we will provide one or more supplements to this prospectus that will contain specific information about those securities and their offering. You should read this prospectus and any applicable prospectus supplement(s) carefully before you invest.
We may sell these securities to or through underwriters and also to other purchasers or through agents. The names of any underwriters or agents will be stated in a prospectus supplement.
This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities and the general manner in which they may be offered. The specific terms of any securities to be offered, and the specific manner in which they may be offered, will be described in one or more supplements to this prospectus. A prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
Our ordinary shares are listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange, or the OSE, and our ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, in each case under the symbol "MHG."
Investing in these securities involves certain risks. You should carefully consider risks identified in "Risk Factors" beginning on page 1 of this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F before investing in our securities.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or other securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is February 2, 2015.
i
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a shelf registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell, from time to time, the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If there is any inconsistency between the information contained in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information contained in that particular prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find Additional Information" before purchasing any of our securities.
In this prospectus, the "Company," the "Group," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Marine Harvest ASA or Marine Harvest ASA and its consolidated subsidiaries, as the context may require.
We prepare our financial statements incorporated by reference into this prospectus in accordance with the International Financial Reporting Standards, or IFRS, as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board. We present our consolidated financial statements in Norwegian krone. All references in this prospectus to "krone" or "NOK" are to Norwegian krone, the legal currency of Norway, unless otherwise noted. All references in this prospectus to (i) "$," "USD" or "U.S. dollar" are to the legal currency of the United States and (ii) "EUR" or "Euro" are to the legal currency of participating member states for the purposes of the European Monetary Union.
You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with additional or different information. If any person provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. We are not making an offer of securities in any jurisdiction where an offer or sale is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, as well as the information we previously filed with the SEC that we incorporate by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, is accurate as of any date other than its respective stated date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since that date. Information contained on our website does not constitute part of this prospectus.
ii
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein contain forward-looking statements that reflect our current expectations and views of future events. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by terms and phrases such as "anticipate," "should," "likely," "foresee," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "continue," "could," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "will" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements include statements relating to:
The preceding list is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all of our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on our beliefs, assumptions and expectations of future performance, taking into account the information currently available to us. These statements are only predictions based upon our current expectations and projections about future events. There are important factors that could cause our actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results, level of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. In particular, such factors are described in "Risk Factors" in this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F.
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These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date thereof. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The factors set forth in "Risk Factors" in this prospectus and in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in any forward-looking statement included in this prospectus or the documents incorporated herein should not be construed as exhaustive. You should read this prospectus and the documents incorporated herein completely and with the understanding that our actual future results may be materially different from our expectations.
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An investment in securities involves risk. Before you invest in securities issued by us, you should carefully consider the risks involved. Accordingly, you should carefully consider:
The discussion of risks related to our business contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus or into any prospectus supplement comprises material risks of which we are aware. If any of the events or developments described actually occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer.
Risks Related to Our Business
We have not yet completed our evaluation of our internal controls over financial reporting and our independent auditor has not yet completed its audit of our internal controls.
We are required to comply with the internal control certification requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, or Section 404, in our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2014. We have not yet conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, and our independent auditor has not completed its assessment of our internal controls and is currently unable to conclude that it will be able to issue an unqualified audit report.
The presence of material weaknesses could result in financial statement errors which, in turn, could lead to errors in our financial reports or delays in our financial reporting, or our auditor may be required to issue a qualified audit report. Because we are in the process of evaluating the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014 and our independent auditor is in the process of performing its assessment, we cannot conclude that we do not have a material weakness in our internal controls or a combination of significant deficiencies that could result in the conclusion that we have a material weakness in our internal controls over financial reporting.
If either we are unable to conclude that we have effective internal controls over financial reporting or our independent auditor is unable to provide us with an unqualified report on the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as required by Section 404, investors may lose confidence in our results of operations.
If it is determined that we are not in compliance with Section 404, we will be required to implement new internal control procedures and re-evaluate our financial reporting. We may experience higher than anticipated operating expenses as well as external auditor fees during the implementation of these changes and thereafter. We may need to hire additional qualified personnel in order for us to be compliant with Section 404. These changes may not, however, be effective in establishing and maintaining the adequacy of our internal controls. If we fail, for any reason, to implement these changes effectively or efficiently, such failure could harm our operations, financial reporting or financial results and could result in our conclusion that our internal control over financial reporting is not effective.
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We are a leading seafood company and the world's largest producer of farmed salmon, both by revenue and volume, offering fresh salmon, processed salmon and other processed seafood to customers in approximately 70 countries worldwide. We engage in three principal types of activities:
Our fish farming operations consist of raising farmed salmon throughout their life cycle, from egg to adult, in a controlled environment and subsequently harvesting and primary processing the fish. The primary processing of fish involves slaughtering and gutting operations. Customers of our primary processed salmon include our own secondary processing operations, distributors and other secondary processors of salmon.
Our secondary processing entails using the gutted fish to prepare products such as fillets, steaks and other portions of fish. Secondary processing activities also include packaging the products and further preparation to create ready-to-heat or ready-to-eat products. Our customers of secondary processed salmon include other secondary processors of salmon, retailers such as grocery stores and food service providers such as hotels and other service and catering entities.
Our salmon feed production entails using feed raw materials, including fish meal, fish oil and agricultural commodities such as soy, sun flower, wheat, corn, beans, peas and rape seed oil, to produce salmon feed. We only have salmon feed production in Norway, and our entire production is for internal use. Our first feed plant began operations in the second quarter of 2014.
Our principal executive and registered office is located at Sandviksboder 77 A/B, 5035 Bergen, Norway. Our telephone number at this address is +47 21 56 23 00.
Trading Update
In the quarter ended December 31, 2014, the Company harvested approximately 100,000 tons of salmon head on gutted, or HOG, which measures the weight of the fish with the head on, gutted. In terms of salmon HOG by region, the Company harvested approximately 70,000 tons, 6,000 tons, 7,000 tons and 17,000 tons in Norway, Scotland, Canada and Chile, respectively.
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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The Company's ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is set forth below. We have derived the ratios of earnings to fixed charges from our historical consolidated financial statements. The ratios should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference herein.
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Nine Months Ended September 30, |
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 | 2010 | 2009 | ||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
3.70x | 5.98x | 3.03x | 2.61x | 12.89x | 5.01x |
We have computed the ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth above by dividing earnings by fixed charges. For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings were calculated by adding pre-tax income from continuing operations, fixed charges and distributed income from equity-accounted investees, and subtracting from the total of the added items, earnings of equity-accounted investees and capitalized interest. Fixed charges consist of interest expensed, interest capitalized and amortization of premiums, discounts and issue costs related to indebtedness.
The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is a ratio that we are required to present in this prospectus in accordance with SEC rules and regulations. This ratio is different from the ratios that we are required to maintain under our credit facilities and may not be a ratio used by investors to evaluate our overall operating performance.
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PRICE RANGE OF ORDINARY SHARES
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low closing sale prices of our ordinary shares on the OSE in NOK. The price per share of our ordinary shares has been retroactively adjusted to reflect the share consolidation at a ratio of 10:1 that we conducted on January 20, 2014.
|
Price per ordinary share |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
High | Low | |||||
Annual: |
|||||||
Year ended December 31, 2010 |
64.40 | 42.39 | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2011 |
69.95 | 21.90 | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2012 |
52.10 | 26.12 | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2013 |
73.85 | 50.20 | |||||
Year ended December 31, 2014 |
103.50 | 63.10 | |||||
Quarterly: |
|||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2013 |
60.45 | 50.20 | |||||
Three months ended June 30, 2013 |
63.70 | 55.30 | |||||
Three months ended September 30, 2013 |
65.05 | 56.40 | |||||
Three months ended December 31, 2013 |
73.85 | 63.50 | |||||
Three months ended March 31, 2014 |
78.10 | 63.10 | |||||
Three months ended June 30, 2014 |
83.75 | 66.45 | |||||
Three months ended September 30, 2014 |
89.90 | 76.20 | |||||
Three months ended December 31, 2014 |
103.50 | 81.40 | |||||
Most Recent Six Months: |
|||||||
July 2014 |
88.55 | 82.15 | |||||
August 2014 |
87.40 | 76.20 | |||||
September 2014 |
89.90 | 83.35 | |||||
October 2014 |
95.50 | 81.40 | |||||
November 2014 |
103.50 | 94.55 | |||||
December 2014 |
103.40 | 95.70 | |||||
January 2015 (through January 30, 2015) |
110.30 | 95.45 |
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The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the reported high and low closing sale prices of our ADSs on the NYSE in USD.
|
Price per ordinary share |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
High | Low | |||||
Annual: |
|||||||
Year ended December 31, 2014 (since January 28, 2014) |
15.34 | 10.51 | |||||
Quarterly: |
|||||||
Three months ended March 31, 2014 (since January 28, 2014) |
12.44 | 10.51 | |||||
Three months ended June 30, 2014 |
13.72 | 11.65 | |||||
Three months ended September 30, 2014 |
14.37 | 12.55 | |||||
Three months ended December 31, 2014 |
15.34 | 12.55 | |||||
Most Recent Six Months: |
|||||||
July 2014 |
13.37 | 13.45 | |||||
August 2014 |
13.98 | 12.56 | |||||
September 2014 |
14.09 | 13.13 | |||||
October 2014 |
14.22 | 12.55 | |||||
November 2014 |
15.34 | 14.03 | |||||
December 2014 |
14.71 | 12.93 | |||||
January 2015 (through January 30, 2015) |
14.29 | 12.66 |
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Unless the applicable prospectus supplement states otherwise, the net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by the Company pursuant to this prospectus will be used for general corporate purposes. General corporate purposes may include investment in our subsidiaries, including capital expenditures, the acquisition of, or investment in, companies or properties in our business or businesses that complement our activities and repayment of outstanding indebtedness.
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DESCRIPTION OF ORDINARY SHARES
Share Capital
Our share capital is NOK 3,077,833,192.5 divided into 410,377,759 ordinary shares having a nominal value of NOK 7.50 per share. As of the date of this prospectus, we held 40,970 shares in treasury having a book value of NOK 2,796,349.64 and a total nominal value of NOK 307,275. Our shares are fully paid and non-assessable.
As of December 31, 2013, we had a share capital of NOK 3,077,833,185.75 divided into 4,103,777,581 ordinary shares having a nominal value of NOK 0.75 per share. At the extraordinary general meeting held on January 20, 2014, it was resolved to issue nine new ordinary shares with a nominal value of NOK 0.75 and to consolidate the Company's ordinary shares at a ratio of 10:1, resulting in the increase in the nominal value of our shares from NOK 0.75 to NOK 7.50 and a reduction in the number of ordinary shares to 410,377,759. As of December 31, 2014, we had a share capital of NOK 3,077,833,192.5 divided into 410,377,759 ordinary shares having a nominal value of NOK 7.50 per share.
As of December 31, 2012, we had a share capital of NOK 2,811,256,197.75 divided into 3,748,341,597 ordinary shares having a nominal value of NOK 0.75 per share. On November 13, 2013, we announced that we had exercised our right to redeem the outstanding bonds under the EUR 225,000,000, five-year convertible bond that we issued in 2010. Bondholders representing an aggregate principal amount of EUR 224,600,000 elected to convert their bonds into shares at a conversion price of EUR 0.6319, and on December 3, 2013, we issued 355,435,984 new ordinary shares. Following this share capital increase, we had a share capital of NOK 3,077,833,185.75 divided into 4,103,777,581 ordinary shares having a nominal value of NOK 0.75 per share.
As of December 31, 2011, we had a share capital of NOK 2,685,855,407.25 divided into 3,581,140,543 ordinary shares having a nominal value of NOK 0.75 per share. On December 14, 2012, our board of directors resolved to issue 83,600,527 new ordinary shares, or the Geveran Shares, to Geveran Trading Co. Ltd., at a subscription price of NOK 5.0837 per share, to partly finance the NOK 512,614,607.50 cash portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of a 48.5% share in Morpol. Further, our board of directors resolved to issue 80,524,404 new ordinary shares and 3,076,123 new ordinary shares, or, collectively, the Consideration Shares, to Friendmall Ltd. and Bazmonta Holdings Limited, respectively, at a subscription price of NOK 5.0837 per share, to settle the NOK 425,000,000 portion of the purchase price for the acquisition of a 48.5% share in Morpol to be settled through the issuances of ordinary shares in the Company. Following the two share capital increases, we had a share capital of NOK 2,811,256,197.75 divided into 3,748,341,597 ordinary shares having a nominal value of NOK 0.75 per share.
Authorization to the Board to Increase the Share Capital and Issue New Ordinary Shares
At the annual general meeting held on May 22, 2014, the general meeting granted the board of directors an authorization to increase the share capital by up to NOK 307,783,312.50. This authorization is valid until the annual general meeting of 2015, but not past July 1, 2015. The board of directors may waive the preferential rights of shareholders with respect to these shares.
At the annual general meeting held on June 4, 2012, the general meeting granted the board of directors an authorization to increase the share capital by up to NOK 134,300,000 through the issuance of up to 179,066,667 ordinary shares having a nominal value of NOK 0.75 per share. This authorization was valid until the annual general meeting of 2013, but not past July 1, 2013. The board of directors may waive the preferential rights of shareholders with respect to these shares. On December 14, 2012, the board of directors used this authorization to issue the Geveran Shares and the Consideration Shares.
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Authorization to the Board to Acquire Our Shares
At the annual general meeting held on May 22, 2014, the general meeting granted the board of directors an authorization to acquire our shares. The aggregate nominal value of shares that may be acquired pursuant to this authority cannot exceed NOK 307,783,312.50, which equated to 10% of our share capital at the time of the general meeting. The minimum and maximum price at which we can acquire our shares pursuant to this authority is NOK 7.50 per share and NOK 120 per share, respectively. The authorization is valid until the annual general meeting in 2015, but not past July 1, 2015. On December 9, 2014, the board of directors used this authorization to purchase 81,396 of our shares in the open market at an average price of NOK 99.259 per share. The shares were purchased for resale to those employees who had elected to participate in our share purchase program for employees.
At the annual general meeting held on May 23, 2013, the shareholders granted the board of directors the authorization to acquire our shares, or the 2013 Buyback Authorization. The aggregate nominal value of shares that could be acquired pursuant to the 2013 Buyback Authorization could not exceed NOK 281,125,500 (expressed in terms of shares prior to the share consolidation), which equated to 10% of our share capital at the time of the general meeting. The minimum and maximum price at which we could acquire our shares pursuant to the 2013 Buyback Authorization was NOK 0.75 per share and NOK 12 per share (expressed in terms of shares prior to the share consolidation), respectively. The 2013 Buyback Authorization was valid until the annual general meeting in 2014, but not past July 1, 2014.
On August 21, 2013, the board of directors used the 2013 Buyback Authorization to purchase 3,669,797 of our shares (NOK 2,752,348 in nominal value and expressed in terms of shares prior to the share consolidation) in the open market at an average price of NOK 5.8967 per share. The shares were purchased for resale to 51 senior executives who participated in the 2010 allotment under our share-based bonus scheme.
On November 26, 2013, the board of directors used the 2013 Buyback Authorization to purchase 759,665 of our shares (NOK 569,748.75 in nominal value and expressed in terms of shares prior to the share consolidation) in the open market at an average price of NOK 6.7635 per share. The shares were purchased for resale to 595 of our employees that had elected to participate in our share purchase program for employees.
On April 1, 2014, the board of directors used the 2013 Buyback Authorization to purchase 186,207 of our shares (NOK 1,396,552.5 in nominal value) in the open market at an average price of NOK 68.1687 per share. These shares were purchased for resale to 46 senior executives who participated in the 2011 allotment under our share-based bonus scheme.
At the annual general meeting held on June 4, 2012, the shareholders granted the board of directors authorization to acquire our shares. The aggregate nominal value of shares that could be acquired pursuant to this authority could not exceed NOK 268,585,000 (expressed in terms of shares prior to the share consolidation), which equated to 10% of our share capital at the time of the general meeting. The minimum and maximum price at which we could acquire our shares pursuant to this authority was NOK 0.75 per share and NOK 12 per share (expressed in terms of shares prior to the share consolidation), respectively. The authorization was valid until the annual general meeting in 2013, but not past July 1, 2013. On December 3, 2012, the board of directors used this authorization to purchase 1,027,629 of our shares (NOK 770,721.75 in nominal value and expressed in terms of shares prior to the share consolidation) in the open market at an average price of NOK 4.971 per share. These shares were purchased for resale to those of our employees that had elected to participate in our share purchase program for employees.
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Authorization to the Board to Issue Convertible Bonds
At the annual general meeting held on May 22, 2014, the shareholders granted the board of directors authority to allow us to issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount of up to NOK 3,200,000,000 convertible into our ordinary shares. Subject to this aggregate amount limitation, the authority may be used on more than one occasion. The share capital increase following from such conversion cannot exceed NOK 480,000,000 (subject to adjustments in the conversion terms resulting from changes to our capital). This authority lasts until the annual general meeting of 2015, but not past July 1, 2015. The board of directors may waive the preferential rights of shareholders to subscribe for convertible bonds.
At the annual general meeting held on May 23, 2013, the shareholders granted the board of directors authority to allow us to issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount of up to NOK 3,200,000,000 convertible into our ordinary shares. Subject to this aggregate amount limitation, the authority may be used on more than one occasion. The number of shares to be issued in settlement of such bonds cannot exceed 640,000,000 shares, representing an increase in our share capital of a maximum of NOK 480,000,000. This authority lasted until the annual general meeting of 2014, but not past than July 1, 2014. The board of directors may waive the preferential rights of shareholders to subscribe for convertible bonds. On April 24, 2014, the board of directors used this authorization to issue our EUR 375,000,000 convertible bond.
At the annual general meeting held on June 4, 2012, the shareholders granted the board of directors authority to allow us to issue bonds with an aggregate principal amount of up to NOK 3,200,000,000 convertible into our ordinary shares. Subject to this aggregate amount limitation, the authority may be used on more than one occasion. The number of shares to be issued in settlement of such bonds cannot exceed 640,000,000 shares, representing an increase in our share capital of a maximum of NOK 480,000,000. This authority lasted until the annual general meeting of 2013, but not past July 1, 2013. The board of directors may waive the preferential rights of shareholders to subscribe for the convertible bonds. On May 6, 2013, the board of directors used this authorization to issue our EUR 350,000,000 convertible bond.
General Meetings
In accordance with Norwegian law, our annual general meeting of shareholders must be held each year on or prior to June 30. Norwegian law requires that written notice of general meetings be sent to all shareholders whose addresses are known at least 21 days prior to the date of the meeting. A shareholder may vote at the general meeting either in person or by proxy. The annual general meeting deals with the annual report and accounts, including distribution of dividends, and any other matters as required by law or our articles of association.
In addition to the annual general meeting, extraordinary general meetings of shareholders may be held if deemed necessary by the board of directors. An extraordinary general meeting must be convened for consideration of certain matters upon written request of our auditors or of shareholders representing a total of at least 5% of the outstanding share capital.
Voting Rights
All of our ordinary shares carry equal right to vote at general meetings. Except as otherwise provided, decisions which shareholders are entitled to make pursuant to Norwegian law or our articles of association may be made by a simple majority of the votes cast. In the case of elections, the persons who obtain the most votes cast are deemed elected. However, certain decisions, including resolutions to issue or to authorize our board of directors to issue new shares, convertible bonds or warrants, waive preferential rights in connection with any such issue, to approve a merger or demerger, to amend our articles of association or to authorize our board of directors to purchase our shares and hold them as
9
treasury shares and to reduce our share capital must receive the approval of at least two-thirds of the aggregate number of votes cast as well as two-thirds of the share capital represented at a general meeting. Norwegian law further requires that certain decisions, which have the effect of substantially altering the rights and preferences of any shares or class of shares, receive approval by all the holders of such shares or class of shares as well as the majority required for amending the articles of association. Decisions that (i) would reduce the rights of some or all of the our shareholders in respect of dividend payment or other rights to assets or (ii) restrict the transfer of the shares, require that at least 90% of the share capital represented at the general meeting in question vote in favor of the resolution, as well as the majority required for amending the articles of association.
In order to be entitled to vote at a general meeting, a shareholder must be registered as the owner of shares in the share register kept by the Norwegian Central Securities Depository, referred to as the VPS System (described below), or, alternatively, attend a meeting and provide evidence of share ownership.
Beneficial owners of shares which are registered in the name of a nominee are not entitled to vote under Norwegian law, nor are any persons who are designated in the register as holding such shares as nominees. The beneficial owners of ADSs will therefore only be able to vote at meetings by surrendering their ADSs, withdrawing their ordinary shares from the ADS depositary and registering their ownership of such ordinary shares directly in our share register in the VPS System. Alternatively, the ADS holder may instruct the ADR depositary to vote for the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs on behalf of the holder, provided that the ADS holder instructs the depositary to execute a temporary transfer of the underlying ordinary shares in the VPS System to the beneficial owner. Similarly, beneficial owners of ordinary shares registered through other VPS-registered nominees will not be able to vote their shares unless their ownership is re-registered in the name of the beneficial owner prior to the relevant shareholders' meeting.
The VPS System and Transfer of Shares
The VPS System is Norway's paperless centralized securities registry. It is a computerized bookkeeping system that is operated by an independent body used to record ownership of and transactions in or relating to shares in Norwegian public companies. Our share register is operated through the VPS System.
All transactions relating to securities registered with the VPS are made through computerized book entries. No physical share certificates are or can be issued. The VPS System confirms each entry by sending a transcript to the registered shareholder regardless of beneficial ownership. To effect these entries, the individual shareholder must establish a securities account with a Norwegian account agent. Norwegian banks, the Central Bank of Norway, authorized securities brokers in Norway and Norwegian branches of credit institutions established within the European Economic Area are allowed to act as account agents.
The entry of a transaction in the VPS System is prima facie evidence in determining the legal rights of parties as against the issuing company or a third party claiming an interest in the subject security.
VPS is strictly liable for any direct economic loss resulting from an error in connection with registering, altering or canceling a right unless the error is caused by matters outside VPS's control and which VPS could not reasonably be expected to avoid or mitigate. VPS's liability is capped at NOK 500 million. The courts may reduce or set aside VPS's liability if the person who has suffered the loss has contributed to the loss willfully or negligently.
VPS must provide information to the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway, or the NFSA, on a regular basis, as well as any information that the NFSA requests. Further, Norwegian tax authorities
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may require certain information from VPS regarding any individual's holdings of securities, including information about dividends and interest payments.
Non-Norwegian shareholders may register their shares in VPS in the name of a nominee (bank or other nominee) approved by the NFSA. An approved and registered nominee has a duty to provide information on demand about beneficial shareholders to the Company and to the Norwegian authorities. In case of registration by nominees, the registration in VPS must show that the registered owner is a nominee under Norwegian law. A registered nominee has the right to receive dividends and other distributions, but cannot vote in general meetings on behalf of the beneficial owners. A transferee or assignee of shares may not exercise the rights of a shareholder with respect to his or her shares unless that transferee or assignee has registered his or her shareholding or has reported and shown evidence of such share acquisition and the acquisition of such shares is not prevented by law, our articles of association or otherwise.
Additional Issuances and Preferential Rights
If we issue any new shares, including bonus share issues, our articles of association must be amended, which requires the same vote as other amendments to our articles of association. In addition, under Norwegian law, our shareholders have a preferential right to subscribe to issues of new shares by us. The preferential rights may be waived by a resolution at a general meeting passed by the same majority required to approve amendments to our articles of association.
The general meeting may, with a majority vote as described above, authorize the board of directors to issue new shares and to waive the preferential rights of shareholders in connection with such issuances. Such authorization may be effective for a maximum of two years and the nominal value of the shares to be issued may not exceed 50% of the nominal share capital when the authorization is registered in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises.
The issuance of shares to holders who are citizens or residents of the United States upon the exercise of preferential rights may require us to file a registration statement in the United States under United States securities laws. If we decide not to file a registration statement, these holders may not be able to exercise their preferential rights. If a United States holder of our ADSs is ineligible to exercise rights received in a rights offering, such shareholder would not be able to exercise such preferential rights and we would, to the extent practicable, seek to sell such rights on the shareholder's behalf.
Under Norwegian law, bonus share issues may be distributed, subject to shareholder approval, by transfer from our distributable equity. Any bonus issues may be effected either by issuing shares or by increasing the nominal value of the shares outstanding.
Minority Rights
Norwegian law contains a number of protections for minority shareholders against oppression by the majority, including those described in this paragraph. Any shareholder may petition the courts to have a decision of the board of directors or a general meeting declared invalid on the grounds that it unreasonably favors certain shareholders or third parties to the detriment of other shareholders or the Company. In certain extreme circumstances, shareholders may require the courts to dissolve the Company as a result of such decisions. Shareholders holding 5% or more of our share capital have a right to demand that we hold an extraordinary general meeting to discuss or resolve specific matters. In addition, any shareholder may demand that we place an item on the agenda for any general meeting if we are notified in time for such item to be included in the notice of the meeting.
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Payment of Dividends
Our policy is to maintain a dividend level that reflects the present and future cash generation potential of the Company. We target a net interest-bearing debt/equity ratio of less than 0.5x. When the target level is met, we aim to distribute as dividends at least 75% of the annual free cash flow after operational and financial commitments.
Rights of Redemption and Repurchase of Shares
Our share capital may be reduced by reducing the par value of our shares or by cancelling our shares. Such a decision requires the approval of at least two-thirds of the aggregate number of votes cast and at least two-thirds of the share capital represented at the general meeting. Redemption of shares of individual shareholders requires consent of the holders of the shares to be redeemed.
We may purchase our shares if an authorization to do so has been given by a general meeting with the approval of at least two-thirds of the aggregate number of votes cast as well as two-thirds of the share capital represented at the general meeting. The aggregate nominal value of treasury shares held by the Company must not exceed 10% of the Company's share capital and treasury shares may only be acquired if the Company's distributable equity, according to the latest adopted balance sheet, exceeds the consideration to be paid for the shares. The authorization by the general meeting cannot be given for a period exceeding two years.
Shareholders' Votes on Certain Reorganizations
A decision to merge with another company or to demerge requires a resolution of our shareholders at a general meeting passed by a two-thirds majority of the aggregate votes cast as well as two-thirds of the aggregate share capital represented at the general meeting. A merger plan or demerger plan signed by the board of directors along with certain other required documentation would have to be sent to all shareholders at least one month prior to the general meeting.
Any agreement between us and a shareholder or a shareholder's related party, a director or the Chief Executive Officer where the consideration exceeds the equivalent of 5% of our share capital must be approved by a general meeting. This does not apply to acquisition of listed securities at market price or to agreements in the ordinary course of business entered into on normal commercial terms.
Obligations and Liability of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer
Our directors and the Chief Executive Officer owe a fiduciary duty to the Company and its shareholders. Their fiduciary duty requires that they act in our best interests when exercising their functions and to exercise a general duty of loyalty and care toward us. Their principal task is to promote and safeguard the interests of the Company.
Our directors and the Chief Executive Officer can each be held liable for any damage they negligently or willfully cause us. Norwegian law permits the general meeting to exempt any such person from liability, but the exemption is not binding if substantially correct and complete information was not provided at the general meeting when the decision was taken. If a resolution to grant such exemption from liability or to not pursue claims against such a person has been passed by a general meeting with a smaller majority than that required to amend our articles of association, shareholders representing more than 10% of the share capital or (if there are more than 100 shareholders) more than 10% of the number of shareholders may pursue the claim on our behalf and in our name. The cost of any such action is not our responsibility, but can be recovered from any proceeds we receive as a result of the action. If the decision to grant exemption from liability or to not pursue claims is made by such a majority as is necessary to amend the articles of association, the minority shareholders cannot pursue the claim in our name.
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Indemnification of Directors
Neither Norwegian law nor our articles of association contain any provision concerning indemnification by us of our directors.
The Company maintains a director and officer insurance policy which insures the directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, within certain limits and subject to certain limitations, against certain expenses in connection with the defense of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities that might be imposed as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings in which they are parties by reason of being or having been directors or officers.
Distribution of Assets on Liquidation
Under Norwegian law, a company may be wound-up by a resolution of the company's shareholders in a general meeting passed by both a two-thirds majority of the aggregate votes cast and two-thirds of the aggregate share capital represented at the meeting. The shares rank equal in the event of a return on capital by the company upon a winding-up or otherwise.
The Norwegian Securities Trading Act
Norwegian companies listed on the OSE and their shareholders are required to comply with the provisions of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act.
Disclosure of Acquisitions and Disposals
A person, entity or consolidated group that acquires or disposes of shares, options for shares or other rights to shares resulting in its beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate, reaching, exceeding or falling below the respective thresholds of 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 1/3, 50%, 2/3 or 90% of the share capital or voting rights in the Company has an obligation under Norwegian law to notify us and the OSE of such action immediately. The same applies if the disclosure thresholds are crossed due to other circumstances, such as a change in the company's share capital. A corresponding disclosure obligation applies with respect to any holder of ADSs who is entitled upon surrender of the ADSs to acquire directly or indirectly the beneficial ownership of a number of shares that, together with any other shares, additional ADSs representing ordinary shares or options for shares or other rights to shares resulting in its beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, in the aggregate, meets, exceeds or falls below these thresholds.
Mandatory Bid Requirement
Norwegian law requires any person, entity or consolidated group that acquires more than one-third of the voting rights of a Norwegian company listed on the OSE to make an unconditional general offer to acquire the whole of the outstanding share capital of that company. A mandatory offer obligation may also be triggered where a party acquires the right to become the owner of shares that, together with the party's own shareholding, represent more than one-third of the voting rights in the company and the OSE determines that this is regarded as an effective acquisition of the shares in question.
This offer and the related offer document will be subject to approval by the OSE before submission of the offer to the shareholders. The offer must be in cash or contain a cash alternative at least equivalent to any other consideration offered. The offering price per share must be at least as high as the highest price paid or agreed by the offeror for the shares in the six-month period prior to the date the one-third threshold was crossed. If the offeror acquires or agrees to acquire additional shares at a higher price prior to expiry of the mandatory offer period, the offeror is obligated to restate its offer at such higher price. A shareholder who fails to make the required offer must within four weeks dispose of sufficient shares so that the obligation ceases to apply. Otherwise, the OSE may cause
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the shares exceeding the one-third limit to be sold by public auction. A shareholder who fails to make such bid cannot, as long as the mandatory bid requirement remains in force, vote the portion of his shares which exceed the one-third limit or exercise any rights of share ownership in respect of such shares, unless a majority of the remaining shareholders approve, other than the right to receive dividends and preferential rights in the event of a share capital increase. In addition, the OSE may impose a daily fine upon a shareholder who fails to make the required offer.
Any person, entity or consolidated group that owns shares representing more than one-third of the votes in a Norwegian company listed on a Norwegian regulated market is obliged to make an offer to purchase the remaining shares of the company (repeated offer obligation) if the person, entity or consolidated group through acquisition becomes the owner of shares representing 40% or more of the votes in the company. The same applies correspondingly if the person, entity or consolidated group, through acquisition, becomes the owner of shares representing 50% or more of the votes in the company.
Any person, entity or consolidated group that has passed any of the above mentioned thresholds in such a way as not to trigger the mandatory bid obligation, and has therefore not previously made an offer for the remaining shares in the company in accordance with the mandatory offer rules is, as a main rule, obliged to make a mandatory offer in the event of a subsequent acquisition of shares in the company.
Compulsory Acquisition
Pursuant to the Norwegian Public Limited Companies Act, a shareholder who, directly or through subsidiaries, acquires shares representing 90% or more of the total number of issued shares as well as 90% or more of the total voting rights (such shareholder, a "Majority Shareholder") has the right (and each remaining minority shareholder of that company would have the right to require the majority shareholder) to effect a compulsory acquisition for cash of any shares not already owned by such shareholder. A compulsory acquisition has the effect that the Majority Shareholder becomes the owner of the shares of the minority shareholders with immediate effect.
If a shareholder, directly or through subsidiaries, acquires shares representing more than 90% of the total number of issued shares, as well as more than 90% of the total voting rights, through a voluntary offer in accordance with the Norwegian Securities Trading Act, a compulsory acquisition can, subject to the following conditions, be carried out without such shareholder being obliged to make a mandatory offer: (i) the compulsory acquisition is commenced no later than four weeks after the acquisition of shares through the voluntary offer, (ii) the price offered per share is equal to or higher than what the offer price would have been in a mandatory offer, and (iii) the settlement is guaranteed by a financial institution authorized to provide such guarantees in Norway.
A Majority Shareholder who effects a compulsory acquisition is required to offer the minority shareholders a specific price per share. The determination of the offer price is at the discretion of the Majority Shareholder. However, where the offeror, after making a mandatory or voluntary offer, has acquired more than 90% of the voting shares of a company and a corresponding proportion of the votes that can be cast at the general meeting, and the offeror pursuant to Section 4-25 of the Norwegian Public Limited Companies Act completes a compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares within three months after the expiry of the offer period, pursuant to the Norwegian Securities Trading Act, the redemption price must be determined on the basis of the offer price for the mandatory/voluntary offer unless specific reasons indicate another price.
Should any minority shareholder not accept the offered price, such minority shareholder may, within a specified period of not less than two months, request that the price be set by the Norwegian courts. The cost of such court procedure would normally be charged to the account of the Majority
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Shareholder, and the courts would have full discretion in determining the consideration due to the minority shareholder as a result of the compulsory acquisition.
Absent a request for a Norwegian court to set the price or any other objections to the price being offered, the minority shareholder would be deemed to have accepted the offered price after expiry of the specified deadline.
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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
The definitions of certain terms used in this description are set forth throughout the text and shall only apply to this description.
Citibank, N.A., or Citibank, has agreed to act as the depositary bank for the American Depositary Shares. Citibank's depositary offices are located at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York 10013. American Depositary Shares are frequently referred to as "ADSs" and represent ownership interests in securities that are on deposit with the depositary bank. ADSs may be represented by certificates that are commonly known as American Depositary Receipts, or "ADRs." The depositary bank typically appoints a custodian to safekeep the securities on deposit. In this case, the custodian is DNB BANK ASA, Custody and Investor Services-M10 S, located at P.O. Box 1600 Sentrum, No-0021 Oslo, Norway.
We have appointed Citibank as depositary bank pursuant to a deposit agreement. A copy of the deposit agreement is on file with the SEC under cover of a registration statement on Form F-6. You may obtain a copy of the deposit agreement from the SEC's Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 and from the SEC's website (www.sec.gov).
We are providing you with a summary description of the material terms of the ADSs and of your material rights as an owner of ADSs. Please remember that summaries by their nature lack the precision of the information summarized and that the rights and obligations of an owner of ADSs will be determined by reference to the terms of the deposit agreement and not by this summary. We urge you to review the deposit agreement in its entirety. The portions of this summary description that are italicized describe matters that may be relevant to the ownership of ADSs but that may not be contained in the deposit agreement.
Each ADS represents the right to receive one ordinary share, or the "Share," having a nominal value of NOK 7.50 per ordinary share of Marine Harvest ASA on deposit with the custodian. An ADS also represents the right to receive any other property received by the depositary bank or the custodian on behalf of the owner of the ADS but that has not been distributed to the owners of ADSs because of legal restrictions, practical considerations or for any other reason. The custodian, the depositary bank and their respective nominees will hold all deposited property for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of ADSs. The deposited property does not constitute the proprietary assets of the depositary bank, the custodian or their nominees. Beneficial ownership in the deposited property will under the terms of the deposit agreement be vested in the beneficial owners of the ADSs. The depositary bank, the custodian and their respective nominees will be the record holders of the deposited property represented by the ADSs for the benefit of the holders and beneficial owners of the corresponding ADSs. Owners of ADSs will be able to exercise beneficial ownership interests in the deposited property only through the registered holders of the ADSs, the registered holders of the ADSs (on behalf of the applicable ADS owners) only through the depositary bank, and the depositary bank (on behalf of the owners of the corresponding ADSs) directly, or indirectly, through the custodian or their respective nominees, in each case upon the terms of the deposit agreement.
If you become an owner of ADSs, you will become a party to the deposit agreement and therefore will be bound to its terms and to the terms of any ADR that represents your ADSs. The deposit agreement and the ADRs specify our rights and obligations as well as your rights and obligations as owner of ADSs and those of the depositary bank. As an ADS holder you appoint the depositary bank to act on your behalf in certain circumstances. The deposit agreement and the ADRs are governed by New York law. However, our obligations to the holders of the Shares will continue to be governed by the laws of Norway, which may be different from the laws of New York.
In addition, applicable laws and regulations may require you to satisfy reporting requirements and obtain regulatory approvals in certain circumstances. You are solely responsible for complying with such reporting requirements and obtaining such approvals. Neither the depositary bank, the custodian, us or any of their or our respective agents or affiliates shall be required to take any actions
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whatsoever on your behalf to satisfy such reporting requirements or obtain such regulatory approvals under applicable laws and regulations.
As an owner of ADSs, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have direct shareholder rights. The depositary bank will hold on your behalf the shareholder rights attached to the Shares underlying your ADSs. As an owner of ADSs you will be able to exercise the shareholders rights for the Shares represented by your ADSs through the depositary bank only to the extent contemplated in the deposit agreement. To exercise any shareholder rights not contemplated in the deposit agreement you will, as an ADS owner, need to arrange for the cancellation of your ADSs and become a direct shareholder.
As an owner of ADSs, you may hold your ADSs either by means of an ADR registered in your name, through a brokerage or safekeeping account or through an account established by the depositary bank in your name reflecting the registration of uncertificated ADSs directly on the books of the depositary bank (commonly referred to as the "direct registration system"). The direct registration system reflects the uncertificated (book-entry) registration of ownership of ADSs by the depositary bank. Under the direct registration system, ownership of ADSs is evidenced by periodic statements issued by the depositary bank to the holders of the ADSs. The direct registration system includes automated transfers between the depositary bank and The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), the central book-entry clearing and settlement system for equity securities in the United States. If you decide to hold your ADSs through your brokerage or safekeeping account, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or bank to assert your rights as ADS owner. Banks and brokers typically hold securities such as the ADSs through clearing and settlement systems such as DTC. The procedures of such clearing and settlement systems may limit your ability to exercise your rights as an owner of ADSs. Please consult with your broker or bank if you have any questions concerning these limitations and procedures. All ADSs held through DTC will be registered in the name of a nominee of DTC. This summary description assumes you have opted to own the ADSs directly by means of an ADS registered in your name and, as such, we will refer to you as the "holder." When we refer to "you," we assume the reader owns ADSs and will own ADSs at the relevant time.
The registration of the Shares in the name of the depositary bank or the custodian shall, to the maximum extent permitted by applicable law, vest in the depositary bank or the custodian the record ownership in the applicable Shares with the beneficial ownership rights and interests in such ordinary shares being at all times vested with the beneficial owners of the ADSs representing the Shares. The depositary bank or the custodian shall at all times be entitled to exercise the beneficial ownership rights in all deposited property, in each case only on behalf of the holders and beneficial owners of the ADSs representing the deposited property.
Dividends and Distributions
As a holder of ADSs, you generally have the right to receive the distributions we make on the securities deposited with the custodian. Your receipt of these distributions may be limited, however, by practical considerations and legal limitations. Holders of ADSs will receive such distributions under the terms of the deposit agreement in proportion to the number of ADSs held as of a specified record date, after deduction the applicable fees, taxes and expenses.
Distributions of Cash
Whenever we make a cash distribution for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the funds with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of the deposit of the requisite funds, the depositary bank will arrange for the funds to be converted into U.S. dollars and for the distribution of the U.S. dollars to the holders, subject to the applicable laws and regulations.
The conversion into U.S. dollars will take place only if practicable and if the U.S. dollars are transferable to the United States. The depositary bank will apply the same method for distributing the
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proceeds of the sale of any property (such as undistributed rights) held by the custodian in respect of securities on deposit.
The distribution of cash will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. The depositary bank will hold any cash amounts it is unable to distribute in a non-interest bearing account for the benefit of the applicable holders and beneficial owners of ADSs until the distribution can be effected or the funds that the depositary bank holds must be escheated as unclaimed property in accordance with the laws of the relevant states of the United States.
Distributions of Shares
Whenever we make a free distribution of the Shares for the securities on deposit with the custodian, we will deposit the applicable number of the Shares with the custodian. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the depositary bank will either distribute to holders new ADSs representing the Shares deposited or modify the ADS-to-Share ratio, in which case each ADS you hold will represent rights and interests in the additional Shares so deposited. Only whole new ADSs will be distributed. Fractional entitlements will be sold and the proceeds of such sale will be distributed as in the case of a cash distribution.
The distribution of new ADSs or the modification of the ADS-to-Share ratio upon a distribution of the Shares will be made net of the fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. In order to pay such taxes or governmental charges, the depositary bank may sell all or a portion of the new Shares so distributed.
No such distribution of new ADSs will be made if it would violate a law (e.g., the U.S. securities laws) or if it is not operationally practicable. If the depositary bank does not distribute new ADSs as described above, it may sell the Shares received upon the terms described in the deposit agreement and will distribute the proceeds of the sale as in the case of a distribution of cash.
Distributions of Rights
Whenever we intend to distribute rights to purchase additional Shares, we will give prior notice to the depositary bank and we will assist the depositary bank in determining whether it is lawful and reasonably practicable to distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs to ADS holders.
The depositary bank will establish procedures to distribute rights to purchase additional ADSs to ADS holders and to enable such holders to exercise such rights if it is lawful and reasonably practicable to make the rights available to ADS holders, and if we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement (such as opinions to address the lawfulness of the transaction). You may have to pay fees, expenses, taxes and other governmental charges to subscribe for the new ADSs upon the exercise of your rights under the terms of the deposit agreement. The depositary bank is not obligated to establish procedures to facilitate the distribution and exercise by holders of rights to purchase new Shares other than in the form of ADSs.
The depositary bank will not distribute the rights to you if:
The depositary bank will sell the rights that are not exercised or not distributed if such sale is lawful and reasonably practicable. The proceeds of such sale will be distributed to ADS holders as in
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the case of a cash distribution. If the depositary bank is unable to sell the rights, it will allow the rights to lapse.
Elective Distributions
Whenever we intend to distribute a dividend payable at the election of shareholders either in cash or in additional Shares, we will give prior notice thereof to the depositary bank and will indicate whether we wish the elective distribution to be made available to you. In such case, we will assist the depositary bank in determining whether such distribution is lawful and reasonably practicable.
The depositary bank will make the election available to you only if we have timely requested that the elective distribution be made available to you, such distribution is reasonably practicable and we have provided all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement (such as opinions to address the lawfulness of the transaction). In such case, the depositary bank will establish procedures to enable you to elect to receive either cash or additional ADSs, in each case as described in the deposit agreement.
If the election is not made available to you, you will receive either cash or additional ADSs, depending on what a shareholder in Norway would receive upon failing to make an election, as more fully described in the deposit agreement.
Other Distributions
Whenever we intend to distribute property other than cash, Shares or rights to purchase additional Shares, we will notify the depositary bank in advance and will indicate whether we wish such distribution to be made to you. If so, we will assist the depositary bank in determining whether such distribution to holders is lawful and reasonably practicable.
The depositary bank will distribute the property to the holders only if we request the depositary bank to make such distribution to you, it is reasonably practicable to distribute such property to you and we provide all of the documentation contemplated in the deposit agreement. Distribution of the property by the depositary bank to the holders will be made in a manner the depositary bank deems practicable.
The distribution will be made net of fees, expenses, taxes and governmental charges payable by holders under the terms of the deposit agreement. In order to pay such taxes and governmental charges, the depositary bank may sell all or a portion of the property received.
Issuance of ADSs upon Deposit of Shares
Upon completion of an offering of ADSs, the Shares being offered pursuant to this prospectus and the related prospectus supplement will be deposited by us with the custodian. Following receipt of confirmation of such deposit and payment of any applicable issuance fees, charges and taxes, the depositary bank will issue ADSs. Upon receipt of confirmation of such deposit, the depositary bank will issue ADSs to the underwriters named in the related prospectus supplement.
In addition, the depositary bank may create ADSs on your behalf if you or your broker deposit Shares with the custodian. The depositary bank will deliver these ADSs to the person you indicate only after you pay any applicable issuance fees and any charges and taxes payable for the transfer of the Shares to the custodian. Your ability to deposit Shares and receive ADSs may be limited by U.S. and Norwegian legal considerations applicable at the time of deposit.
The issuance of ADSs may be delayed until the depositary bank or the custodian receives confirmation that all required approvals have been given and that the Shares have been duly transferred to the custodian. The depositary bank will only issue ADSs in whole numbers.
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When you make a deposit of Shares, you will be responsible for transferring good and valid title to the depositary bank. As such, you will be deemed to represent and warrant that:
If any of the representations or warranties are incorrect in any way, we and the depositary bank may, at your cost and expense, take any and all actions necessary to correct the consequences of the misrepresentations.
Transfer, Combination and Split Up of ADRs
As an ADR holder, you will be entitled to transfer, combine or split up your ADRs and the ADSs evidenced thereby. For transfers of ADRs, you will have to surrender the ADRs to be transferred to the depositary bank and also must:
To have your ADRs either combined or split up, you must surrender the ADRs in question to the depositary bank for the purpose of having them combined or split up, and you must pay all applicable fees, charges and expenses payable by ADR holders, pursuant to the terms of the deposit agreement, upon a combination or split up of ADRs and provide such proof of identity and genuineness of signatures as the depositary bank deems appropriate.
Withdrawal of Shares Upon Cancellation of ADSs
As a holder, you will be entitled to present your ADSs to the depositary bank for cancellation and then receive the corresponding number of underlying Shares to an account within the VPS as directed by you. Your ability to withdraw the Shares may be limited by U.S. and Norwegian law considerations applicable at the time of withdrawal. In order to withdraw the Shares represented by your ADSs, you will be required to pay to the depositary bank the fees for cancellation of ADSs and any charges and taxes payable upon the transfer of the Shares being withdrawn in each case under the terms of the deposit agreement. You assume the risk for delivery of all funds and securities upon withdrawal. Once canceled, the ADSs will not have any rights under the deposit agreement.
If you hold ADSs registered in your name, the depositary bank may ask you to provide proof of identity and genuineness of any signature and such other documents as the depositary bank may deem appropriate before it will cancel your ADSs. The withdrawal of the Shares represented by your ADSs
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may be delayed until the depositary bank receives satisfactory evidence of compliance with all applicable laws and regulations. Please keep in mind that the depositary bank will only accept ADSs for cancellation that represent a whole number of securities on deposit.
You will have the right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs at any time except for:
The deposit agreement may not be modified to impair your right to withdraw the securities represented by your ADSs except to comply with mandatory provisions of law.
Voting Rights
Under the deposit agreement, as a holder, you generally have the right to instruct the depositary bank to exercise the voting rights for the Shares represented by your ADSs, provided that you are, or are acting upon the instruction of, the beneficial owner of the ADSs and the beneficial owner is registered as a shareholder of Marine Harvest ASA in the VPS prior to the meeting.
At our request, the depositary bank will distribute to you any notice of shareholders' meeting received from us together with information explaining how to instruct the depositary bank to exercise the voting rights of the securities represented by ADSs.
If the depositary bank timely receives valid voting instructions from a holder of ADSs, it will endeavor to:
In order to give the depositary bank a valid voting instruction with respect to the ADSs, holders of the ADSs must (i) either state in their voting instruction that they are the beneficial owners of those ADSs or identify in their voting instruction the beneficial owner(s) of those ADSs; and (ii) either agree with the depositary bank that the depositary bank will block registration of transfer of their ADSs or deliver their ADSs to a blocked account with DTC for the account of the depositary bank, in each case, until the conclusion of the meeting.
Please note that the ability of the depositary bank to carry out voting instructions may be limited by practical and legal limitations and the terms of the securities on deposit. We cannot assure you that you will receive voting materials in time to enable you to return voting instructions to the depositary bank in a timely manner. Securities for which no voting instructions have been received will not be voted.
In particular, as described under "Description of Ordinary SharesVoting Rights," in order to be entitled to vote at a general meeting, you must be registered as the owner of Shares in the share register kept by the VPS System, or, alternatively, attend a meeting and provide evidence of Share ownership. Beneficial owners of Shares which are registered in the name of a nominee are not entitled to vote under Norwegian law, nor are any persons who are designated in the register as holding such
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shares as nominees. The beneficial owners of ADSs will therefore only be able to vote at meetings by surrendering their ADSs, withdrawing their ordinary shares from the ADS depositary and registering their ownership of such ordinary shares directly in our share register in the VPS System.
Fees and Charges
As an ADS holder, you will be required to pay the following fees under the terms of the deposit agreement:
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Service |
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Fees |
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Issuance of ADSs upon deposit of Shares (excluding issuances as a result of distributions of shares) |
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS issued(1) | ||||||
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Cancellation of ADSs |
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS canceled(2) | ||||||
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Distribution of ADSs pursuant to (i) stock dividends or other free stock distributions, or (ii) exercise of rights to purchase additional ADSs |
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held(2) | ||||||
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Distribution of securities other than ADSs or rights to purchase additional ADSs (i.e., spin-off shares) |
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held(2) | ||||||
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Distribution of cash dividends or other cash distribution (i.e., sale of rights and other entitlements) |
Up to U.S. 5¢ per ADS held(3) |
As an ADS holder you will also be responsible to pay certain charges such as:
ADS fees and charges payable upon (i) deposit of Shares against issuance of ADSs and (ii) surrender of ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of Shares are charged to the person to whom the ADSs are delivered (in the case of ADS issuances) and to the person who delivers the ADSs for cancellation (in the case of ADS cancellations). In the case of ADSs issued by the depositary bank into
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DTC or presented to the depositary bank via DTC, the ADS issuance and cancellation fees and charges are charged to the DTC participant(s) receiving the ADSs or the DTC participant(s) surrendering the ADSs for cancellation, as the case may be, on behalf of the beneficial owner(s) and will be charged by the DTC participant(s) to the account(s) of the applicable beneficial owner(s) in accordance with the procedures and practices of the DTC participant(s) as in effect at the time. ADS fees and charges in respect of distributions are charged to the holders as of the applicable ADS record date. In the case of distributions of cash, the amount of the applicable ADS fees and charges is deducted from the funds being distributed. In the case of distributions other than cash, holders as of the ADS record date will be invoiced for the amount of the ADS fees and charges. For ADSs held through DTC, the ADS fees and charges for distributions other than cash are charged to the DTC participants in accordance with the procedures and practices prescribed by DTC and the DTC participants in turn charge the amount of such ADS fees and charges to the beneficial owners for whom they hold ADSs.
In the event of refusal to pay the depositary bank fees, the depositary bank may, under the terms of the deposit agreement, refuse the requested service until payment is received or may set off the amount of the depositary bank fees from any distribution to be made to the ADS holder. Note that the fees and charges you may be required to pay may vary over time and may be changed by us and by the depositary bank, acting jointly. You will receive prior notice of such changes.
The depositary bank may reimburse us for certain expenses incurred by us in respect of the ADR program, by making available a portion of the ADS fees charged in respect of the ADR program or otherwise, upon such terms and conditions as we and the depositary bank agree from time to time. Citibank did not make any reimbursement payments to the Company in the year ended December 31, 2014.
Limitations on Obligations and Liabilities
The deposit agreement limits our obligations and the depositary bank's obligations to you. Please note the following:
23
the securities on deposit, or by reason of any act of God or war or other circumstances beyond our control;
No disclaimer of any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is intended by any provision of the deposit agreement.
Taxes
You will be responsible for the taxes and other governmental charges payable on the ADSs and the securities represented by the ADSs. We, the depositary bank and the custodian may deduct from any distribution the taxes and governmental charges payable by holders and may sell any and all property on deposit to pay the taxes and governmental charges payable by holders. You will be liable for any deficiency if the sale proceeds do not cover the taxes that are due.
The depositary bank may refuse to issue ADSs, to deliver, transfer, split and combine ADRs or to release securities on deposit until all taxes and charges are paid by the applicable holder. The depositary bank and the custodian may take reasonable administrative actions to obtain tax refunds and reduced tax withholding for any distributions on your behalf. However, you may be required to provide to the depositary bank and to the custodian proof of taxpayer status and residence and such other information as the depositary bank and the custodian may require to fulfill legal obligations. You are required to indemnify us, the depositary bank and the custodian for any claims with respect to taxes based on any tax benefit obtained for you.
Governing Law
The deposit agreement and the ADRs will be interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. The rights of holders of Shares (including Shares represented by ADSs) is governed by the laws of Norway.
24
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SHARES
As of the date of this prospectus, we have not issued any preferred shares. Our shareholders may, at a general meeting, resolve to issue one or more series of preferred shares specifying the terms and rights of that series (or authorize our board of directors to issue preferred shares with such terms and rights that has been determined by the general meeting), including:
The material terms of any series of preferred shares that we offer through a prospectus supplement will be described in that prospectus supplement.
25
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The following description of the terms of the debt securities sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which any prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and the extent, if any, to which these general provisions may apply to those debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, reference must be made to both the prospectus supplement relating thereto and to the following description.
We may issue series of debt securities, which may include debt securities convertible into equity. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms of that series in a supplement to this prospectus. The following description of debt securities will apply to the debt securities offered by this prospectus unless we provide otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement for a particular series of debt securities may specify different or additional terms.
The debt securities offered hereby may be secured or unsecured, and may be either senior debt securities, senior subordinated debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities offered hereby will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be named in the indenture. The indenture will be qualified under, subject to, and governed by, the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. A form of the indenture is attached as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.
General
The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to a resolution of our board of directors (and with respect to debt securities convertible into equity pursuant to an authorization or a resolution by the general meeting) and detailed or determined in the manner provided in a board of directors' resolution, an officers' certificate or by a supplemental indenture. The particular terms of each series of debt securities will be described in a prospectus supplement relating to the series, including any pricing supplement.
We can issue an unlimited amount of debt securities under an indenture that may be in one or more series with the same or various maturities, at par, at a premium or at a discount. We will set forth in a prospectus supplement, including any pricing supplement, relating to any series of debt securities being offered the initial offering price, the aggregate principal amount and the terms of the debt securities, including the following:
26
We may issue debt securities that are exchangeable and/or convertible into shares of our ordinary shares. The terms, if any, on which the debt securities may be exchanged for and/or converted will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such terms may include provisions for conversion, either mandatory, at the option of the holder or at our option, in which case the number of shares of ordinary shares or other securities to be received by the holders of debt securities would be calculated as of a time and in the manner stated in the prospectus supplement. Neither the trustee nor the
27
conversion agent shall have any duty to verify calculations respecting conversions. All such calculations shall be performed by us and our agents. Neither the trustee nor the conversion agent shall have any liability for not verifying our calculations and shall be entitled to rely upon them.
We may issue debt securities that provide for an amount less than their stated principal amount to be due and payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity pursuant to the terms of the indenture. We will provide you with information on the federal income tax considerations and other special considerations applicable to any of these debt securities in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we denominate the purchase price of any of the debt securities in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, or if the principal of and any premium and interest on any series of debt securities is payable in a foreign currency or currencies or a foreign currency unit or units, we will provide you with information on the restrictions, elections, general tax considerations, specific terms and other information with respect to that issue of debt securities and such foreign currency or currencies or foreign currency unit or units in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Global Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement. Global securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual debt securities, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for such global security 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 of such depositary or a nominee of such successor. The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any debt securities of a series and the rights of and limitations upon owners of beneficial interests in a global security will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
28
The following summary of certain provisions of the warrants does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms of the warrants that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such warrants.
General
Our shareholders may, at a general meeting, resolve to issue warrants to purchase our ordinary or preferred shares. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any other securities and may be attached to, or separate from, such securities. Each series of warrants may be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and the investor, a bank or a trust company as warrant agent. Any such warrant agent would act solely as our agent and will not assume any obligation or relationship or agency or trust for or with holders or beneficial owners of warrants. The terms of any warrants to be issued and a description of the material provisions of the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms of any warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered:
29
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
The following summary of certain provisions of the subscription rights does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms of the subscription rights that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the offering of such subscription rights.
We may, subject to obtaining the required corporate resolutions, issue subscription rights to purchase any of our securities. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby, and may or may not be transferable by the person purchasing or receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of such subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
We may enter into a subscription rights agent agreement with a bank or trust company, as rights agent. Any such subscription rights agent would act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the subscription rights and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust with any holders of subscription rights certificates or beneficial owners of subscription rights. The prospectus supplement relating to a particular offering of subscription rights will describe the terms of the subscription rights, including, among other things, the following:
30
UNAUDITED RECONCILIATION OF CERTAIN NON-IFRS FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Some of the financial information presented in the documents incorporated herein by reference contains non-IFRS financial measures, including Operational EBIT, Operational EBITDA, operational revenues, ROCE, NIBD/equity, Operational EBIT % and Underlying EPS. We discuss below how we define and calculate these non-IFRS measures.
Non-IFRS Financial Measures
Operational EBIT and Operational EBITDA. Operational EBIT is a non-IFRS financial measure, calculated by excluding each of the following items from EBIT as set forth in our consolidated statement of income prepared in accordance with IFRS: change in unrealized salmon derivatives (at Group level only), fair value uplift on harvested fish, fair value adjustment on biological assets, provision for onerous contracts, restructuring costs, income/loss from associated companies, impairment losses, unrealized profit adjustments and other non-operational items (accrual for contingent liabilities and provisions). We exclude these items from our EBIT as we believe they affect the comparability of our operational performance from period to period, given their non-operational or non-recurring nature. Operational EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure, calculated by adding depreciation to Operational EBIT. Operational EBIT and Operational EBITDA are used by management, analysts, rating agencies and investors in assessing our performance. Accordingly, we believe that the presentation of Operational EBIT and Operational EBITDA provides useful information to investors. Our use of Operational EBIT and Operational EBITDA should not be viewed as an alternative to EBIT or to profit or loss for the year, which are measures calculated in accordance with IFRS. Operational EBIT and Operational EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools in comparison to EBIT or other profit and loss measures prepared in accordance with IFRS. Some of these limitations are: (i) these measures do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges that we consider not to be indicative of our on-going operations, (ii) these measures do not reflect interest and income tax expense; and (iii) other companies, including other companies in our industry, may calculate Operational EBIT and Operational EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure. Our Operational EBIT and Operational EBITDA at Group level and by country of origin are reconciled to EBIT below. Our Operational EBIT at segment level is reconciled in footnotes to our financial statements included in documents incorporated herein by reference.
Operational Revenue. Operational Revenue is a non-IFRS financial measure, calculated by excluding change in unrealized salmon derivatives from revenue and other income as set forth in our consolidated statement of income prepared in accordance with IFRS. We exclude change in unrealized salmon derivatives from our revenue and other income as we believe it affects the comparability of our operational performance from period to period, given its non-operational nature. Our use of Operational Revenue should not be viewed as an alternative to revenue and other income, which is a measure calculated in accordance with IFRS. Operational Revenue has limitations as an analytical tool in comparison to revenue. Some of these limitations include the fact that changes in unrealized salmon derivatives may need to be cash settled at a future date. Our Operational Revenue is reconciled to revenue and other income in footnotes to our financial statements included in documents incorporated herein by reference.
ROCE. ROCE is a non-IFRS financial measure, calculated by dividing Adjusted EBIT by average capital employed. Adjusted EBIT is calculated as EBIT, as set forth in our consolidated statement of income prepared in accordance with IFRS, adjusted for fair value uplift on harvested fish, fair value adjustment on biological assets, provision for onerous contracts and other non-operational items (accrual for contingent liabilities and provisions). Average capital employed is calculated as average of the beginning of the period and end of the period capital employed except when there are material transactions during the year. Capital employed is the sum of net interest bearing debt, or NIBD, as of the end of the period plus equity as of the end of the period adjusted for fair value adjustment on
31
biological assets, provision for onerous contracts and, for the periods from January 1, 2013 until September 30, 2013 and July 1, 2013 until September 30, 2013, our investment in Morpol. The investment in Morpol was excluded from the calculation of capital employed as until the acquisition of Morpol was cleared by the relevant competition authorities, we were unable to consolidate Morpol's financial results into our financial statements. Our NIBD as of the end of a period (for purposes of calculating average NIBD) is equal to our total non-current interest-bearing debt minus our total cash and plus our current interest-bearing debt. We use ROCE to measure the return on capital employed, regardless of whether the financing is through equity or debt. In our view, this measure provides useful information for both management and our investors about our performance during periods under evaluation. We believe that the presentation of ROCE provides useful information to investors because ROCE can be used to determine whether capital invested in us yields competitive returns. In addition, achievement of predetermined targets relating to ROCE is one of the factors we take into account in determining the amount of performance-based compensation paid to our management. Our use of ROCE should not be viewed as an alternative to EBIT or to profit or loss for the year, which are measures calculated in accordance with IFRS or ratios based on these figures. The usefulness of ROCE is also inherently limited by the fact that it is a ratio and thus does not provide information as to the absolute amount of our income, debt or equity. It also excludes certain items from the calculation and other companies may use a similar measure but calculate it differently. A table setting forth our calculation of ROCE is set forth below.
NIBD/equity. NIBD/equity is a non-IFRS financial measure. Management employs NIBD divided by total equity, as set forth in our consolidated financial statements, to assess our liquidity and financial position. Our NIBD as of the end of a period is equal to our total non-current interest-bearing debt minus our total cash and plus our current interest-bearing debt, in each case as set forth in our consolidated statement of financial position. Management, analysts, rating agencies and investors use our NIBD/equity ratio to assess our liquidity and measure our cash flow. The usefulness of NIBD/equity is inherently limited by the fact that it is a ratio and thus does not provide information as to the absolute amounts of our debt or equity. A table setting forth our calculation of NIBD/equity is set forth below.
Operational EBIT %. Operational EBIT % is a non-IFRS financial measure. We calculate Operational EBIT % by dividing Operational EBIT by Operational Revenue, each a non-IFRS financial measure. Management employs Operational EBIT % to assess operational performance of some of our segments, disregarding certain non-recurring and non-operational items, excluded from Operational EBIT and Operational Revenue. The usefulness of Operational EBIT % is inherently limited as further described in Operational EBIT and Operational Revenue paragraphs above. Our Operational EBIT % is reconciled to revenue and other income in footnotes to our financial statements included in documents incorporated herein by reference.
Underlying EPS. Underlying Earnings per Share, or Underlying EPS, is a non-IFRS financial measure. We calculate Underlying EPS by dividing Adjusted Operational EBIT, calculated as Operational EBIT net of accrued payable interest (net) and tax expense estimated based on estimated weighted tax rate, divided by the number of shares outstanding at the end of the period. Management employs Underlying EPS to assess our operational performance, disregarding tax expenses and interest payments and receipts. We view Underlying EPS as a useful tool reflecting our operational performance per ordinary share outstanding. The usefulness of Underlying EPS is inherently limited. Some of these limitations are that Underlying EPS does not reflect the impact of earnings or charges that we consider not to be indicative of our on-going operations and Underlying EPS does not reflect interest and income tax expense. A table setting forth our calculation of Underlying EPS is set forth below.
32
The following table reconciles our Group Operational EBITDA and Group Operational EBIT to EBIT in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
|
(in NOK million) (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||
Group Operational EBITDA |
1,160 | 973 | 3,921 | 2,703 | |||||||||
Depreciation |
248 | 181 | 699 | 528 | |||||||||
Group Operational EBIT |
912 | 793 | 3,222 | 2,176 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Change in unrealized salmon derivatives |
17 | 3 | 18 | 18 | |||||||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
1,264 | 1,062 | 4,240 | 2,913 | |||||||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
1,335 | 949 | 3,216 | 3,584 | |||||||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
3 | 117 | 150 | 18 | |||||||||
Restructuring costs |
5 | 1 | 50 | 238 | |||||||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
51 | 48 | 94 | 105 | |||||||||
Impairment losses |
| 5 | 1 | 8 | |||||||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
37 | | 37 | | |||||||||
Other non-operational items |
| | 168 | 74 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Group earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) |
1,012 | 836 | 2,208 | 2,631 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
The following table reconciles Group level Operational EBIT to EBIT in NOK per kilogram for the three months ended September 30, 2014:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | |||
|
(NOK per kg) (Unaudited) |
|||
Group Operational EBIT |
8.50 | |||
Change in unrealized salmon derivatives |
0.15 | |||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
11.77 | |||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
12.44 | |||
Provision for onerous contracts |
0.03 | |||
Restructuring costs |
0.05 | |||
Income/loss from associated companies |
0.48 | |||
Impairment losses |
| |||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
.34 | |||
Other non-operational items |
| |||
| | | | |
Group EBIT |
9.43 | |||
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
33
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Norwegian origin in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(in NOK million) (Unaudited) |
||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Norwegian Origin |
624 | 529 | |||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
830 | 642 | |||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
1,055 | 623 | |||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
2 | 78 | |||||
Restructuring costs |
| | |||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
43 | 48 | |||||
Impairment losses |
| 5 | |||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | |||||
Other non-operational items |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Norwegian Origin |
895 | 631 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Norwegian origin in NOK per kilogram for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
|
(NOK per kg) (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Norwegian Origin |
9.71 | 9.96 | 11.52 | 10.30 | |||||||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
12.91 | 12.09 | 14.64 | 12.07 | |||||||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
16.41 | 11.74 | 11.40 | 13.66 | |||||||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
0.04 | 1.46 | 0.57 | 0.07 | |||||||||
Restructuring costs |
| | | | |||||||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
0.67 | 0.91 | 0.46 | 0.68 | |||||||||
Impairment losses |
| 0.09 | | 0.03 | |||||||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | | | |||||||||
Other non-operational items |
| | | | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Norwegian Origin |
13.92 | 11.89 | 9.30 | 12.61 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
34
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Scottish origin in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(in NOK million) (Unaudited) |
||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Scottish Origin |
137 | 227 | |||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
178 | 261 | |||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
120 | 215 | |||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
1 | 36 | |||||
Restructuring costs |
| | |||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
8 | | |||||
Impairment losses |
| | |||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | |||||
Other non-operational items |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Scottish Origin |
88 | 216 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Scottish origin in NOK per kilogram for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
|
(NOK per kg) (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Scottish Origin |
9.95 | 16.47 | 11.58 | 13.17 | |||||||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
12.98 | 18.96 | 14.02 | 17.34 | |||||||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
8.76 | 15.61 | 7.02 | 19.65 | |||||||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
0.04 | 2.59 | 1.01 | 0.19 | |||||||||
Restructuring costs |
| | | | |||||||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
0.61 | | 0.20 | | |||||||||
Impairment losses |
| | | | |||||||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | | | |||||||||
Other non-operational items |
| | | | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Scottish Origin |
6.38 | 15.71 | 5.79 | 15.67 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
35
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Canadian origin in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(in NOK million) (Unaudited) |
||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Canadian Origin |
33 | 67 | |||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
28 | 81 | |||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
| 51 | |||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
| | |||||
Restructuring costs |
| 1 | |||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
| | |||||
Impairment losses |
| | |||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | |||||
Other non-operational items |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Canadian Origin |
1 | 37 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Canadian origin in NOK per kilogram for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
|
(NOK per kg) (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Canadian Origin |
4.70 | 10.92 | 11.36 | 10.18 | |||||||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
8.51 | 13.10 | 15.52 | 10.47 | |||||||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
4.02 | 8.27 | 10.19 | 17.61 | |||||||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
| | | | |||||||||
Restructuring costs |
| 0.09 | | 0.02 | |||||||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
| | | | |||||||||
Impairment losses |
| | | | |||||||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | | | |||||||||
Other non-operational items |
| | | | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Canadian Origin |
0.20 | 6.00 | 6.03 | 17.31 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
36
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Chilean origin in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(in NOK million) (Unaudited) |
||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Chilean Origin |
101 | 10 | |||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
125 | 54 | |||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
89 | 62 | |||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
| | |||||
Restructuring costs |
| | |||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
| | |||||
Impairment losses |
| | |||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | |||||
Other non-operational items |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Chilean Origin |
66 | 18 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Chilean origin in NOK per kilogram for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
|
(NOK per kg) (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Chilean Origin |
6.06 | 1.68 | 6.11 | 7.12 | |||||||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
7.48 | 9.11 | 7.79 | 2.11 | |||||||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
5.33 | 10.45 | 7.96 | 11.17 | |||||||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
| | | | |||||||||
Restructuring costs |
| | | | |||||||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
| | | | |||||||||
Impairment losses |
| 0.04 | | 0.09 | |||||||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | | | |||||||||
Other non-operational items |
| | | 5.26 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Chilean Origin |
3.92 | 3.07 | 6.29 | 3.22 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
37
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Irish origin in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(in NOK million) (Unaudited) |
||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Irish Origin |
6 | 22 | |||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
22 | 16 | |||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
7 | 14 | |||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
| | |||||
Restructuring costs |
| | |||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
| | |||||
Impairment losses |
| | |||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | |||||
Other non-operational items |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Irish Origin |
8 | 52 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Irish origin in NOK per kilogram for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(NOK per kg) (Unaudited) |
||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Irish Origin |
2.58 | 12.89 | |||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
9.14 | 9.60 | |||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
3.10 | 8.51 | |||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
| | |||||
Restructuring costs |
| | |||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
| | |||||
Impairment losses |
| | |||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | |||||
Other non-operational items |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Irish Origin |
3.46 | 31.00 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
38
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Faroese origin in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(in NOK million) (Unaudited) |
||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Faroese Origin |
42 | 7 | |||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
48 | 8 | |||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
34 | 13 | |||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
| 3 | |||||
Restructuring costs |
| | |||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
| | |||||
Impairment losses |
| | |||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | |||||
Other non-operational items |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Faroese Origin |
28 | 15 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
The following table reconciles Operational EBIT to EBIT for salmon of Faroese origin in NOK per kilogram for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(NOK per kg) (Unaudited) |
||||||
Operational EBITSalmon of Faroese Origin |
13.48 | 20.58 | |||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
15.47 | 24.24 | |||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
10.99 | 37.06 | |||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
| 9.36 | |||||
Restructuring costs |
| | |||||
Income/loss from associated companies |
| | |||||
Impairment losses |
| | |||||
Unrealized profit adjustment |
| | |||||
Other non-operational items |
| | |||||
| | | | | | | |
EBITSalmon of Faroese Origin |
9.00 | 42.76 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
39
The following tables set forth our calculation of ROCE, requiring reconciliation of Adjusted EBIT to EBIT and NIBD to Non-current interest-bearing debt, for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, and the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
|||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||
|
(in NOK million, except ROCE) (Unaudited) |
||||||||||||
Adjusted EBIT |
938 | 832 | 3,250 | 2,017 | |||||||||
Fair value uplift on harvested fish |
1,264 | 1,062 | 4,240 | 2,913 | |||||||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
1,335 | 949 | 3,216 | 3,584 | |||||||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
3 | 117 | 150 | 18 | |||||||||
Other non-operational items |
| | 168 | 74 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
EBIT |
1,012 | 836 | 2,208 | 2,631 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Net interest-bearing debt (NIBD) |
7,230 | 7,882 | 7,230 | 7,882 | |||||||||
Cash |
730 | 751 | 730 | 751 | |||||||||
Current interest-bearing debt |
7 | 2,216 | 7 | 2,216 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Non-current interest-bearing debt |
7,953 | 6,418 | 7,953 | 6,418 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
NIBD |
7,230 | 7,882 | 7,230 | 7,882 | |||||||||
Investment in Morpol |
41 | 3,613 | 41 | 3,613 | |||||||||
Total equity |
14,193 | 13,091 | 14,193 | 13,091 | |||||||||
Fair value adjustment on biological assets |
1,725 | 1,522 | 1,725 | 1,522 | |||||||||
Provision for onerous contracts |
4 | 8 | 4 | 8 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Capital employed as of the end of the period |
19,661 | 15,846 | 19,661 | 15,846 | |||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Average capital employed(1) |
19,919 | 15,457 | 20,170 | 15,584 | |||||||||
Adjusted EBIT |
3,752 | 3,327 | 4,333 | 2,690 | |||||||||
ROCE |
19.0 | % | 21.5 | % | 21.5 | % | 17.3 | % |
The following table sets forth our calculation of NIBD/equity as of September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
As of September 30, |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(in NOK million) (Unaudited) |
||||||
NIBD |
7,230 | 7,882 | |||||
Cash |
730 | 751 | |||||
Current interest-bearing debt |
7 | 2,216 | |||||
Non-current interest-bearing debt |
7,953 | 6,418 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
NIBD |
7,230 | 7,882 | |||||
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
Total equity |
14,193 | 13,091 | |||||
NIBD/equity |
50.9 | % | 60.2 | % |
40
The following table sets forth our Operational EBIT % calculation for our VAP Europe segment in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | |||||
|
(in NOK millions) (Unaudited) |
||||||
Operational EBIT |
27 | 11 | |||||
Operating revenues |
1,142 | 1,034 | |||||
Operational EBIT % |
2.3 | % | 1.0 | % |
The following table sets forth our Operational EBIT % calculation for our Morpol division in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014:
|
Three months ended September 30, 2014 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in NOK millions) (Unaudited) |
|||
Operational EBIT |
71 | |||
Operating revenues |
1,014 | |||
Operational EBIT % |
7.0 | % |
The following table sets forth our Operational EBIT % calculation for our Feed segment in NOK million for the three months ended September 30, 2014:
|
Three months ended September 30, 2014 |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|
|
(in NOK millions) (Unaudited) |
|||
Operational EBIT |
20 | |||
Operating revenues |
539 | |||
Operational EBIT % |
3.7 | % |
41
The following tables set forth our calculation of Underlying EPS for the three months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013, the nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013 and twelve months ended December 31, 2013:
|
Three months ended September 30, |
Nine months ended September 30, |
Twelve months ended December 31, |
|||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
2014 | 2013 | 2014 | 2013 | 2013 | |||||||||||
|
(in NOK million, except number of shares and Underlying EPS) (Unaudited) |
|||||||||||||||
Operational EBIT |
912.0 | 792.6 | 3,222.5 | 2,175.9 | 3,212.5 | (1) | ||||||||||
Accrued payable interest (net) |
85.8 | 123.6 | 283.7 | 348.3 | 455.5 | |||||||||||
Estimated tax expense |
210.8 | 177.4 | 749.8 | 495.5 | 739.2 | |||||||||||
Minority share of profit |
5.8 | 0.5 | 3.4 | 9.8 | 7.4 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Adjusted Operational EBIT |
609.7 | 492.1 | 2,185.5 | 1,322.2 | 2,010.3 | |||||||||||
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Shares outstanding (end of period) |
410,336,788 | 374,793,190 | (2) | 410,336,788 | 374,793,190 | (2) | 385,610,807 | (2) | ||||||||
Underlying EPS (NOK per share) |
1.49 | 1.31 | 5.33 | 3.53 | 5.33 |
42
Material Norwegian and U.S. federal income tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of any of the securities offered by this prospectus will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement relating to those securities.
43
The securities being offered by this prospectus may be sold:
At any time a particular offer of the securities covered by this prospectus is made, a prospectus supplement will be distributed which will set forth the aggregate amount of securities covered by this prospectus being offered and the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, brokers or agents, any discounts, commissions, concessions and other items constituting compensation from us and any discounts, commissions or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers. Such prospectus supplement, and, if necessary, a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, will be filed with the SEC to reflect the disclosure of additional information with respect to the distribution of the securities covered by this prospectus.
Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time. Pursuant to a requirement by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority Inc., or FINRA, the maximum commission or discount to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker/dealer may not be greater than 8% of the gross proceeds received by us for the sale of any securities being registered pursuant to SEC Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act.
The distribution of securities may be effected from time to time in one or more transactions, including block transactions and transactions on the NYSE, or any other organized market where the securities may be traded, including the OSE. The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. Any dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts. If any such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act.
Agents may from time to time solicit offers to purchase the securities. If required, we will name in the applicable prospectus supplement any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and set forth any compensation payable to the agent. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any agent selling the securities covered by this prospectus may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities.
44
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements that may be entered into with the Company to indemnification against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to any contribution with respect to payments which they may be required to make in respect thereof and may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us in the ordinary course of business.
To facilitate any offering of securities, certain persons participating in the offering may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the securities. This may include over-allotments or short sales of the securities, which involve the sale by persons participating in the offering of more securities than the Company sold to them. In these circumstances, these persons would cover such over-allotments or short positions by exercising their over-allotment option, if any, or making purchases in the open market. In addition, these persons may stabilize or maintain the price of the securities by bidding for or purchasing securities in the open market or by imposing penalty bids, whereby selling concessions allowed to dealers participating in the offering may be reclaimed if securities sold by them are repurchased in connection with stabilization transactions. The effect of these transactions may be to stabilize or maintain the market price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. These transactions may be discontinued at any time.
Other than the ADSs and the ordinary shares, all securities offered by this prospectus will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriter to whom securities are sold by us for public offering and sale may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters may not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The securities may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange or a foreign securities exchange, except for the ordinary shares and ADSs, which are currently listed and traded on the OSE and NYSE, respectively. Any ADSs sold by this prospectus will be listed for trading on NYSE subject to official notice of issuance or a supplemental listing application. The Company cannot give you any assurance as to the liquidity of the trading markets for any securities.
45
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, certain legal matters in connection with this prospectus relating to United States federal securities and New York state law will be passed upon for us by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP, London, United Kingdom. The validity of the ordinary shares underlying the ADSs and other legal matters concerning this prospectus relating to Norwegian law will be passed upon for us by Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm AS.
46
The consolidated financial statements of Marine Harvest ASA appearing in Marine Harvest ASA's Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013 have been audited by Ernst & Young AS, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their report thereon, included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such report given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
47
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-3 under the Securities Act to register the securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which forms a part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement. You should refer to the registration statement and its exhibits for additional information. Any statement made in this prospectus concerning a contract or other document of ours is not necessarily complete and you should read the documents that are filed as exhibits to the registration statement or otherwise filed with the SEC for a more complete understanding of the document or matter. Each such statement is qualified in all respects by reference to the document to which it refers. You may inspect without charge a copy of the registration statement at the SEC's Public Reference Room, as well as through the SEC's website.
We file annual and other reports with the SEC. We are subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or the Exchange Act, that are applicable to a foreign private issuer. In accordance with the Exchange Act, we file reports with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 20-F. We also furnish to the SEC, under cover of Form 6-K, material information that we are required to make public, that we file with, and that is made public by, any stock exchange on which our shares are traded, or that we distribute, or that is required to be distributed by us, to our shareholders. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC's public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the SEC's Public Reference Room by calling the SEC in the United States at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains a web site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy statements and other information regarding registrants that file electronically with the SEC.
In addition, because our ordinary shares are traded on the OSE, we have filed periodic and immediate reports with, and furnish information to, the OSE. Copies of our filings with the OSE can be retrieved electronically through www.newsweb.no.
We maintain a corporate website at www.marineharvest.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website does not constitute a part of this registration statement. We have included our website address in this registration statement solely as an inactive textual reference.
48
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN INFORMATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" into this registration statement certain information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. Each document incorporated by reference is current only as of the date of such document, and the incorporation by reference of such documents shall not create any implication that there has been no change in our affairs since the date thereof or that the information contained therein is current as of any time subsequent to its date. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of this prospectus and should be read with the same care. When we update the information contained in documents that have been incorporated by reference by making future filings with the SEC, the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus is considered to be automatically updated and superseded. In the case of a conflict or inconsistency between information contained in this prospectus and information incorporated by reference into this prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in the document that was filed later.
This prospectus incorporates by reference the following documents:
All Annual Reports on Form 20-F, and any Reports of Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K which are identified by us as being incorporated by reference (to the extent designated therein), filed with or submitted to the SEC subsequent to the date of the registration statement on Form F-3 of which this prospectus forms a part, but before termination of the offering under this prospectus, shall be deemed incorporated by reference into this prospectus and deemed to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of such documents.
We will provide a copy of the documents we incorporate herein by reference, at no cost, to any person who receives this prospectus. The documents we incorporate herein by reference can be downloaded from the SEC website (www.sec.gov) and at www.marineharvest.com, or can be ordered in hard copy free of charge by writing to Marine Harvest ASA, Attn: Stefania Lombardi, PO Box 4102 Sandviken, 5835 Bergen, Norway, telephone number: +47 21 56 23 00 or at stefania.lombardi@marineharvest.com.
Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained in this prospectus or any other subsequently filed document that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into this prospectus modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.
49
SERVICE OF PROCESS AND ENFORCEMENT OF LIABILITIES
We are incorporated under the laws of Norway. A majority of our directors and management and certain of the experts named in this prospectus are residents of Norway, and a substantial portion of their respective assets are located in Norway. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon us or such persons with respect to matters arising under U.S. federal securities laws or to enforce against them judgments of courts of the United States predicated upon civil liability under the U.S. federal securities laws. In addition, awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the United States or elsewhere may be unenforceable in Norway. We have irrevocably appointed C T Corporation System as our agent to receive service of process in any action against us in any U.S. federal or state court arising out of the offer, purchase or sale of any of the securities registered in connection with this registration statement and the applicable prospectus supplement relating to those securities.
50
Ordinary Shares
In the form of ordinary shares or American Depositary Shares
Preferred Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Subscription Rights
PROSPECTUS
February 2, 2015
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 8. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
Neither Norwegian law nor our articles of association contain any provision concerning indemnification by us or our board of directors.
The Company maintains a director and officer insurance policy which insures the directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries, within certain limits and subject to certain limitations, against certain expenses in connection with the defense of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities that might be imposed as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings in which they are parties by reason of being or having been directors or officers.
See the Exhibit Index which is incorporated herein by reference.
(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;
(ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b), if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) above do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of this registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) To file a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any financial statements required by Item 8.A of Form 20-F at the start of any delayed offering or throughout a continuous offering. Financial statements and information otherwise required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
II-1
Securities Act need not be furnished, provided that the registrant includes in the prospectus, by means of a post-effective amendment, financial statements required pursuant to this paragraph and other information necessary to ensure that all other information in the prospectus is at least as current as the date of those financial statements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to registration statements on Form F-3, a post-effective amendment need not be filed to include financial statements and information required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act or Rule 3-19 of Regulation S-X, if such financial statements and information are contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the SEC by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement on Form F-3.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(i) Each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in this registration statement; and
(ii) Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act 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 the 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 this registration statement or prospectus that was part of this registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(6) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act 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 an undersigned registrant;
(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and
(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.
II-2
(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, 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 to supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.
(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each 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 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 a 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 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 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
(e) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
(i) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(ii) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, 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.
(f) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purposes of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
II-3
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the undersigned registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form F-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bergen, Norway, on February 2, 2015.
Marine Harvest ASA |
||||
By: |
/s/ IVAN VINDHEIM |
|||
Name: Ivan Vindheim | ||||
Title: Chief Financial Officer |
Each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Alf-Helge Aarskog and Ivan Vindheim, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents of the undersigned, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for and in the name, place and stead of the undersigned, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the SEC, and hereby grants to such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and anything necessary to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as the undersigned might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-facts and agents or their substitute, or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this registration statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
---|---|---|---|---|
/s/ ALF-HELGE AARSKOG Name: Alf-Helge Aarskog |
Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) |
February 2, 2015 | ||
/s/ IVAN VINDHEIM Name: Ivan Vindheim |
Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer) |
February 2, 2015 |
||
/s/ OLE EIRIK LERøY Name: Ole Eirik Lerøy |
Chairman of the Board |
February 2, 2015 |
||
/s/ LEIF FRODE ONARHEIM Name: Leif Frode Onarheim |
Vice-Chairman of the Board |
February 2, 2015 |
||
/s/ ØRJAN SVANEVIK Name: Ørjan Svanevik |
Director |
February 2, 2015 |
II-4
Signature
|
Title
|
Date
|
||
---|---|---|---|---|
/s/ SOLVEIG STRAND Name: Solveig Strand |
Director |
February 2, 2015 |
||
/s/ MICHAEL PARKER Name: Michael Parker |
Director |
February 2, 2015 |
||
/s/ CECILIE FREDRIKSEN Name: Cecilie Fredriksen |
Director |
February 2, 2015 |
||
/s/ STEIN MATHIESEN Name: Stein Mathiesen |
Director |
February 2, 2015 |
||
/s/ HELÉNE VIBBLEUS Name: Heléne Vibbleus |
Director |
February 2, 2015 |
||
/s/ LARS EIRIK HESTNES Name: Lars Eirik Hestnes |
Director |
February 2, 2015 |
||
/s/ KJELLAUG SAMLAND Name: Kjellaug Samland |
Director |
February 2, 2015 |
SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE REGISTRANT
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of Marine Harvest ASA, has signed this registration statement, in the City of Newark, State of Delaware, on February 2, 2015.
Authorized Representative in the United States | ||||
By: |
/s/ DONALD PUGLISI |
|||
Name: Donald Puglisi | ||||
Title: Authorized Representative |
II-5
Exhibit No. | Description | |
---|---|---|
1.1 | Form of Underwriting Agreement (Debt Securities)** | |
1.2 |
Form of Underwriting Agreement (Equity Securities)** |
|
3.1 |
Articles of Association of Marine Harvest ASA (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form 20-F (File No. 001-36275), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 24, 2014) |
|
4.1 |
Form of Deposit Agreement among the Registrant, the Depositary and Owners and Beneficial Owners of the American Depositary Shares issued thereunder (incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 (File No. 333-193499), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 23, 2014) |
|
4.2 |
Form of American Depositary Receipt (included in Exhibit 4.1) |
|
4.3 |
Form of Indenture (for Debt Securities)* |
|
4.4 |
Form of Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.3)* |
|
4.5 |
Form of Warrant Agreement** |
|
4.5 |
Form of Warrant Certificate** |
|
5.1 |
Opinion of Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm AS, regarding the validity of the securities being registered* |
|
5.2 |
Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP, regarding the validity of the securities being registered* |
|
12.1 |
Statement of Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges* |
|
23.1 |
Consent of Ernst & Young AS, as auditors of the financial statements of Marine Harvest ASA* |
|
23.2 |
Consent of Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm AS (included in Exhibit 5.1)* |
|
23.3 |
Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP (included in Exhibit 5.2)* |
|
24.1 |
Power of Attorney (included on signature page)* |
|
25.1 |
Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the trustee for the debt securities |
II-6
Exhibit 4.3
Marine Harvest ASA
INDENTURE
Dated as of
DEBT SECURITIES
Trustee
Reconciliation and tie between
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture*
Trust Indenture |
|
|
Act Section |
|
Indenture Section |
|
|
|
§ 310(a) |
|
11.04(a), 15.02 |
(b) |
|
11.01(f), 11.04(b), 11.05(1), |
|
|
15.02 |
(b)(1) |
|
11.04(b), 15.02 |
§ 311 |
|
11.01(f), 15.02 |
§ 312 |
|
14.02(d), 15.02 |
(b) |
|
11.10, 15.02 |
(c) |
|
11.10, 15.02 |
§ 313(a) |
|
10.01(a), 15.02 |
§ 314 |
|
15.02 |
§ 315(e) |
|
11.05, 15.02 |
§ 316 |
|
15.02 |
§ 317 |
|
15.02 |
§ 317 |
|
15.02 |
*This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a part of the Indenture.
|
TABLE OF CONTENTS*
|
|
|
|
PAGE |
|
ARTICLE I
|
|
|
DEFINITIONS
|
|
Section 1.01 |
Definitions |
1 |
|
ARTICLE II |
|
|
|
|
|
FORMS OF SECURITIES |
|
|
|
|
Section 2.01 |
Terms of the Securities |
11 |
Section 2.02 |
Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication |
11 |
Section 2.03 |
Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent |
12 |
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III |
|
|
|
|
|
THE DEBT SECURITIES |
|
|
|
|
Section 3.01 |
Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series |
13 |
Section 3.02 |
Denominations |
15 |
Section 3.03 |
Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating |
16 |
Section 3.04 |
Temporary Securities |
18 |
Section 3.05 |
Registrar and Paying Agent |
18 |
Section 3.06 |
Transfer and Exchange |
19 |
Section 3.07 |
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities |
22 |
Section 3.08 |
Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved |
23 |
Section 3.09 |
Cancellation |
24 |
Section 3.10 |
Computation of Interest |
24 |
Section 3.11 |
Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities |
25 |
Section 3.12 |
Judgments |
25 |
Section 3.13 |
CUSIP; ISIN Numbers |
26 |
* The Table of Contents is not a part of the Indenture.
ARTICLE IV
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 4.01 |
Applicability of Right of Redemption |
26 |
Section 4.02 |
Selection of Securities to be Redeemed |
26 |
Section 4.03 |
Notice of Redemption |
27 |
Section 4.04 |
Deposit of Redemption Price |
27 |
Section 4.05 |
Securities Payable on Redemption Date |
27 |
Section 4.06 |
Securities Redeemed in Part |
28 |
| ||
ARTICLE V | ||
| ||
SINKING FUNDS | ||
| ||
Section 5.01 |
Applicability of Sinking Fund |
28 |
Section 5.02 |
Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation |
29 |
Section 5.03 |
Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price |
29 |
Section 5.04 |
Application of Sinking Fund Payment |
29 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI | ||
| ||
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY | ||
|
|
|
Section 6.01 |
Payments of Securities |
30 |
Section 6.02 |
Paying Agent |
30 |
Section 6.03 |
To Hold Payment in Trust |
31 |
Section 6.04 |
Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets |
32 |
Section 6.05 |
Compliance Certificate |
33 |
Section 6.06 |
Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities |
33 |
Section 6.07 |
Statement by Officers as to Default |
34 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE VII | ||
| ||
REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS | ||
| ||
Section 7.01 |
Events of Default |
34 |
Section 7.02 |
Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment |
35 |
Section 7.03 |
Other Remedies |
37 |
Section 7.04 |
Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact |
37 |
Section 7.05 |
Priorities |
38 |
Section 7.06 |
Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults |
38 |
Section 7.07 |
Limitation on Suits |
39 |
Section 7.08 |
Undertaking for Costs |
39 |
Section 7.09 |
Remedies Cumulative |
40 |
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 8.01 |
Evidence of Action of Securityholders |
40 |
Section 8.02 |
Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities |
40 |
Section 8.03 |
Persons Deemed Owners |
41 |
Section 8.04 |
Effect of Consents |
41 |
| ||
ARTICLE IX | ||
| ||
SECURITYHOLDERS MEETINGS | ||
|
|
|
Section 9.01 |
Purposes of Meetings |
42 |
Section 9.02 |
Call of Meetings by Trustee |
42 |
Section 9.03 |
Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders |
42 |
Section 9.04 |
Qualifications for Voting |
42 |
Section 9.05 |
Regulation of Meetings |
43 |
Section 9.06 |
Voting |
43 |
Section 9.07 |
No Delay of Rights by Meeting |
44 |
ARTICLE X | ||
| ||
REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE AND | ||
SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS | ||
|
|
|
Section 10.01 |
Reports by Trustee |
44 |
Section 10.02 |
Reports by the Company |
44 |
Section 10.03 |
Securityholders Lists |
45 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE XI | ||
| ||
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE | ||
|
|
|
Section 11.01 |
Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity |
45 |
Section 11.02 |
Duties of Trustee |
48 |
Section 11.03 |
Notice of Defaults |
49 |
Section 11.04 |
Eligibility; Disqualification |
49 |
Section 11.05 |
Registration and Notice; Removal |
50 |
Section 11.06 |
Successor Trustee by Appointment |
51 |
Section 11.07 |
Successor Trustee by Merger |
52 |
Section 11.08 |
Right to Rely on Officers Certificate |
52 |
Section 11.09 |
Appointment of Authenticating Agent |
53 |
Section 11.10 |
Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders |
54 |
ARTICLE XII
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
Section 12.01 |
Applicability of Article |
54 |
Section 12.02 |
Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture |
54 |
Section 12.03 |
Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations |
55 |
Section 12.04 |
Repayment to Company |
56 |
Section 12.05 |
Indemnity for Government Obligations |
57 |
Section 12.06 |
Deposits to Be Held in Escrow |
57 |
Section 12.07 |
Application of Trust Money |
57 |
Section 12.08 |
Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies |
58 |
|
|
|
ARTICLE XIII | ||
| ||
IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS | ||
|
|
|
Section 13.01 |
No Personal Liability |
58 |
| ||
ARTICLE XIV | ||
| ||
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES | ||
|
|
|
Section 14.01 |
Without Consent of Securityholders |
59 |
Section 14.02 |
With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations |
61 |
Section 14.03 |
Trustee Protected |
62 |
Section 14.04 |
Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture |
62 |
Section 14.05 |
Notation on or Exchange of Securities |
62 |
Section 14.06 |
Conformity with TIA |
63 |
| ||
ARTICLE XV | ||
| ||
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS | ||
|
|
|
Section 15.01 |
Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent |
63 |
Section 15.02 |
Trust Indenture Act Controls |
64 |
Section 15.03 |
Notices to the Company and Trustee |
64 |
Section 15.04 |
Notices to Securityholders; Waiver |
64 |
Section 15.05 |
Legal Holiday |
65 |
Section 15.06 |
Effects of Headings and Table of Contents |
65 |
Section 15.07 |
Successors and Assigns |
65 |
Section 15.08 |
Separability Clause |
65 |
Section 15.09 |
Benefits of Indenture |
65 |
Section 15.10 |
Counterparts Originals |
66 |
Section 15.11 |
Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury |
66 |
INDENTURE dated as of , , among Marine Harvest ASA, a public limited liability company (allmennaksjeselskap) incorporated under the laws of Norway (the Company), and , as trustee (the Trustee).
WITNESSETH:
WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this Indenture to provide for the issuance of unsecured debentures, notes, bonds or other evidences of indebtedness (the Securities) in an unlimited aggregate principal amount to be issued from time to time in one or more series as provided in this Indenture; and
WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, in accordance with its terms, have been done.
NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:
That, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the Securities by the Holders thereof for the equal and proportionate benefit of all of the present and future Holders of the Securities, each party agrees and covenants as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
For all purposes of this Indenture, 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) unless otherwise defined in this Indenture or the context otherwise requires, all terms used herein without definition which are defined in the Trust Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings assigned to them therein; and
(c) 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.
(d) references to Article or Section or other subdivision herein are references to an Article, Section or other subdivision of the Indenture, unless the context otherwise requires.
Section 1.01 Definitions.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms defined in this Section 1.01 shall for all purposes of this Indenture have the meanings hereinafter set forth:
Affiliate:
The term Affiliate, with respect to any specified Person shall mean 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:
The term Authenticating Agent shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.09.
Board of Directors:
The term Board of Directors shall mean either the board of directors of the Company or the executive or any other committee of that board duly authorized to act in respect hereof.
Board Resolution:
The term Board Resolution shall mean a copy of a resolution or resolutions certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors (or by a committee of the Board of Directors to the extent that any such other committee has been authorized by the Board of Directors to establish or approve the matters contemplated) and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification and delivered to the Trustee.
Business Day:
The term Business Day, when used with respect to any Place of Payment or any other particular location referred to in this Indenture or in the Securities, shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment or other location are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Capital Stock:
The term Capital Stock shall mean:
(a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;
(b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;
(c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and
(d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, whether or not such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.
Code:
The term Code shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
Company:
The term Company shall mean the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Person shall have become such pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter Company shall mean such successor Person.
Company Order:
The term Company Order shall mean a written order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President of the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.
Corporate Trust Office:
The term Corporate Trust Office, or other similar term, shall mean the principal office of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered, which office at the date hereof is located at , Attention: , , or such other address as the Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company, or the principal corporate trust officer of any successor Trustee (or such other address as such successor Trustee may designate from time to time by notice to the Holders and the Company).
Currency:
The term Currency shall mean U.S. Dollars or Foreign Currency.
Default:
The term Default shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 11.03.
Defaulted Interest:
The term Defaulted Interest shall have the same meaning assigned to it in Section 3.08(b).
Depositary:
The term Depositary shall mean, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, each Person designated as
Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 until one or more successor Depositaries 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.
Designated Currency:
The term Designated Currency shall have the same meaning assigned to it in Section 3.12.
Discharged:
The term Discharged shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.03.
DTC:
The term DTC shall mean The Depository Trust Company, Inc. and its successors.
Event of Default:
The term Event of Default shall have the meaning specified in Section 7.01.
Exchange Act:
The term Exchange Act shall mean the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
Exchange Rate:
The term Exchange Rate shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 7.01.
Floating Rate Security:
The term Floating Rate Security shall mean a Security that provides for the payment of interest at a variable rate determined periodically by reference to an interest rate index specified pursuant to Section 3.01.
Foreign Currency:
The term Foreign Currency shall mean a currency issued by the government of any country other than the United States or a composite currency, the value of which is determined by reference to the values of the currencies of any group of countries.
Global Security:
The term Global Security shall mean any Security that evidences all or part of a series of Securities, issued in fully-registered certificated form to the Depositary for such series in accordance with Section 3.03 and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 3.03(g).
Government Obligations:
The term Government Obligations shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 12.03.
Holder; Holder of Securities:
The terms Holder and Holder of Securities are defined under Securityholder; Holder of Securities; Holder.
IFRS:
The term IFRS shall mean International Financial Reporting Standards in the form promulgated by the International Accounting Standards Board.
Indebtedness:
The term Indebtedness shall mean any and all obligations of a Person for money borrowed which, in accordance with IFRS, would be reflected on the balance sheet of such Person as a liability on the date as of which Indebtedness is to be determined.
Indenture:
The term Indenture or this Indenture shall mean 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, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively. The term Indenture shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 3.01; provided, however, that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities, Indenture shall mean, with respect to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as contemplated by Section 3.01, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such person had become such Trustee, but to which such person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided, further that in the event that this Indenture is supplemented or
amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain series of Securities, the term Indenture for a particular series of Securities shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.
Individual Securities:
The term Individual Securities shall have the meaning specified in Section 3.01(p).
Interest:
The term interest shall mean, unless the context otherwise requires, interest payable on any Securities, and with respect to an Original Issue Discount Security that by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, interest payable after Maturity.
Interest Payment Date:
The term Interest Payment Date shall mean, with respect to any Security, the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such Security.
Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment:
The term Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.01(b).
Maturity:
The term Maturity, with respect to any Security, shall mean the date on which the principal of such Security shall become due and payable as therein and herein provided, whether by declaration, call for redemption or otherwise.
Members:
The term Members shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.03(i).
Officers Certificate:
The term Officers Certificate shall mean a certificate signed by any of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or any Vice President of the Company and delivered to the Trustee. Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for in Section 15.01 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section.
Opinion of Counsel:
The term Opinion of Counsel shall mean an opinion in writing signed by one or more legal counsel, who may be an employee of or of counsel to the Company, or may be one or more other counsel that meets the requirements provided for in Section 15.01.
Optional Sinking Fund Payment:
The term Optional Sinking Fund Payment shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 5.01(b).
Original Issue Discount Security:
The term Original Issue Discount Security shall mean any Security that is issued with original issue discount within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the Code and the regulations thereunder, or any successor provision, and any other Security designated by the Company as issued with original issue discount for United States federal income tax purposes.
Outstanding:
The term Outstanding, when used with respect to Securities means, as of the date of determination, all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered under this Indenture, except:
(a) Securities theretofore canceled by the Trustee or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation;
(b) Securities or portions thereof for which payment or redemption money in the necessary amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent (other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of such Securities or Securities as to which the Companys obligations have been Discharged; provided, however, that if such Securities or portions thereof are to be redeemed, notice of such redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor satisfactory to the Trustee has been made; and
(c) Securities that have been paid pursuant to Section 3.07(b) or in exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect of which there shall have been presented to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee proof satisfactory to it that such Securities are held by a protected purchaser in whose hands such Securities are valid obligations of the Company;
provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Securities of a series Outstanding have performed any action hereunder, Securities owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such action, only Securities of such series that a Responsible Officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned that have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgees right to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor. In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of a series have performed any action hereunder, the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose 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 pursuant to Section 7.02 and the principal amount of a Security denominated in a Foreign Currency that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purpose shall be the amount calculated pursuant to Section 3.11(b).
Paying Agent:
The term Paying Agent shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 6.02(a).
Person:
The term Person shall mean an individual, a corporation, a limited liability company, a partnership, an association, a joint stock company, a trust, an unincorporated organization or a government or an agency or political subdivision thereof.
Place of Payment:
The term Place of Payment shall mean, when used with respect to the Securities of any series, the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified pursuant to Section 3.01.
Predecessor Security:
The term Predecessor Security shall mean, with respect to any Security, every previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same Indebtedness as that evidenced by such particular Security, and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 3.07 in lieu of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same Indebtedness as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.
Record Date:
The term Record Date shall mean, with respect to any interest payable on any Security on any Interest Payment Date, the close of business on any date specified in such Security for the payment of interest pursuant to Section 3.01.
Redemption Date:
The term Redemption Date shall mean, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture and the terms of such Security, which, in the case of a Floating Rate Security, unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, shall be an Interest Payment Date only.
Redemption Price:
The term Redemption Price, when used with respect to any Security to be redeemed, in whole or in part, shall mean the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to the terms of the applicable Security and this Indenture.
Register:
The term Register shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.05(a).
Registrar:
The term Registrar shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.05(a).
Responsible Officers:
The term Responsible Officers of the Trustee hereunder shall mean any vice president, any assistant vice president, any trust officer, any assistant trust officer or any other officer associated with the corporate trust department of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers, and also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer of the Trustee to whom such matter is referred because of such persons knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject and who shall have direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture.
SEC:
The term SEC shall mean the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, as constituted from time to time.
Securities Act:
The term Securities Act shall mean the United States Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated by the SEC thereunder and any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.
Security:
The term Security or Securities shall have the meaning stated in the recitals and shall more particularly mean one or more of the Securities duly authenticated by the Trustee and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.
Security Custodian:
The term Security Custodian shall mean the custodian with respect to any Global Security appointed by the Depositary, or any successor Person thereto, and shall initially be the Paying Agent.
Securityholder; Holder of Securities; Holder:
The term Securityholder or Holder of Securities or Holder, shall mean the Person in whose name Securities shall be registered in the Register kept for that purpose hereunder.
Special Record Date:
The term Special Record Date shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.08(b)(i).
Stated Maturity:
The term Stated Maturity when used with respect to any Security or any installment of interest thereon, shall mean the date specified in such Security as the fixed date on which the principal (or any portion thereof) of or premium, if any, on such Security or such installment of interest is due and payable.
Subsidiary:
The term Subsidiary, when used with respect to any Person, shall mean:
(a) any corporation, limited liability company, association or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency and after giving effect to any voting agreement or stockholders agreement that effectively transfers voting power) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees of the corporation, limited liability company, association or other business entity is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and
(b) any partnership (i) the sole general partner or the managing general partner of which is such Person or a Subsidiary of such Person or (ii) the only general partners of which are that Person or one or more Subsidiaries of that Person (or any combination thereof).
Successor Company:
The term Successor Company shall have the meaning assigned to it in Section 3.06(i).
Trust Indenture Act; TIA:
The term Trust Indenture Act or TIA shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder as in effect on the date of this Indenture, except as provided in Section 14.06 and except to the extent any amendment to the Trust Indenture Act expressly provides for application of the Trust Indenture Act as in effect on another date.
Trustee:
The term Trustee shall mean the Person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of this Indenture until a successor Trustee shall have become such with respect to one or more series of Securities pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter Trustee shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and if at any time
there is more than one such Person, Trustee as used with respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of that series.
U.S. Dollars:
The term U.S. Dollars shall mean such currency of the United States as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
United States:
The term United States shall mean the United States of America (including the States and the District of Columbia), its territories and its possessions and other areas subject to its jurisdiction.
ARTICLE II
FORMS OF SECURITIES
Section 2.01 Terms of the Securities.
(a) The Securities of each series shall be substantially in the form set forth in a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, and 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 or designation and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any securities exchange on which any series of the Securities may be listed or of any automated quotation system on which any such series may be quoted, or to conform to usage, all as determined by the officers executing such Securities as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
(b) The terms and provisions of the Securities shall constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and, to the extent applicable, the Company and the Trustee, by their execution and delivery of this Indenture expressly agree to such terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.
Section 2.02 Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication.
(a) Only such of the Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate substantially in the form of the Trustees certificate of authentication hereinafter recited, executed by the Trustee by manual signature, shall be valid or become obligatory for any purpose or entitle the Holder thereof to any right or benefit under this Indenture.
(b) Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, except that any Global Security shall be dated as of the date specified as contemplated in Section 3.01.
(c) The form of the Trustees certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be substantially as follows:
TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Date of authentication: |
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, as Trustee | |
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By: |
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Authorized Signatory |
Section 2.03 Form of Trustees Certificate of Authentication by an Authenticating Agent. If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Trustees Certificate of Authentication by such Authenticating Agent to be borne by Securities of each such series shall be substantially as follows:
TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Date of authentication: |
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, as Trustee | |
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By: |
[NAME OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT] | |
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as Authenticating Agent | ||
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By: |
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Authorized Signatory |
ARTICLE III
THE DEBT SECURITIES
Section 3.01 Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate principal amount of Securities that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited. The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be set forth in a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance of Securities of any series:
(a) the title of the Securities of the series (which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the Securities of all other series, except to the extent that additional Securities of an existing series are being issued);
(b) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of such series pursuant to Section 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 4.06, or 14.05);
(c) the dates on which or periods during which the Securities of the series may be issued, and the dates on, or the range of dates within, which the principal of and premium, if any, on the Securities of such series are or may be payable or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined or extended;
(d) the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates shall be determined, whether such interest shall be payable in cash or additional Securities of the same series or shall accrue and increase the aggregate principal amount outstanding of such series (including if such Securities were originally issued at a discount), the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable, and the Record Dates for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable on such Interest Payment Dates or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the right, if any, to extend or defer interest payments and the duration of such extension or deferral;
(e) if other than U.S. Dollars, the Foreign Currency in which Securities of the series shall be denominated or in which payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of the series shall be payable and any other terms concerning such payment;
(f) if the amount of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method including, but not limited to, an index based on a Currency or Currencies other than that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(g) if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on Securities of the series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder thereof, in a Currency other than that in which the Securities are denominated or stated to be payable without such election, the
period or periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may be made and the time and the manner of determining the exchange rate between the Currency in which the Securities are denominated or payable without such election and the Currency in which the Securities are to be paid if such election is made;
(h) the place or places, if any, in addition to or instead of the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on Securities of the series shall be payable, and where Securities of any series may be presented for registration of transfer, exchange or conversion, and the place or places where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities of such series may be made;
(i) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, if the Company is to have that option;
(j) the obligation or right, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund, amortization or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the price or prices at which, the period or periods within which or the date or dates on which, the Currency or Currencies in which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
(k) if other than denominations of $2,000 or any integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which Securities of the series shall be issuable;
(l) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the series which shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02;
(m) the guarantors, if any, of the Securities of the series, and the extent of the guarantees (including provisions relating to seniority, subordination, and the release of the guarantors), if any, and any additions or changes to permit or facilitate guarantees of such Securities;
(n) whether the Securities of the series are to be issued as Original Issue Discount Securities and the amount of discount with which such Securities may be issued;
(o) provisions, if any, for the defeasance of Securities of the series in whole or in part and any addition or change in the provisions related to satisfaction and discharge;
(p) whether the Securities of the series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such case, the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities, and the terms and conditions, if any, upon which interests in such Global Security or Global Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for the individual securities represented thereby in definitive form registered in the name or names of Persons other than such Depositary or a nominee or nominees thereof (Individual Securities);
(q) the date as of which any Global Security of the series shall be dated if other than the original issuance of the first Security of the series to be issued;
(r) the form of the Securities of the series;
(s) if the Securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for any securities or property of any Person (including the Company), the terms and conditions upon which such Securities will be so convertible or exchangeable, and any additions or changes, if any, to permit or facilitate such conversion or exchange;
(t) whether the Securities of such series are subject to subordination and the terms of such subordination;
(u) any restriction or condition on the transferability of the Securities of such series;
(v) any addition or change in the provisions related to compensation and reimbursement of the Trustee which applies to Securities of such series;
(w) any addition or change in the provisions related to supplemental indentures set forth in Sections 14.01, 14.02 and 14.04 which applies to Securities of such series;
(x) provisions, if any, granting special rights to Holders upon the occurrence of specified events;
(y) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable pursuant to Section 7.02 and any addition or change in the provisions set forth in Article VII which applies to Securities of the series;
(z) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article VI which applies to Securities of the series; and
(aa) any other terms of the Securities of such series (which terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the TIA, but may modify, amend, supplement or delete any of the terms of this Indenture with respect to such series).
All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical, except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided herein or set forth in a Company Order or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto.
Section 3.02 Denominations. In the absence of any specification pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to Securities of any series, the Securities of such series shall be issuable only as Securities in denominations of any integral multiple of $2,000, and shall be payable only in U.S. Dollars.
Section 3.03 Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.
(a) The Securities shall be executed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile signature of its Chairman of the Board of Directors, its Chief Executive Officer, President, one of its Vice Presidents or Treasurer. If the Person whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time the Security is authenticated and delivered, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.
(b) At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities and, if required pursuant to Section 3.01, a supplemental indenture or Company Order setting forth the terms of the Securities of a series. The Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities without any further action by the Company. The Company Order shall specify the amount of Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated.
(c) In authenticating the Securities of any series and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, other than the first Securities of such series, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 11.02) shall be fully protected in relying upon an Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each prepared in accordance with Section 15.01 stating that the conditions precedent, if any, provided for in the Indenture have been complied with.
(d) The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and deliver the Securities under this Section 3.03 if the issue of the Securities pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.
(e) Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication, except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to the Securities of such series.
(f) Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3.01 and of this Section 3.03, if all of the Securities of any series are not to be originally issued at the same time, then the documents required to be delivered pursuant to this Section 3.03 must be delivered only once prior to the authentication and delivery of the first Security of such series;
(g) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 3.01 that the Securities of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series to be represented by such Global Securities, (ii) shall be registered, if in registered form, in the name of the Depositary for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of such Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such Depositarys instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE
NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, INC. (DTC) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, 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.
The aggregate principal amount of each Global Security may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Security Custodian, as provided in this Indenture.
(h) Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 3.01 for a Global Security in registered form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it serves as such Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and any other applicable statute or regulation.
(i) Members of, or participants in, the Depositary (Members) shall have no rights under this Indenture with respect to any Global Security held on their behalf by the Depositary or by the Security Custodian under such Global Security, and the Depositary may be treated by the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent and the Registrar and any of their agents as the absolute owner of such Global Security for all purposes whatsoever. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent or the Registrar or any of their agents from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depositary or impair, as between the Depositary and its Members, the operation of customary practices of the Depositary governing the exercise of the rights of an owner of a beneficial interest in any Global Security. The Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Members and Persons that may hold interests through Members, to take any action that a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.
(j) 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 one of the forms provided for herein duly executed by the Trustee or by an Authenticating Agent by manual or facsimile signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee, and such certificate upon any Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 3.04 Temporary Securities.
(a) Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed, typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise reproduced, in any authorized denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu of which they are issued, in registered form and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities. Any such temporary Security may be in the form of one or more Global Securities, representing all or a portion of the Outstanding Securities of such series. Every such temporary Security shall be executed by the Company and shall be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Security or Securities in lieu of which it is issued.
(b) 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 of such series, the temporary Securities of such series shall be exchangeable for definitive Securities of such series upon surrender of such temporary Securities at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for such series, without charge to the Holder. Upon surrender for cancellation of any one or more temporary Securities of any series, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of like tenor. Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.
(c) Upon any exchange of a portion of a temporary Global Security for a definitive Global Security or for the Individual Securities represented thereby pursuant to this Section 3.04 or Section 3.06, the temporary Global Security shall be endorsed by the Trustee to reflect the reduction of the principal amount evidenced thereby, whereupon the principal amount of such temporary Global Security shall be reduced for all purposes by the amount so exchanged and endorsed.
Section 3.05 Registrar and Paying Agent.
(a) The Company will keep, at an office or agency to be maintained by it in a Place of Payment where Securities may be presented for registration or presented and surrendered for registration of transfer or of exchange, and where Securities of any series that are
convertible or exchangeable may be surrendered for conversion or exchange, as applicable (the Registrar), a security register for the registration and the registration of transfer or of exchange of the Securities (the registers maintained in such office and in any other office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the Register), as in this Indenture provided, which Register shall at all reasonable times be open for inspection by the Trustee. Such Register shall be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. The Company may have one or more co-Registrars; the term Registrar includes any co-registrar.
(b) The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar or co-Registrar not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar for any series, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section 11.01. The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Registrar, co-Registrar or transfer agent.
(c) The Company hereby appoints the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office as Registrar in connection with the Securities and this Indenture, until such time as another Person is appointed as such.
Section 3.06 Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer.
(i) Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at the Registrar the Company shall execute, and the Trustee or any Authenticating Agent shall authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee, one or more new Securities of the same series for like aggregate principal amount of any authorized denomination or denominations. The transfer of any Security shall not be valid as against the Company or the Trustee unless registered at the Registrar at the request of the Holder, or at the request of his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.
(ii) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the Individual Securities represented thereby, a Global Security 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.
(b) Exchange.
(i) At the option of the Holder, Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for other Securities of the same series for like aggregate principal amount of any authorized
denomination or denominations, upon surrender of the Securities to be exchanged at the Registrar.
(ii) Whenever any Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities that the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.
(c) Exchange of Global Securities for Individual Securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will not be entitled to receive Individual Securities.
(i) Individual Securities shall be issued to all owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security in exchange for such interests if: (A) at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series 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(h) and, in each case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, or (B) the Company executes and delivers to the Trustee and the Registrar an Officers Certificate stating that such Global Security shall be so exchangeable.
In connection with the exchange of an entire Global Security for Individual Securities pursuant to this subsection (c), such Global Security shall be deemed to be surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of Individual Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver to each beneficial owner identified by the Depositary in exchange for its beneficial interest in such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of Individual Securities of authorized denominations.
(ii) If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 3.01 with respect to a series of Securities, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender a Global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part for Individual Securities of such series on such terms as are acceptable to the Company and such Depositary. Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge,
(A) to each Person specified by such Depositary a new Individual Security or new Individual Securities of the same series, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Persons beneficial interest in the Global Security; and
(B) to such Depositary a new Global Security in a denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal amount of the surrendered Global Security and the
aggregate principal amount of Individual Securities delivered to Holders thereof.
(iii) In any exchange provided for in clauses (i) through (ii), the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver Individual Securities in registered form in authorized denominations.
(iv) Upon the exchange in full of a Global Security for Individual Securities, such Global Security shall be canceled by the Trustee. Individual Securities issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee. The Trustee shall deliver such Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
(d) All Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities shall be valid obligations of the Company evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Securities surrendered for such registration of transfer or exchange.
(e) Every Security presented or surrendered for registration of transfer, or for exchange or payment shall (if so required by the Company, the Trustee or the Registrar) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Trustee and the Registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or by his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing.
(f) No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities. The Company or the Trustee may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than those expressly provided in this Indenture to be made at the Companys own expense or without expense or charge to the Holders.
(g) The Company shall not be required to (i) register, transfer or exchange Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of the transmission of a notice of redemption of Securities of such series selected for redemption under Section 4.03 and ending at the close of business on the day of such transmission, or (ii) register, transfer or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
(h) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer or exchange of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar, any co-Registrar or any of their agents may deem and treat the Person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for all purposes whatsoever, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar, any co-Registrar or any of their agents shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
(i) In case a successor Company (Successor Company) has executed an indenture supplemental hereto with the Trustee pursuant to Article XIV, any of the Securities authenticated or delivered pursuant to such transaction may, from time to time, at the request of the Successor Company, be exchanged for other Securities executed in the name of the Successor Company with such changes in phraseology and form as may be appropriate, but otherwise identical to the Securities surrendered for such exchange and of like principal amount; and the Trustee, upon Company Order of the Successor Company, shall authenticate and deliver Securities as specified in such order for the purpose of such exchange. If Securities shall at any time be authenticated and delivered in any new name of a Successor Company pursuant to this Section 3.06 in exchange or substitution for or upon registration of transfer of any Securities, such Successor Company, at the option of the Holders but without expense to them, shall provide for the exchange of all Securities at the time Outstanding for Securities authenticated and delivered in such new name.
(j) Each Holder of a Security agrees to indemnify the Company and the Trustee against any liability that may result from the transfer, exchange or assignment of such Holders Security in violation of any provision of this Indenture and/or applicable United States federal or state securities laws.
(k) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by the terms of, this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.
(l) Neither the Trustee nor any agent of the Trustee shall have any responsibility for any actions taken or not taken by the Depositary.
Section 3.07 Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.
(a) If (i) any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee at its Corporate Trust Office or (ii) the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security, and there is delivered to the Company and the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to them to save each of them and any Paying Agent harmless, and neither the Company nor the Trustee receives notice that such Security has been acquired by a protected purchaser, then the Company shall execute and upon Company Order 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 the same series and of like tenor, form, terms and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, that neither gain nor loss in interest shall result from such exchange or substitution.
(b) 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 the amount due on such Security in accordance with its terms.
(c) 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 respect thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.
(d) Every new Security of any series issued pursuant to this Section shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of that series duly issued hereunder.
(e) 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 3.08 Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.
(a) Interest on any Security that is payable and is punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest notwithstanding the cancellation of such Security upon any transfer or exchange subsequent to the Record Date. Payment of interest on Securities shall be made at the Corporate Trust Office (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01) or, at the option of the Company, by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Register or, in accordance with arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee, by wire transfer to an account designated by the Holder.
(b) Any interest on any Security that is payable but is not punctually paid or duly provided for on any Interest Payment Date (herein called Defaulted Interest) shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Record Date by virtue of his, her or its having been such a Holder, and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided in clause (i) or (ii) below:
(i) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest (a Special Record Date), 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 calendar days and not less than
10 calendar days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 calendar 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 Holders of such Securities at their addresses as they appear in the Register, not less than 10 calendar 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 (ii).
(ii) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on Securities in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which such Securities may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this clause, such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.
(c) Subject to the provisions set forth herein relating to Record Dates, each Security delivered pursuant to any provision of this Indenture in exchange or substitution for, or upon registration of transfer of, any other Security shall carry all the rights to interest accrued and unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Security.
Section 3.09 Cancellation. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, all Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or exchange or credit against any sinking fund or otherwise shall, if surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and shall be promptly canceled by it and, if surrendered to the Trustee, 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 that the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee shall dispose of all canceled Securities held by it in accordance with its then customary procedures and deliver a certificate of such disposal to the Company upon its request therefor. The acquisition of any Securities by the Company shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the Indebtedness represented thereby unless and until such Securities are surrendered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 3.10 Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.
Section 3.11 Currency of Payments in Respect of Securities.
(a) Except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on Securities of such series will be made in U.S. Dollars.
(b) For purposes of any provision of the Indenture where the Holders of Outstanding Securities may perform an action that requires that a specified percentage of the Outstanding Securities of all series perform such action and for purposes of any decision or determination by the Trustee of amounts due and unpaid for the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of all series in respect of which moneys are to be disbursed ratably, and there are Outstanding Securities denominated in more than one currency, the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Outstanding Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency will be the amount in U.S. Dollars based upon exchange rates, determined as specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, as of the date for determining whether the Holders entitled to perform such action have performed it or as of the date of such decision or determination by the Trustee, as the case may be.
(c) Any decision or determination to be made regarding exchange rates shall be made by an agent appointed by the Company; provided, that such agent shall accept such appointment in writing and the terms of such appointment shall, in the opinion of the Company at the time of such appointment, require such agent to make such determination by a method consistent with the method provided pursuant to Section 3.01 for the making of such decision or determination. All decisions and determinations of such agent regarding exchange rates shall, in the absence of manifest error, be conclusive for all purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Company, the Trustee and all Holders of the Securities.
Section 3.12 Judgments. The Company may provide pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series that (a) the obligation, if any, of the Company to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of any series in a Foreign Currency or U.S. Dollars (the Designated Currency) as may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01 is of the essence and agrees that, to the fullest extent possible under applicable law, judgments in respect of such Securities shall be given in the Designated Currency; (b) the obligation of the Company to make payments in the Designated Currency of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities shall, notwithstanding any payment in any other Currency (whether pursuant to a judgment or otherwise), be discharged only to the extent of the amount in the Designated Currency that the Holder receiving such payment may, in accordance with normal banking procedures, purchase with the sum paid in such other Currency (after any premium and cost of exchange) on the business day in the country of issue of the Designated Currency or in the international banking community (in the case of a composite currency) immediately following the day on which such Holder receives such payment; (c) if the amount in the Designated Currency that may be so purchased for any reason falls short of the amount originally due, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary to compensate for such shortfall; and (d) any obligation of the Company not discharged by such payment shall be due as a separate and independent obligation and, until discharged as provided herein, shall continue in full force and effect.
Section 3.13 CUSIP; ISIN Numbers. The Company in issuing any Securities may use CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if then generally in use, and thereafter with respect to such series, the Trustee may use such numbers in any notice of redemption or exchange with respect to such series provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers. The Company will promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers.
ARTICLE IV
REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES
Section 4.01 Applicability of Right of Redemption. Redemption of Securities (other than pursuant to a sinking fund, amortization or analogous provision) permitted by the terms of any series of Securities shall be made (except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of any series) in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.
Section 4.02 Selection of Securities to be Redeemed.
(a) If the Company shall at any time elect to redeem all or any portion of the Securities of a series then Outstanding, it shall at least 30 days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) notify the Trustee of such Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed, and thereupon the Trustee shall select, by lot or in such other manner as the Trustee shall deem appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series; provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security. In any case where more than one Security of such series is registered in the same name, the Trustee may treat the aggregate principal amount so registered as if it were represented by one Security of such series. The Trustee shall, as soon as practicable, notify the Company in writing of the Securities and portions of Securities so selected.
(b) 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 amount of such Security that has been or is to be redeemed. If the Company shall so direct, Securities registered in the name of the Company, any Affiliate or any Subsidiary thereof shall not be included in the Securities selected for redemption.
Section 4.03 Notice of Redemption.
(a) Notice of redemption shall be given by the Company or, at the Companys request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), to the Holders of Securities of any series to be redeemed in whole or in part pursuant to this Article, in the manner provided in Section 15.04. Any notice so given shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. Failure to give such notice, or any defect in such notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption, in whole or in part, shall not affect the sufficiency of any notice of redemption with respect to the Holder of any other Security of such series.
(b) All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed (including CUSIP, ISIN or other similar numbers, if available) and shall state:
(i) such election by the Company to redeem Securities of such series pursuant to provisions contained in this Indenture or the terms of the Securities of such series or a supplemental indenture establishing such series, if such be the case;
(ii) the Redemption Date;
(iii) the Redemption Price;
(iv) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the principal amounts) of the Securities of such series to be redeemed;
(v) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed, and that, if applicable, interest thereon shall cease to accrue on and after said date;
(vi) the Place or Places of Payment where such Securities are to be surrendered for payment of the Redemption Price; and
(vii) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case;
Section 4.04 Deposit of Redemption Price. On or prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the Redemption Date for any Securities, 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 6.03) an amount of money in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of such Securities or any portions thereof that are to be redeemed on that date.
Section 4.05 Securities Payable on Redemption Date. Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, any Securities so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the Redemption Price 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 any such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price; provided, however, that (unless otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) installments of interest that have a Stated Maturity on or prior to the Redemption Date for such Securities shall be payable according to the terms of such Securities and the provisions of Section 3.08.
If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal thereof and premium, if any, thereon shall, until paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the Security.
Section 4.06 Securities Redeemed in Part. Any Security that is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered at the Corporate Trust Office or such other office or agency of the Company as is specified pursuant to Section 3.01 with, if the Company, the Registrar or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, the Registrar and the Trustee duly executed by the Holder thereof or his, her or its attorney duly authorized in writing, and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of like tenor and form, of any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Security so surrendered; except that if a Global Security is so surrendered, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Depositary for such Global Security, without service charge, a new Global Security in a denomination equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of the Global Security so surrendered. In the case of a Security providing appropriate space for such notation, at the option of the Holder thereof, the Trustee, in lieu of delivering a new Security or Securities as aforesaid, may make a notation on such Security of the payment of the redeemed portion thereof.
ARTICLE V
SINKING FUNDS
Section 5.01 Applicability of Sinking Fund.
(a) Redemption of Securities permitted or required pursuant to a sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of a series by the terms of such series of Securities shall be made in accordance with such terms of such series of Securities and this Article, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series, provided, however, that if any such terms of a series of Securities shall conflict with any provision of this Article, the terms of such series shall govern.
(b) The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment, and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an Optional Sinking Fund Payment. If provided for by the terms of Securities of any series, the cash amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 5.02.
Section 5.02 Mandatory Sinking Fund Obligation. The Company may, at its option, satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, in whole or in part, with respect to a particular series of Securities by (a) delivering to the Trustee Securities of such series in transferable form theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company or redeemed at the election of the Company pursuant to Section 4.03 or (b) receiving credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited) acquired by the Company and theretofore delivered to the Trustee. The Trustee shall credit such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation with an amount equal to the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment shall be reduced accordingly. If the Company shall elect to so satisfy any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation, it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 days prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date an Officers Certificate, which shall designate the Securities (and portions thereof, if any) so delivered or credited and which shall be accompanied by such Securities (to the extent not theretofore delivered) in transferable form. In case of the failure of the Company, at or before the time so required, to give such notice and deliver such Securities the Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation shall be paid entirely in moneys.
Section 5.03 Optional Redemption at Sinking Fund Redemption Price. In addition to the sinking fund requirements of Section 5.02, to the extent, if any, provided for by the terms of a particular series of Securities, the Company may, at its option, make an Optional Sinking Fund Payment with respect to such Securities. Unless otherwise provided by such terms, (a) to the extent that the right of the Company to make such Optional Sinking Fund Payment shall not be exercised in any year, it shall not be cumulative or carried forward to any subsequent year, and (b) such optional payment shall operate to reduce the amount of any Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment obligation as to Securities of the same series. If the Company intends to exercise its right to make such optional payment in any year it shall deliver to the Trustee not less than 45 days prior to the relevant sinking fund payment date an Officers Certificate stating that the Company will exercise such optional right, and specifying the amount which the Company will pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. Such Officers Certificate shall also state that no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Section 5.04 Application of Sinking Fund Payment.
(a) If the sinking fund payment or payments made in funds pursuant to either Section 5.02 or 5.03 with respect to a particular series of Securities plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in funds with respect to such series shall exceed $50,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall so request, or such equivalent sum for Securities denominated other than in U.S. Dollars), it shall be applied by the Trustee on the sinking fund payment date next following the date of such payment, unless the date of such payment shall be a sinking fund payment date, in which case such payment shall be applied on such sinking fund payment date, to the redemption of Securities of such series at the redemption price specified pursuant to Section 4.03(b). The Trustee shall select, in the manner provided in Section 4.02, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date, a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said funds, as nearly as may be, and shall, at the expense and in the name of the Company, thereupon cause notice of redemption of the Securities to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 4.03(a) for the redemption of Securities in part at the option of the Company, except that the notice of redemption shall also state that the
Securities are being redeemed for the sinking fund. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied by the Trustee to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to the next sinking fund payment received in funds by the Trustee and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 5.04. Any and all sinking fund moneys held by the Trustee on the last sinking fund payment date with respect to Securities of such series, and not held for the payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series, shall be applied by the Trustee to the payment of the principal of the Securities of such series at Maturity.
(b) On or prior to each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay to the Trustee a sum equal to all interest accrued to but not including the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this Section 5.04.
(c) The Trustee shall not redeem any Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of Securities of such series by operation of the sinking fund during the continuance of a Default in payment of interest on any Securities of such series or of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a consequence of this paragraph) of which a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge, except that if the notice of redemption of any Securities of such series shall theretofore have been mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee shall redeem such Securities if funds sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee in accordance with the terms of this Article. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund at the time any such Default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such Default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of all the Securities of such series; provided, however, that in case such Default or Event of Default 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 are required to be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5.04.
ARTICLE VI
PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
The Company hereby covenants and agrees as follows:
Section 6.01 Payments of Securities. The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of and premium, if any, on each series of Securities, and the interest which shall have accrued thereon, at the dates and place and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture.
Section 6.02 Paying Agent.
(a) The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of Securities, if any, an office or agency where Securities may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Securities of such series may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served (the Paying Agent). The Company will give prompt written
notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent to receive all presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.
(b) The Company may also from time to time designate different or additional offices or agencies where the Securities of any series may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes (in or outside of such Place of Payment), and may from time to time rescind any such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligations described in the preceding paragraph. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such additional designation or rescission of designation and of any change in the location of any such different or additional office or agency. The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Paying Agent not a party to this Indenture. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of each such agent. The Company or any Affiliate thereof may act as Paying Agent.
Section 6.03 To Hold Payment in Trust.
(a) If the Company or an Affiliate thereof shall at any time act as Paying Agent with respect to any series of Securities, then, on or before the date on which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption shall become payable, the Company or such Affiliate will segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest which shall have so become payable until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided, and will notify the Trustee of its action or failure to act in that regard. Upon any proceeding under any federal bankruptcy laws with respect to the Company or any Affiliate thereof, if the Company or such Affiliate is then acting as Paying Agent, the Trustee shall replace the Company or such Affiliate as Paying Agent.
(b) If the Company shall appoint, and at the time have, a Paying Agent for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any series of Securities, then prior to 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date on which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of that series shall become payable as aforesaid, whether by their terms or as a result of the calling thereof for redemption, the Company will deposit with such Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and premium, if any, or interest, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities or the Trustee, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee), the Company or any other obligor of such Securities will promptly notify the Trustee of its payment or failure to make such payment.
(c) If the Paying Agent shall be other than the Trustee, the Company will cause such Paying Agent 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 6.03, that such Paying Agent shall:
(i) hold all moneys held by it for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of that series in trust for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities until such sums shall be paid to such Holders or otherwise disposed of as herein provided;
(ii) give to the Trustee notice of any Default by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of that series in the making of any payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of that series; and
(iii) at any time during the continuance of any such Default, upon the written request of the Trustee, pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such Paying Agent.
(d) Anything in this Section 6.03 to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a release, satisfaction or discharge of this Indenture or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust by the Company or by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee as required by this Section 6.03, 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.
(e) Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company upon Company Order along with any interest that has accumulated thereon as a result of such money being invested at the direction of the Company, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust, and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for payment of such amounts without interest thereon, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general circulation in The City of New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 6.04 Merger, Consolidation and Sale of Assets. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities:
(a) The Company will not consolidate with any other entity or accept a merger of any other entity into the Company or permit the Company to be merged into any other entity, or sell, convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all its assets to another entity, unless (i) either the Company shall be the continuing entity, or the successor, transferee or lessee entity (if other than the Company) shall expressly assume, by indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered by such entity prior to or simultaneously with such consolidation, merger, sale or lease,
the due and punctual payment of the principal of and interest and premium, if any, on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all other obligations to the Holders and the Trustee under this Indenture or under the Securities to be performed or observed by the Company; and (ii) immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or purchase the Company or the successor, transferee or lessee entity (if other than the Company) would not be in Default in the performance of any covenant or condition of this Indenture.
(b) Upon any consolidation with or merger into any other entity, or any sale, conveyance or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company in accordance with this Section 6.04, the successor entity formed by such consolidation or into or with which the Company is merged or to which the Company is sold or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor entity had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities, and from time to time such entity may exercise each and every right and power of the Company under this Indenture, in the name of the Company, or in its own name; and any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture required or permitted to be done by the Board of Directors or any officer of the Company may be done with like force and effect by the like board or officer of any entity that shall at the time be the successor of the Company hereunder. In the event of any such sale or conveyance, but not any such lease, the Company (or any successor entity which shall theretofore have become such in the manner described in this Section 6.04) shall be discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities and may thereupon be dissolved and liquidated.
Section 6.05 Compliance Certificate. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee annually, within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year, a brief certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or vice president and treasurer as to his or her knowledge of the Companys compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture (which compliance shall be determined without regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture) and, in the event of any Default, specifying each such Default and the nature and status thereof of which such person may have knowledge. Such certificates need not comply with Section 15.01 of this Indenture.
Section 6.06 Conditional Waiver by Holders of Securities. Anything in this Indenture or the provisions of the TIA to the contrary notwithstanding, the Company may fail or omit in any particular instance to comply with a covenant or condition set forth herein with respect to any series of Securities if the Company shall have obtained and filed with the Trustee, prior to the time of such failure or omission, evidence (as provided in Article VIII) of the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time Outstanding, either waiving such compliance in such instance or generally waiving compliance with such covenant or condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such covenant or condition except to the extent so expressly waived, or impair any right consequent thereon and, until such waiver shall have become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such covenant or condition shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 6.07 Statement by Officers as to Default. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee as soon as possible and in any event within 30 days after the Company becomes aware of the occurrence of any Event of Default or an event which, with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would constitute an Event of Default, an Officers Certificate setting forth the details of such Event of Default or Default and the action which the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.
ARTICLE VII
REMEDIES OF TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 7.01 Events of Default. Except where otherwise indicated by the context or where the term is otherwise defined for a specific purpose, the term Event of Default as used in this Indenture with respect to Securities of any series shall mean one of the following described events unless it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or modified in the manner contemplated in Section 3.01:
(a) the failure of the Company to pay any installment of interest on any Security of such series when and as the same shall become payable, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 days;
(b) the failure of the Company to pay the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Security of such series, when and as the same shall become payable, whether at Maturity as therein expressed, by call for redemption (otherwise than pursuant to a sinking fund), by declaration as authorized by this Indenture or otherwise;
(c) the failure of the Company to pay a sinking fund installment, if any, when and as the same shall become payable by the terms of a Security of such series, which failure shall have continued unremedied for a period of 30 days;
(d) the failure of the Company, subject to the provisions of Section 6.06, to perform any covenants or agreements contained in this Indenture (including any indenture supplemental hereto pursuant to which the Securities of such series were issued as contemplated by Section 3.01) (other than a covenant or agreement which has been expressly included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Securities other than that series and other than a covenant or agreement a default in the performance of which is elsewhere in this Section 7.01 specifically addressed), which failure shall not have been remedied, or without provision deemed to be adequate for the remedying thereof having been made, for a period of 90 days after written notice shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or shall have been given to the Company and the Trustee by Holders of 25% or more in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such failure, requiring the Company to remedy the same and stating that such notice is a Notice of Default hereunder;
(e) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator,
assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the property of the Company or ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its affairs and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or
(f) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case under the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or the consent by the Company to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or the consent by the Company to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian or sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or of substantially all the property of the Company 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 action.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01, if the principal or any premium or interest on any Security is payable in a Currency other than the Currency of the United States and such Currency is not available to the Company for making payment thereof due to the imposition of exchange controls or other circumstances beyond the control of the Company, the Company will be entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders of the Securities by making such payment in the Currency of the United States in an amount equal to the Currency of the United States equivalent of the amount payable in such other Currency, as determined by the Companys agent in accordance with Section 3.11(c) hereof by reference to the noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers for such Currency (Exchange Rate), as such Exchange Rate is reported or otherwise made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on the date of such payment, or, if such rate is not then available, on the basis of the most recently available Exchange Rate. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7.01, any payment made under such circumstances in the Currency of the United States where the required payment is in a Currency other than the Currency of the United States will not constitute an Event of Default under this Indenture.
Section 7.02 Acceleration; Rescission and Annulment.
(a) Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, if any one or more of the above-described Events of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f)) shall happen with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding, then, and in each and every such case, during the continuance of any such Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of 25% or more in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of that series) of and all accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities of such series then Outstanding to be due and payable immediately by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01(e) or 7.01(f) occurs and is continuing, then in every such case, the principal amount of all of the Securities of that series then Outstanding shall automatically, and without any declaration or any other action on the part of
the Trustee or any Holder, become due and payable immediately. Upon payment of such amounts in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to Section 7.01 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01), all obligations of the Company in respect of the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities of such series shall terminate.
(b) The provisions of Section 7.02(a), however, are subject to the condition that, at any time after the principal of all the Securities of such series, to which any one or more of the above-described Events of Default is applicable, shall have been so declared to be due and payable, and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the Trustee as hereinafter provided in this Article, the Event of Default giving rise to such declaration of acceleration shall, without further act, be deemed to have been waived, and such declaration and its consequences shall, without further act, be deemed to have been rescinded and annulled, if:
(i) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent a sum in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (subject to Section 7.01 and except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay
(A) all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a) (provided, however, that all sums payable under this clause (A) shall be paid in U.S. Dollars);
(B) all arrears of interest, if any, upon all the Securities of such series (with interest, to the extent that interest thereon shall be legally enforceable, on any overdue installment of interest at the rate borne by such Securities at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such Securities); and
(C) the principal of and premium, if any, on any Securities of such series that have become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration and interest thereon; and
(ii) every other Default and Event of Default with respect to Securities of that series, other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or waived as provided in Section 7.06.
(c) No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.
(d) For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed, for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as shall be
due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original Issue Discount Securities.
Section 7.03 Other Remedies. If the Company shall fail for a period of 30 days to pay any installment of interest on the Securities of any series or shall fail to pay the principal of and premium, if any, on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become due and payable, whether at Maturity, or by call for redemption (other than pursuant to the sinking fund), by declaration as authorized by this Indenture, or otherwise, or shall fail for a period of 30 days to make any required sinking fund payment as to a series of Securities, then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Paying Agent for the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series then Outstanding the whole amount which then shall have become due and payable on all the Securities of such series, with interest on the overdue principal and premium, if any, and (so far as the same may be legally enforceable) on the overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities of such series, and all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a).
In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, and collect the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable out of the property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities of such series, wherever situated, in the manner provided by law. Every recovery of judgment in any such action or other proceeding, subject to the payment to the Trustee of all amounts owing the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a), shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of such series of Securities which shall be the subject of such action or proceeding. All rights of action upon or under any of the Securities or this Indenture may be enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of the Securities and without the production of any thereof at any trial or any proceeding relative thereto.
Section 7.04 Trustee as Attorney-in-Fact. The Trustee is hereby appointed, and each and every Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have appointed the Trustee, the true and lawful attorney-in-fact of such Holder, with authority to make or file (whether or not the Company shall be in Default in respect of the payment of the principal of, or interest on, any of the Securities), in its own name and as trustee of an express trust or otherwise as it shall deem advisable, in any receivership, insolvency, liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization or other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or to their respective creditors or property, any and all claims, proofs of claim, proofs of debt, petitions, consents, other papers and documents and amendments of any thereof, as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of the Holders of the Securities allowed in any such proceeding and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claim, and to execute and deliver any and all other papers and documents and to do and perform any and all other acts and things, as it may deem necessary or
advisable in order to enforce in any such proceeding any of the claims of the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder and of any of such Holders in respect of any of the Securities; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor in any such proceeding is hereby authorized, and each and every taker or Holder of the Securities, by receiving and holding the same, shall be conclusively deemed to have authorized any such receiver, assignee, trustee, custodian or debtor, to make any such payment or delivery only to or on the order of the Trustee, and to pay to the Trustee any amount due it and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a); provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize or empower the Trustee to consent to or accept or adopt, on behalf of any Holder of Securities, any plan of reorganization or readjustment affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to authorize or empower the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of any Securities in any such proceeding.
Section 7.05 Priorities. Any moneys or properties collected by the Trustee with respect to a series of Securities under this Article VII shall be applied in the order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys or properties and, in the case of the distribution of such moneys or properties on account of the Securities of any series, upon presentation of the Securities of such series, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:
First: to the payment of all amounts due to the Trustee and any predecessor trustee hereunder under Section 11.01(a).
Second: to the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid for principal of and any premium and interest on the Outstanding Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Outstanding Securities for principal and any premium and interest, respectively.
Any surplus then remaining shall be paid to the Company or as directed by a court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 7.06 Control by Securityholders; Waiver of Past Defaults. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of any series at the time Outstanding may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee hereunder, or of exercising any trust or power hereby conferred upon the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series, provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Sections 11.01 and 11.02, 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 be unduly prejudicial to Holders not joining in such direction or would involve the Trustee in personal liability. Prior to any declaration accelerating the Maturity of the Securities of any series, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such series of Securities at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the Holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a Default in the payment of interest or any premium on or the principal of the Securities of such series. Upon any such waiver the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any Default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this Section 7.06, said Default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the Securities of such series and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to be not continuing.
Section 7.07 Limitation on Suits. No Holder of any Security of any series shall have any right to institute any action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity for the execution of any trust hereunder or for the appointment of a receiver or for any other remedy hereunder, in each case with respect to an Event of Default with respect to such series of Securities, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of one or more of the Events of Default herein specified with respect to such series of Securities, and unless also the Holders of 25% in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have requested the Trustee in writing to take action in respect of the matter complained of, and unless also there shall have been offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee, for 60 days after receipt of such notification, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; and such notification, request and offer of indemnity are hereby declared in every such case to be conditions precedent to any such action, suit or proceeding by any Holder of any Security of such series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of the Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by his, her, its or their action to enforce any right hereunder, except in the manner herein provided, and that every action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be instituted, had and maintained in the manner herein provided and for the equal benefit of all Holders of the Outstanding Securities of such series; provided, however, that nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series shall affect or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such series to the respective Holders of such Securities at the respective due dates in such Securities stated, or affect or impair the right, which is also absolute and unconditional, of such Holders to institute suit to enforce the payment thereof.
Section 7.08 Undertaking for Costs. All parties to this Indenture and each Holder of any Security, by such Holders acceptance thereof, shall be deemed to have agreed that any court may in its discretion require, in any action, suit or proceeding for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any action, suit or proceeding against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding of an undertaking to pay the costs of such action, suit or proceeding, and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such action, suit or proceeding, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; provided, however, that the provisions of this Section 7.08 shall not apply to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by the Trustee, to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any one or more Holders of Securities holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any series Outstanding, or to any action, suit or proceeding instituted by any Holder of Securities of any series for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or the interest on, any of the Securities of such series, on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Securities.
Section 7.09 Remedies Cumulative. No remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities of any series is intended to be exclusive of any other remedy or remedies, and each and every remedy shall be cumulative and shall be in addition to every other remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or by statute. No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of the Securities of any series to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Default or Event of Default shall impair any such right or power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Default or Event of Default or an acquiescence therein; and every power and remedy given by this Article VII to the Trustee and to the Holders of Securities of any series, respectively, may be exercised from time to time and as often as may be deemed expedient by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities of such series, as the case may be. In case the Trustee or any Holder of Securities of any series shall have proceeded to enforce any right under this Indenture and the proceedings for the enforcement thereof shall have been discontinued or abandoned because of waiver or for any other reason or shall have been adjudicated adversely to the Trustee or to such Holder of Securities, then and in every such case the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall severally and respectively be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, and thereafter all rights, remedies and powers of the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities of such series shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken, except as to any matters so waived or adjudicated.
ARTICLE VIII
CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS
Section 8.01 Evidence of Action of Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture it is provided that the Holders of a specified percentage or a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities or of any series of Securities may take any action (including the making of any demand or request, the giving of any notice, consent or waiver or the taking of any other action), the fact that at the time of taking any such action the Holders of such specified percentage or majority have joined therein may be evidenced by (a) any instrument or any number of instruments of similar tenor executed by Securityholders in person, by an agent or by a proxy appointed in writing, including through an electronic system for tabulating consents operated by the Depositary for such series or otherwise (such action becoming effective, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, when such instruments or evidence of electronic consents are delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company), or (b) by the record of the Holders of Securities voting in favor thereof at any meeting of Securityholders duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article IX, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any such record of such a meeting of Securityholders.
Section 8.02 Proof of Execution or Holding of Securities. Proof of the execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his, her or its agent or proxy and proof of the holding by any Person of any of the Securities shall be sufficient if made in the following manner:
(a) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument may be proved (i) by the certificate of any notary public or other officer in any jurisdiction who, by the laws thereof, has power to take acknowledgments or proof of deeds to be recorded within such jurisdiction, that the Person who signed such instrument did acknowledge before such
notary public or other officer the execution thereof, or (ii) by the affidavit of a witness of such execution sworn to before any such notary or other officer. Where such execution is by a Person acting in other than his or her individual capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his or her authority.
(b) The ownership of Securities of any series shall be proved by the Register of such Securities or by a certificate of the Registrar for such series.
(c) The record of any Holders meeting shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 9.06.
(d) The Trustee may require such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section 8.02 as it shall deem appropriate or necessary, so long as the request is a reasonable one.
(e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of Securities of any series any action, the Company may, at its option fix in advance a record date for the determination of Holders of Securities entitled to take such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to do so. Any such record date shall be fixed at the Companys discretion. If such a record date is fixed, such action may be sought or given before or after the record date, but only the Holders of Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be deemed to be Holders of Securities for the purpose of determining whether Holders of the requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities of such series have authorized or agreed or consented to such action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities of such series shall be computed as of such record date.
Section 8.03 Persons Deemed Owners.
(a) The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 3.08) interest, if any, on, such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary. All payments made to any Holder, or upon his, her or its order, shall be valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for moneys payable upon such Security.
(b) None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
Section 8.04 Effect of Consents. After an amendment, supplement, waiver or other action becomes effective as to any series of Securities, a consent to it by a Holder of such series of Securities is a continuing consent conclusive and binding upon such Holder and every subsequent Holder of the same Securities or portion thereof, and of any Security issued upon the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in place thereof, even if notation of the consent is not
made on any such Security. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
ARTICLE IX
SECURITYHOLDERS MEETINGS
Section 9.01 Purposes of Meetings. A meeting of Securityholders of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX for any of the following purposes:
(a) to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of any Default or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any of the provisions of Article VIII;
(b) to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant to the provisions of Article XI;
(c) to consent to the execution of an Indenture or of indentures supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 14.02; or
(d) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf of the Holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any one or more or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this Indenture or under applicable law.
Section 9.02 Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of all Securityholders of all series that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken, to take any action specified in Section 9.01, to be held at such time and at such place as the Trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders of a series, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as they shall appear on the Register of the Company. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20 nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.
Section 9.03 Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders. In case at any time the Company or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of a series (or of all series, as the case may be) then Outstanding that may be affected by the action proposed to be taken, shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of Securityholders of such series (or of all series), by written request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the place for such meeting and may call such meeting to take any action authorized in Section 9.01, by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.
Section 9.04 Qualifications for Voting. To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders, a Person shall (a) be a Holder of one or more Securities affected by the action proposed to be taken at the meeting or (b) be a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as
proxy by a Holder of one or more such Securities. The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of Securityholders shall be the Persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.
Section 9.05 Regulation of Meetings.
(a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities and of the appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem fit.
(b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 9.03, in which case the Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chair. A permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.
(c) At any meeting of Securityholders of a series, each Securityholder of such series of such Securityholders proxy shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such series Outstanding held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding. The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than by virtue of Securities of such series held by him or her or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly designating him or her as the Person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. At any meeting of the Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or 9.03 the presence of Persons holding or representing Securities in an aggregate principal amount sufficient to take action upon the business for the transaction of which such meeting was called shall be necessary to constitute a quorum, and any such meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present, whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so adjourned without further notice.
Section 9.06 Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Securityholders of a series shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts of the Securities of such series held or represented by them. The permanent chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in duplicate of all votes cast at the meeting. A record in duplicate of the proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and affidavits by one or more Persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as
provided in Section 9.02. The record shall show the principal amounts of the Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution. The record shall be signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee.
Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.
Section 9.07 No Delay of Rights by Meeting. Nothing contained in this Article IX shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of any call of a meeting of Securityholders of any series or any rights expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee or to the Securityholders of such series under any of the provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities of such series.
ARTICLE X
REPORTS BY THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE AND
SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS
Section 10.01 Reports by Trustee.
(a) So long as any Securities are outstanding, 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 therein. If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall, within 60 days after each anniversary following the date of this Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).
(b) The Trustee shall, at the time of the transmission to the Holders of Securities of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.01, file a copy of such report with each stock exchange upon which the Securities are listed, if any, and also with the SEC in respect of a Security listed and registered on a national securities exchange, if any. The Company agrees to notify the Trustee when, as and if the Securities become listed on any stock exchange or any delisting thereof.
(c) The Company will reimburse the Trustee for all expenses incurred in the preparation and transmission of any report pursuant to the provisions of this Section 10.01 and of Section 10.02.
Section 10.02 Reports by the Company. The Company shall file with the Trustee and the SEC, and transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that, unless available on EDGAR, any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the Trustee within 30 days after the same is filed with the SEC.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustees receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Companys compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on Officers Certificates).
Section 10.03 Securityholders Lists. The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee:
(a) semi-annually, within 15 days after each Record Date, but in any event not less frequently than semi-annually, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of Securities to which such Record Date applies, as of such Record Date, and
(b) at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such request, a list of similar form and content as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time such list is furnished;
provided, however, that so long as the Trustee shall be the Registrar, such lists shall not be required to be furnished.
ARTICLE XI
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
Section 11.01 Rights of Trustees; Compensation and Indemnity. The Trustee accepts the trusts created by this Indenture upon the terms and conditions hereof, including the following, to all of which the parties hereto and the Holders from time to time of the Securities agree:
(a) The Trustee shall be entitled to such compensation as the Company and the Trustee shall from time to time agree in writing for all services rendered by it hereunder (including in any agent capacity in which it acts). The compensation of the Trustee shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon its request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by the Trustee (including the reasonable expenses and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct.
The Company also agrees to indemnify each of the Trustee and any predecessor Trustee hereunder for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage, claim, or expense incurred without its own negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder and the performance of its duties (including in any agent capacity in which it acts), as well as the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except those attributable to its negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee shall
cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have one separate counsel of its selection and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not pay for any settlement made without its consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Section 11.01(a), the Trustee shall have a lien upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust by the Trustee to pay principal of and interest on any Securities. Notwithstanding any provisions of this Indenture to the contrary, the obligations of the Company to compensate and indemnify the Trustee under this Section 11.01(a) shall survive the resignation or removal of the Trustee, the termination of this Indenture and any satisfaction and discharge under Article XII. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in clause (e) or (f) of Section 7.01 occurs, the expenses and compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws.
(b) The Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereof and perform any duty hereunder either directly or by its agents and attorneys and shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by it hereunder.
(c) The Trustee shall not be responsible in any manner whatsoever for the correctness of the recitals herein or in the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon) contained, all of which are made solely by the Company; and the Trustee shall not be responsible or accountable in any manner whatsoever for or with respect to the validity or execution or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities (except its certificates of authentication thereon), and the Trustee makes no representation with respect thereto, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Indenture, authenticate the Securities and perform its obligations hereunder and that the statements made by it in a Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 supplied to the Company are true and accurate, subject to the qualifications set forth therein. The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of any Securities, or the proceeds of any Securities, authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture.
(d) The Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection, and, to the extent permitted by Section 11.02, any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or suffered by the Trustee hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such Opinion of Counsel.
(e) The Trustee, to the extent permitted by Section 11.02, may rely upon the certificate of the Secretary or one of the Assistant Secretaries of the Company as to the adoption of any Board Resolution or resolution of the stockholders of the Company, and any request, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by, and 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 may rely upon, an Officers Certificate of the Company (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed).
(f) Subject to Section 11.04, the Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections 310(b) and 311 of the Trust Indenture Act, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have had if it were not the Trustee or such agent.
(g) 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 in writing with the Company.
(h) Any action taken by the Trustee pursuant to any provision hereof at the request or with the consent of any Person who at the time is the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding in respect of such Security upon all future Holders thereof or of any Security or Securities which may be issued for or in lieu thereof in whole or in part, whether or not such Security shall have noted thereon the fact that such request or consent had been made or given.
(i) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, the Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, consent, order, approval, bond, debenture or other paper or document reasonably believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.
(j) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, the Trustee shall not be under any obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the Holders of the Securities, pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, unless one or more of the Holders of the Securities shall have offered to the Trustee security or indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by it therein or thereby.
(k) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within its discretion or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(l) Subject to the provisions of Section 11.02, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge or notice of any Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless the Holders of not less than 25% of the Outstanding Securities notify the Trustee thereof.
(m) Subject to the provisions of the first paragraph of Section 11.02, the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of Indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, may, but shall not be required to, make further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(n) The rights, privileges, protections, immunities and benefits given to the Trustee, including, without limitation, its right to be indemnified, are extended to, and shall be enforceable by, the Trustee in each of its capacities hereunder.
Section 11.02 Duties of Trustee.
(a) If one or more of the Events of Default specified in Section 7.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened, then, during the continuance thereof, the Trustee shall, with respect to such Securities, exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and shall use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such persons own affairs.
(b) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall be construed as relieving the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that, anything in this Indenture contained to the contrary notwithstanding,
(i) unless and until an Event of Default specified in Section 7.01 with respect to the Securities of any series shall have happened which at the time is continuing,
(A) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties with respect to the Securities of that series as are specifically set out in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee, whose duties and obligations shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture; and
(B) the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee, upon certificates and opinions furnished to it pursuant to the express provisions of this Indenture; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions which, by the provisions of this Indenture, are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture (but need not confirm or investigate the accuracy of mathematical calculations or other facts, statements, opinions or conclusions stated therein);
(ii) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer or Officers of the Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
(iii) the Trustee shall not be liable to any Holder of Securities or to any other Person with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
good faith, in accordance with the direction of Securityholders given as provided in Section 7.06, relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to it or exercising any trust or power conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(c) None of the provisions of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise to 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 11.02.
Section 11.03 Notice of Defaults. Within 90 days after the occurrence thereof, and if known to the Trustee, the Trustee shall give to the Holders of the Securities of a series notice of each Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series known to the Trustee, by transmitting such notice to Holders at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register of the Company, unless such Default shall have been cured or waived before the giving of such notice (the term Default being hereby defined to be the events specified in Section 7.01, which are, or after notice or lapse of time or both would become, Events of Default as defined in said Section). Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series when and as the same shall become payable, or to make any sinking fund payment as to Securities of the same series, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice, if and so long as a Responsible Officer or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Securities of such series.
Section 11.04 Eligibility; Disqualification.
(a) The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA Section 310(a). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition, and shall have a Corporate Trust Office. If at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.04, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect hereinafter specified in this Article.
(b) The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(i) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(i) are met. If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. If Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act is amended any time after the date of this Indenture to change the circumstances under which a
Trustee shall be deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to the Securities of any series or to change any of the definitions in connection therewith, this Section 11.04 shall be automatically amended to incorporate such changes.
Section 11.05 Registration and Notice; Removal. The Trustee, or any successor to it hereafter appointed, may at any time resign and be discharged of the trusts hereby created with respect to any one or more or all series of Securities by giving to the Company notice in writing. Such resignation shall take effect upon the appointment of a successor Trustee and the acceptance of such appointment by such successor Trustee. Any Trustee hereunder may be removed with respect to any series of Securities at any time by the filing with such Trustee and the delivery to the Company of an instrument or instruments in writing signed by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, specifying such removal and the date when it shall become effective.
If at any time:
(1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of TIA Section 310(b) after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series), or
(2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 11.04 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series), or
(3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
then, in any such case, (i) the Company by written notice to the Trustee may remove the Trustee and appoint a successor Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to TIA Section 315(e), any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months (or, if it is a shorter period, the period since the initial issuance of the Securities of such series) may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.
Upon its resignation or removal, any Trustee shall be entitled to the payment of reasonable compensation for the services rendered hereunder by such Trustee and to the payment of all reasonable expenses incurred hereunder and all moneys then due to it hereunder. The Trustees rights to indemnification provided in Section 11.01(a) shall survive its resignation or removal.
Section 11.06 Successor Trustee by Appointment.
(a) In case at any time the Trustee shall resign, or shall be removed (unless the Trustee shall be removed as provided in Section 11.04(b), in which event the vacancy shall be filled as provided in said subdivision), or shall become incapable of acting, or shall be adjudged bankrupt or insolvent, or if a receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or if 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 with respect to the Securities of one or more series, a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series) may be appointed by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of that or those series then Outstanding, by an instrument or instruments in writing signed in duplicate by such Holders and filed, one original thereof with the Company and the other with the successor Trustee; but, until a successor Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Holders of Securities of that or those series as herein authorized, the Company, or, in case all or substantially all the assets of the Company shall be in the possession of one or more custodians or receivers lawfully appointed, or of trustees in bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings (including a trustee or trustees appointed under the provisions of the federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted), or of assignees for the benefit of creditors, such receivers, custodians, trustees or assignees, as the case may be, by an instrument in writing, shall appoint a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series. Subject to the provisions of Sections 11.04 and 11.05, upon the appointment as aforesaid of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series, the Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series shall cease to be Trustee hereunder. After any such appointment other than by the Holders of Securities of that or those series, the Person making such appointment shall forthwith cause notice thereof to be mailed to the Holders of Securities of such series at their addresses as the same shall then appear on the Register of the Company but any successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series so appointed shall, immediately and without further act, be superseded by a successor Trustee appointed by the Holders of Securities of such series in the manner above prescribed, if such appointment be made prior to the expiration of one year from the date of the mailing of such notice by the Company, or by such receivers, trustees or assignees.
(b) If any Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall resign or be removed and a successor Trustee shall not have been appointed by the Company or by the Holders of the Securities of such series or, if any successor Trustee so appointed shall not have accepted its appointment within 30 days after such appointment shall have been made, the resigning Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee. If in any other case a successor Trustee shall not be appointed pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Section 11.06 within three months after such appointment might have been made hereunder, the Holder of any Security of the applicable series or any retiring Trustee at the expense of the Company may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction to appoint a successor Trustee. Such court may thereupon, in any such case, after such notice, if any, as such court may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor Trustee.
(c) Any successor Trustee appointed hereunder with respect to the Securities of one or more series shall execute, acknowledge and deliver to its predecessor Trustee and to the Company, or to the receivers, trustees, assignees or court appointing it, as the case may be, an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon such successor Trustee, without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations with respect to such series of such predecessor Trustee with like effect as if originally named as Trustee hereunder, and such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its charges and disbursements then unpaid, shall thereupon become obligated to pay over, and such successor Trustee shall be entitled to receive, all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee as Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 11.01(a). Nevertheless, on the written request of the Company or of the successor Trustee or of the Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, such predecessor Trustee, upon payment of its said charges and disbursements, shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor Trustee upon the trusts herein expressed all the rights, powers and trusts of such predecessor Trustee and shall assign, transfer and deliver to the successor Trustee all moneys and properties held by such predecessor Trustee, subject nevertheless to its lien provided for in Section 11.01(a); and, upon request of any such successor Trustee or the Company shall make, execute, acknowledge and deliver any and all instruments in writing for more fully and effectually vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such authority, rights, powers, trusts, immunities, duties and obligations.
Section 11.07 Successor Trustee by Merger. Any Person into which the Trustee or any successor to it in the trusts created by this Indenture shall be merged or converted, or any Person with which it or any successor to it shall be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee or any such successor to it shall be a party, or any Person to which the Trustee or any successor to it shall sell or otherwise transfer all or substantially all of the corporate trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor Trustee under this Indenture without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto; provided that such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article. In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the trusts created by this Indenture with respect to one or more series of Securities, any of such Securities shall have been authenticated but not delivered by the Trustee then in office, any successor to such Trustee may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee, and deliver such Securities so authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Securities in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.
Section 11.08 Right to Rely on Officers Certificate. Subject to Section 11.02, and subject to the provisions of Section 15.01 with respect to the certificates required thereby, whenever in the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering any
action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers Certificate with respect thereto delivered to the Trustee, and such Officers Certificate, in the absence of negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.
Section 11.09 Appointment of Authenticating Agent. The Trustee may appoint an agent (the Authenticating Agent) acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities, and the Trustee shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, any such Authenticating Agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by the Authenticating Agent. 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.
Each Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business and in good standing under the laws of the United States, any State thereof or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Article XI, 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 an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Article XI, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Article XI.
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 Article XI, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.
An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 11.09, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give written notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become
vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent. No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the provisions of this Section 11.09.
The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section 11.09, and the Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the provisions of Section 11.01.
Section 11.10 Communications by Securityholders with Other Securityholders. Holders of Securities may communicate pursuant to Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of Section 312(c) of the Trust Indenture Act with respect to such communications.
ARTICLE XII
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE
Section 12.01 Applicability of Article. If, pursuant to Section 3.01, provision is made for the defeasance of Securities of a series and if the Securities of such series are denominated and payable only in U.S. Dollars (except as provided pursuant to Section 3.01), then the provisions of this Article shall be applicable except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01 for Securities of such series. Defeasance provisions, if any, for Securities denominated in a Foreign Currency may be specified pursuant to Section 3.01.
Section 12.02 Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture. This Indenture, with respect to the Securities of any series (if all series issued under this Indenture are not to be affected), shall, upon Company Order, cease to be of further effect (except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of such Securities herein expressly provided for and rights to receive payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities) and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when,
(a) either:
(i) all Securities of such series theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than (A) Securities that have been destroyed, lost or stolen and that have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 3.07 and (B) Securities 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 6.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
(ii) all Securities of such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
(A) have become due and payable, or
(B) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity 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 by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company,
and in the case of (A), (B) or (C) above, has deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent as trust funds in trust for the purpose an amount in the Currency in which such Securities are denominated (except as otherwise provided pursuant to Section 3.01) sufficient to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities that have become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the case may be; provided, however, in the event a petition for relief under federal bankruptcy laws, as now or hereafter constituted, or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, is filed with respect to the Company within 91 days after the deposit and the Trustee is required to return the moneys then on deposit with the Trustee to the Company, the obligations of the Company under this Indenture with respect to such Securities shall not be deemed terminated or discharged;
(b) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the Company; 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 such series have been complied with. Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 11.01 and, if money shall have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (a)(i) of this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 12.07 and the last paragraph of Section 6.03(e) shall survive.
Section 12.03 Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or Government Obligations. At the Companys option, either (a) the Company shall be deemed to have been Discharged (as defined below) from its obligations with respect to Securities of any series on the first day after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied or (b) the Company shall cease to be under any obligation to comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in Section 6.04 and Section 10.02 with respect to Securities of any series (and, if so specified pursuant to Section 3.01, any other restrictive covenant added for the benefit of such series pursuant to Section 3.01) at any time after the applicable conditions set forth below have been satisfied (such action under clauses (a) or (b) of this paragraph in no circumstance may be construed as an Event of Default under Section 7.01):
(a) The Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited irrevocably with the Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series (i) money in an amount, or (ii) Government Obligations (as defined below) that 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 to pay and discharge each installment of principal (including any mandatory sinking fund payments) of and premium, if any, and interest on, the Outstanding Securities of such series on the dates such installments of interest or principal and premium are due;
(b) No Default with respect to the Securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default resulting from the borrowing of funds and the grant of any related liens to be applied to such deposit); and
(c) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that Holders of the Securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a result of the Companys exercise of its option under this Section and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such action had not been exercised and, in the case of the Securities of such series being Discharged accompanied by a ruling to that effect received from or published by the Internal Revenue Service.
Discharged means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by, and obligations under, the Securities of such series and to have satisfied all the obligations under this Indenture relating to the Securities of such series (and the Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except (A) the rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive, from the trust fund described in clause (a) above, payment of the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on such Securities when such payments are due, (B) the Companys obligations with respect to Securities of such series under Sections 3.04, 3.06, 3.07, 6.02, 12.06 and 12.07 and (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder.
Government Obligations means securities that are (i) direct obligations of the United States or such other government or governments for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States or such other government or governments the timely of payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States or such other government or governments, that, in either case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the action of the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a depositary 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 depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of the Government Obligation evidenced by such depositary receipt.
Section 12.04 Repayment to Company. The Trustee and any Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company (or to its designee) upon Company Order any excess moneys or Government Obligations held by them at any time, including any such moneys or obligations held by the Trustee under any escrow trust agreement entered into pursuant to Section 12.06. The provisions of the last paragraph of Section 6.03 shall apply to any money held by the Trustee
or any Paying Agent under this Article that remains unclaimed for two years after the Maturity of any series of Securities for which money or Government Obligations have been deposited pursuant to Section 12.03.
Section 12.05 Indemnity for Government Obligations. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the deposited Government Obligations or the principal or interest received on such Government Obligations.
Section 12.06 Deposits to Be Held in Escrow. Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in Section 12.03 above shall be irrevocable (except to the extent provided in Sections 12.04 and 12.07) and shall be made under the terms of an escrow trust agreement. If any Outstanding Securities of a series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory or optional sinking fund requirement, the applicable escrow trust agreement shall provide therefor and the Company shall make such arrangements as are satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company. The agreement shall provide that, upon satisfaction of any mandatory sinking fund payment requirements, whether by deposit of moneys, application of proceeds of deposited Government Obligations or, if permitted, by delivery of Securities, the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess moneys pursuant to Section 12.04 all funds or obligations then held under the agreement and allocable to the sinking fund payment requirements so satisfied.
If Securities of a series with respect to which such deposits are made may be subject to later redemption at the option of the Company or pursuant to optional sinking fund payments, the applicable escrow trust agreement may, at the option of the Company, provide therefor. In the case of an optional redemption in whole or in part, such agreement shall require the Company to deposit with the Trustee on or before the date notice of redemption is given funds sufficient to pay the Redemption Price of the Securities to be redeemed together with all unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date. Upon such deposit of funds, the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess funds pursuant to Section 12.04 all funds or obligations then held under such agreement and allocable to the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of exercise of optional sinking fund payment rights by the Company, such agreement shall, at the option of the Company, provide that upon deposit by the Company with the Trustee of funds pursuant to such exercise the Trustee shall pay or deliver over to the Company as excess funds pursuant to Section 12.04 all funds or obligations then held under such agreement for such series and allocable to the Securities to be redeemed.
Section 12.07 Application of Trust Money.
(a) Neither the Trustee nor any other Paying Agent shall be required to pay interest on any moneys deposited pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, except such as it shall agree with the Company in writing to pay thereon. Any moneys so deposited for the payment of the principal of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities of any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after the date of the maturity of the Securities of such series or the date fixed for the redemption of all the Securities of such series at the time outstanding, as the case may be, shall be repaid by the Trustee or such other Paying Agent to the Company upon
its written request and thereafter, anything in this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, any rights of the Holders of Securities of such series in respect of which such moneys shall have been deposited shall be enforceable only against the Company, and all liability of the Trustee or such other Paying Agent with respect to such moneys shall thereafter cease.
(b) Subject to the provisions of the foregoing paragraph, any moneys which at any time shall be deposited by the Company or on its behalf with the Trustee or any other Paying Agent for the purpose of paying the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on any of the Securities shall be and are hereby assigned, transferred and set over to the Trustee or such other Paying Agent in trust for the respective Holders of the Securities for the purpose for which such moneys shall have been deposited; but such moneys need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
Section 12.08 Deposits of Non-U.S. Currencies. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article, if the Securities of any series are payable in a Currency other than U.S. Dollars, the Currency or the nature of the government obligations to be deposited with the Trustee under the foregoing provisions of this Article shall be as set forth in the Officers Certificate or established in the supplemental indenture under which the Securities of such series are issued.
ARTICLE XIII
IMMUNITY OF CERTAIN PERSONS
Section 13.01 No Personal Liability. No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of, or the premium, if any, or interest on, any Security or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof or of the Indebtedness represented thereby, or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of this Indenture, against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitutional provision, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly agreed and understood that this Indenture and the Securities are solely corporate obligations, and that no personal liability whatsoever shall attach to, or be incurred by, any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any successor corporation, because of the incurring of the Indebtedness hereby authorized or under or by reason of any of the obligations, covenants, promises or agreements contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities, or to be implied herefrom or therefrom, and that all liability, if any, of that character against every such incorporator, stockholder, officer and director is, by the acceptance of the Securities and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the Securities expressly waived and released.
ARTICLE XIV
SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
Section 14.01 Without Consent of Securityholders. Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 3.01 with respect to any series of Securities, the Company and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any one or more of or all the following purposes:
(a) to add to the covenants and agreements of the Company, to be observed thereafter and during the period, if any, in such supplemental indenture or indentures expressed, and to add Events of Default, in each case for the protection or benefit of the Holders of all or any series of the Securities (and if such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are to be for the benefit of fewer than all series of Securities, stating that such covenants, agreements and Events of Default are expressly being included for the benefit of such series as shall be identified therein), or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;
(b) to delete or modify any Events of Default with respect to all or any series of the Securities, the form and terms of which are being established pursuant to such supplemental indenture as permitted in Section 3.01 (and, if any such Event of Default is applicable to fewer than all such series of the Securities, specifying the series to which such Event of Default is applicable), and to specify the rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders of such Securities in connection therewith;
(c) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to provide, change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal of or premium, if any, on Securities; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series in any material respect;
(d) to change or eliminate any of the provisions of this Indenture; provided that any such change or elimination shall become effective only when there is no Outstanding Security of any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture that is entitled to the benefit of such provision and as to which such supplemental indenture would apply;
(e) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by such successor of the covenants and obligations of the Company contained in the Securities of one or more series and in this Indenture or any supplemental indenture;
(f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder by a successor Trustee 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 for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 11.06(c);
(g) to secure any series of Securities;
(h) to evidence any changes to this Indenture pursuant to Sections 11.05, 11.06 or 11.07 hereof as permitted by the terms thereof;
(i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained herein or in any indenture supplemental hereto which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture or to conform the terms hereof, as amended and supplemented, that are applicable to the Securities of any series to the description of the terms of such Securities in the offering memorandum, prospectus supplement or other offering document applicable to such Securities at the time of initial sale thereof;
(j) to add to or change or eliminate any provision of this Indenture as shall be necessary or desirable in accordance with any amendments to the Trust Indenture Act;
(k) to add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to any series of Securities or to release guarantors from their guarantees of Securities in accordance with the terms of the applicable series of Securities;
(l) to make any change in any series of Securities that does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights of the Holders of such Securities;
(m) to provide for uncertificated securities in addition to certificated securities;
(n) to supplement any of the provisions of this Indenture to such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of Securities; provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities;
(o) to prohibit the authentication and delivery of additional series of Securities; or
(p) to establish the form and terms of Securities of any series as permitted in Section 3.01, or to authorize the issuance of additional Securities of a series previously authorized or to add to the conditions, limitations or restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue, authentication or delivery of the Securities of any series, as herein set forth, or other conditions, limitations or restrictions thereafter to be observed.
Subject to the provisions of Section 14.03, the Trustee is authorized to join with the Company in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make the further agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property or assets thereunder.
Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this Section 14.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent of the Holders of any of the Securities at the time Outstanding.
Section 14.02 With Consent of Securityholders; Limitations.
(a) With the consent of the Holders (evidenced as provided in Article VIII) of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental indenture voting separately, 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 provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such series to be affected; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security of each such series affected thereby,
(i) extend the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the interest thereon or any premium payable upon redemption thereof, or extend the Stated Maturity of, or change the place of payment where, or the Currency in which the principal of and premium, if any, or interest on such Security is denominated or payable, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 7.02, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or materially adversely affect the economic terms of any right to convert or exchange any Security as may be provided pursuant to Section 3.01; or
(ii) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any 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
(iii) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 7.06 or Section 6.06, 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 and Section 6.06, or the deletion of this proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 11.06 and 14.01(f); or
(iv) modify, without the written consent of the Trustee, the rights, duties or immunities of the Trustee.
(b) A supplemental indenture that changes or eliminates any provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities or which modifies the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.
(c) It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under this Section 14.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the substance thereof.
(d) The Company may set a record date for purposes of determining the identity of the Holders of each series of Securities entitled to give a written consent or waive compliance by the Company as authorized or permitted by this Section. Such record date shall not be more than 30 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent or waiver or the date of the most recent list of Holders furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust Indenture Act.
(e) Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 14.02, the Company shall mail a notice, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental indenture, to the Holders of Securities at their addresses as the same shall then appear in the Register of the Company. Any failure of the Company to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.
Section 14.03 Trustee Protected . Upon the request of the Company, accompanied by the Officers Certificate and Opinion of Counsel required by Section 15.01 (provided, however, that such Officers Certificate or Opinion of Counsel need not be provided in connection with the execution of a supplemental indenture that establishes the terms of a series of Securities pursuant to Section 2.01 hereof) and evidence reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee of consent of the Holders if the supplemental indenture is to be executed pursuant to Section 14.02, the Trustee shall join with the Company in the execution of said supplemental indenture unless said supplemental indenture affects the Trustees own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into said supplemental indenture. The Trustee shall be fully protected in relying upon such Officers Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel.
Section 14.04 Effect of Execution of Supplemental Indenture. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article XIV, this Indenture shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of all of the Securities or of the Securities of any series affected, as the case may be, shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.
Section 14.05 Notation on or Exchange of Securities. Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article may bear a notation in the form approved by the Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the Company or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of Directors of 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 the Securities then Outstanding in equal aggregate principal amounts, and such exchange shall be made without cost to the Holders of the Securities.
Section 14.06 Conformity with TIA. Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this Article shall conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act as then in effect.
ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
Section 15.01 Certificates and Opinions as to Conditions Precedent.
(a) Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers Certificate stating that all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the furnishing of such document is specifically required by any provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.
(b) Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than the certificates provided pursuant to Section 6.05 of this Indenture) shall include (i) a statement that the Person giving such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition; (ii) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based; (iii) a statement that, in the view or opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable such Person to express an informed view or opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and (iv) a statement as to whether or not, in the view or opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.
(c) Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion is based are erroneous. Any certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate, statement or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or officers of the Company stating that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession of the Company, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate, statement or opinion or representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.
(d) Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Company or of counsel to the Company may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a
certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an accountant or firm of accountants, unless such officer or counsel, as the case may be, knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the accounting matters upon which his or her certificate, statement or opinion may be based are erroneous. Any certificate or opinion of any firm of independent registered public accountants filed with the Trustee shall contain a statement that such firm is independent.
(e) In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.
(f) Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and form one instrument.
Section 15.02 Trust Indenture Act Controls. If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by, or another provision included in this Indenture which is required to be included in this Indenture by any of the provisions of Sections 310 to 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties or incorporated provision shall control.
Section 15.03 Notices to the Company and Trustee. Any notice or demand authorized by this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with, the Company or the Trustee shall be sufficiently made, given, furnished or filed for all purposes if it shall be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to:
(a) the Company, at P.O. Box 4102 Sandviken, 5835 Bergen, Norway, Attention: Ivan Vindheim, or at such other address as may have been furnished in writing to the Trustee by the Company.
(b) the Trustee, at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, Attention: Trust Administrator.
Any such notice, demand or other document shall be in the English language.
Section 15.04 Notices to Securityholders; Waiver. Any notice required or permitted to be given to Securityholders shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided),
(a) if to Holders, if given in writing by first class mail, postage prepaid, to such Holders at their addresses as the same shall appear on the Register of the Company; provided, that in the event of suspension of regular mail service or by reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give notice by mail, then such notification as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute sufficient notice for every purpose hereunder; or
(b) If a series of notes has been issued in global form through DTC as Depositary, notice may be provided by delivery of such notice to DTC for posting through its Legal Notice Service (LENS) or a successor system thereof.
Where this Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance on such waiver. In any case where notice to Holders is given by mail; neither the failure to mail such notice nor any defect in any notice so mailed to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given. In any case where notice to Holders is given by publication, any defect in any notice so published as to any particular Holder shall not affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders, and any notice that is published in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given.
Section 15.05 Legal Holiday. Unless otherwise specified pursuant to Section 3.01, in any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity of any Security of any series shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment for the Securities of that series, then payment of principal and premium, if any, or interest 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 such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Maturity, as the case may be, to such Business Day if such payment is made or duly provided for on such Business Day.
Section 15.06 Effects of Headings and Table of Contents. The Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
Section 15.07 Successors and Assigns. All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the parties hereto shall bind their respective successors and assigns and inure to the benefit of their permitted successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.
Section 15.08 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 15.09 Benefits of Indenture. Nothing in this Indenture expressed and nothing that may be implied from any of the provisions hereof is intended, or shall be construed, to confer upon, or to give to, any Person or corporation other than the parties hereto and their successors and the Holders of the Securities any benefit or any right, remedy or claim under or by reason of this Indenture or any covenant, condition, stipulation, promise or agreement hereof, and all covenants, conditions, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture contained shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of the Securities.
Section 15.10 Counterparts Originals. This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.
Section 15.11 Governing Law; Waiver of Trial by Jury. This Indenture and the Securities shall be deemed to be contracts made under the law of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of said State.
EACH PARTY HERETO, AND EACH HOLDER OF A SECURITY BY ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY LITIGATION DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ARISING OUT OF, UNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH THIS INDENTURE.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
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EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]
THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, WHICH MAY BE TREATED BY THE COMPANY, THE TRUSTEE AND ANY AGENT THEREOF AS OWNER AND HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY FOR ALL PURPOSES.
UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DTC TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT HEREON IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.
TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, 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.
CUSIP No.
Marine Harvest ASA
NOTES DUE 20
No. |
$ |
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As revised by the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto |
Interest. Marine Harvest ASA a public limited liability company (allmennaksjeselskap) incorporated under the laws of Norway (herein called the Company, which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to or registered assigns, the principal sum of million dollars ($ ), as revised by the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto, on , 20 and to pay interest thereon from , 20 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on and in each year, commencing , 20 at the rate of % per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.
Method of Payment. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Record Date for such interest, which shall be or , as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice thereof having been given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, all as more fully provided in said Indenture. Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the Corporate Trust Office in U.S. Dollars.
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.
Authentication. Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed under its corporate seal.
Dated: , 20
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Marine Harvest ASA | ||
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Title: |
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TRUSTEES CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.
Date of authentication: |
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as Trustee | ||
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By: |
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Authorized Signatory |
[FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]
Indenture. This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the Company (herein called the Securities), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of , 20 , as supplemented by a Supplemental Indenture dated , 20 (as so supplemented, herein called the Indenture), between the Company and , as Trustee (herein called the Trustee, which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof, initially limited in aggregate principal amount to $ .
Optional Redemption. The Securities of this series are subject to redemption at the Companys option, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, at a Redemption Price equal to .
For purposes of determining the optional redemption price, the following definitions are applicable:
Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date (unless a shorter period shall be satisfactory to the Trustee) to each registered Holder of the Securities to be redeemed. Unless the Company defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or portions of the Securities called for redemption. If fewer than all of the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee will select, not more than days prior to the Redemption Date, the particular Securities or portions thereof for redemption from the outstanding Securities not previously called by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate.
Except as set forth above, the Securities will not be redeemable by the Company prior to maturity and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
Defaults and Remedies. If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
Amendment, Modification and Waiver. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon
such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.
Denominations, Transfer and Exchange. The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $2,000 and in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the Registrar accompanied by a written request for transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
Persons Deemed Owners. Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Security be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
Miscellaneous. The Indenture and this Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
All terms used in this Security and not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY
The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:
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Amount of increase in |
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Signature of |
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Exhibit 5.1
Marine Harvest ASA |
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Oslo, 2 February 2015 |
P.O. Box 4102 Sandviken |
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Lawyer in charge: |
5835 Bergen |
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Tone Østensen |
MARINE HARVEST ASA REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM F-3
Ladies and gentlemen:
Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm AS (Wiersholm) has acted as Norwegian legal counsel to Marine Harvest ASA (the Company) in connection with the shelf registration statement on Form F-3 (the Registration Statement) to be filed on the date hereof by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act). The Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale by the Company from time to time, pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act (the Rules and Regulations), of: (i) ordinary shares in the Company with par value NOK 7.50 per share (Ordinary Shares); (ii) preferred shares of the Company (Preferred Shares and together with the Ordinary Shares, the Shares), in one or more series; (iii) debt securities of the Company (the Debt Securities), which may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and may be convertible or non-convertible, as well as secured or unsecured, which may be issued in one or more series under one or more indentures to be entered into by the Company with a trustee relating to the Debt Securities (the Debt Securities Indenture); (iv) warrants to purchase Shares (the Warrants) and (v) subscription rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company (the Rights) and (vi) such indeterminate number of Shares, Warrants, Rights, and amount of Debt Securities as may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise, as applicable, of any Debt Securities (the Indeterminate Securities). The Shares, the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Rights and the Indeterminate Securities are collectively referred to herein as the Securities.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
In stating the view and opinions set forth in this letter, we have examined and relied on originals or copies of:
(a) |
The Registration Statement. |
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(b) |
The articles of association (in Norwegian: vedtekter) of the Company. |
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A certificate of registration (in Norwegian: Firmaattest) of the Company. |
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(d) |
Minutes of resolutions by the board of directors of the Company dated 2 February, 2015. |
In stating the view and opinions set forth in this letter we have assumed:
(i) The authenticity and completeness of all documents submitted to us as originals.
(ii) |
That all photocopies and electronic copies reviewed by us are complete and in conformity with the originals thereof. |
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(iii) |
That all signatures on documents reviewed by us are genuine. |
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(iv) |
That the information set out in the various documents which we have reviewed was truthful, correct, complete and up-to-date. |
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(v) |
That there have been no amendments to the articles of association and certificate of registration of the Company as compared to the forms of such documents provided to us. |
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(vi) |
That any minutes of board meetings of the Company provided to us correctly reflect and record resolutions passed at such meetings; that any such meetings were duly convened; and that the resolutions passed at such meetings have not been revoked or varied and remain in full force and effect. |
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(vii) |
That the Debt Securities Indenture, when executed, will be legal, valid, binding and enforceable in accordance with its terms under the laws of the State of New York by which it is expected to be stated to be governed. |
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(viii) |
That all necessary consents, authorisations and approvals whatsoever and howsoever described required in any relevant jurisdiction (other than Norway) for the due execution and performance of the documents by each of the parties thereto have been, or will be obtained, and that all necessary notices, filings, registrations and recordings required in any applicable jurisdiction (other than Norway) in respect of the documents have been, or will be, given or effected in accordance with the laws and regulations of every such jurisdiction. |
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(ix) |
That the Registration Statement and the issuance and sale of the Securities will not violate the laws of any jurisdiction other than Norway. |
In stating the views and opinions set forth in this letter, we express no view or opinion as to any laws other than the laws of Norway in force as of the date hereof or as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction on the views and opinions stated herein.
On the basis of the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. |
The Company is duly registered and validly existing as a public limited liability company under the laws of Norway. |
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2. |
With respect to any Shares offered by the Company pursuant to the Registration Statement, including any Indeterminate Securities (the Offered Shares), when (i) (if the Offered Shares are to be sold or otherwise distributed pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering) the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Shares has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, (ii) (if the Offered Shares are to be issued pursuant to a resolution by the Companys general meeting) the general meeting has validly resolved the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares, the Board of Directors have taken all related action as directed by the general meeting and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all related action as directed by or under the direction by the Board of Directors (iii) (if the Offered Shares are to be issued pursuant to a resolution by the Board of Directors) the Board of Directors have validly resolved the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares and related matters pursuant to and in accordance with a valid authorisation to issue new Shares in the Company granted by the Companys general meeting and appropriate officers of the Company have taken all related action as directed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, (iv) the Offered Shares (including any Shares duly issued upon |
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conversion, exchange or exercise of any Debt Securities), have been fully paid for in accordance with the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding agreement, (v) the share capital increase following from the issuance of the Offered Shares has been registered in the Norwegian Register of Business Enterprises and (vi) the Offered Shares have been registered in the Norwegian Central Securities Depository (VPS), the Offered Shares will be duly authorized by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company under the Norwegian Public Limited Liability Act and validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
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3. |
With respect to any series of Debt Securities offered by the Company, pursuant to the Registration Statement, including any Indeterminate Securities, the Company will, assuming the taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance of Debt Securities including the entry by the Company into the Debt Securities Indenture, have the power and authority to validly execute and perform its obligations under the Debt Securities Indenture. |
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4. |
With respect to the Warrants, including any Indeterminate Securities, assuming the (i) taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and terms of any Warrants, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the entry by the Company into, and performance under, the applicable underwriting agreement or any other agreement pursuant to which any Warrants may be issued, and (ii) due execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of such Warrants and any applicable agreement pursuant to which any such Warrants may be issued, upon payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable agreement and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable agreement, such Warrants will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company. |
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5. |
With respect to the Rights, including any Indeterminate Securities, assuming the (i) taking of all necessary corporate action to authorize and approve the issuance and the terms of the Rights, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters, including the entry by the Company into, and performance under, the applicable underwriting agreement or any other agreement pursuant to which any Rights may be issued, and (ii) due execution, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Rights and any applicable agreement pursuant to which any such Rights may be issued, upon the payment of the consideration therefor provided for in the applicable agreement and otherwise in accordance with the provisions of the applicable agreement, such Rights will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company and will entitle the holders thereof to the rights with respect thereto specified in the applicable agreement. |
This letter is strictly limited to matters set out above and is not to be extended by implication to other matters.
This opinion letter is governed by and construed in accordance with Norwegian law.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the use of our name under the heading Legal Matters in the prospectus which forms a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the Rules and Regulations.
We disclaim any obligation to update this opinion with respect to any matters which may come to our attention after the date of this opinion and which may affect the opinions set out herein.
Yours sincerely
for Advokatfirmaet Wiersholm AS
/s/ Kaare P. Sverdrup |
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/s/ Tone Østensen |
Kaare P. Sverdrup |
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Tone Østensen |
Exhibit 5.2
[Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP Letterhead]
February 2, 2015
Marine Harvest ASA
P.O. Box 4102 Sandviken
5835 Bergen
Norway
RE: Marine Harvest ASAShelf Registration Statement on Form F-3
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special United States counsel to Marine Harvest ASA, a public limited liability company (allmennaksjeselskap) incorporated under the laws of Norway (the Company), in connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement on Form F-3 (the Registration Statement), to be filed by the Company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the Commission) on the date hereof under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 (the Securities Act), allowing for delayed offerings pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Act (the Rules and Regulations). The Registration Statement relates to, among other things, the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company, of the following securities of the Company: (i) ordinary shares in the Company with par value NOK 7.50 per share (Ordinary Shares); (ii) preferred shares of the Company (Preferred Shares and, together with the Ordinary Shares, the Shares), in one or more series; (iii) debt securities of the Company (the Debt Securities), which may be senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities and may be convertible or non-convertible, as well as secured or unsecured, which may be issued in one or more series under one or more indentures to be entered into by the Company with a trustee relating to the Debt Securities (the Indentures); (iv) warrants to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company (the Warrants); (v) subscription rights to purchase Shares or other securities of the Company (the Rights); and (vi) such indeterminate number of Shares, Warrants, Rights, and amount of Debt Securities as may be issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise, as applicable, of any Debt Securities (the Indeterminate Securities). The Shares, Debt Securities, Warrants, Rights, and Indeterminate Securities are collectively referred to herein as the Securities.
This opinion is being delivered in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K of the Commission.
In connection with this opinion, we have examined and relied upon (i) the Registration Statement, (ii) a copy of the resolutions of the board of the directors of the Company dated February 2, 2015 and (iii) the form of Indenture for the Debt Securities and the form of debt security included therein, to be filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement.
We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates and receipts of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and others, and such other documents as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion stated below.
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, including endorsements, the legal capacity and competency of all natural persons, 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 or photostatic copies, and the authenticity of the originals of such copies. In making our examination of executed documents or documents to be executed, we have assumed that the parties thereto, including the Company, had or will have the power, corporate or other, to enter into and perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and execution and delivery by such parties of such documents. We have also assumed that (i) the Company has been duly organized and is validly existing in good standing, and has the requisite legal status and legal capacity, under the laws of Norway (being its jurisdiction of incorporation) and that the Company will comply with the laws of all relevant jurisdictions (including the laws of Norway) in connection with the transactions contemplated by, and the performance of the Companys obligations under, the Indentures, any supplemental indenture and the Registration Statement, other than the laws of the State of New York insofar as we express our opinion herein, (ii) each of the Offered Debt Securities (as defined below) and the applicable Indenture and any supplemental indenture will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by all requisite corporate action on the part of the Company, (iii) the choice of New York law to govern the Indentures and any supplemental indenture is a valid and legal provision and (iv) the Indentures and any supplemental indenture will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by the trustee thereunder and any Debt Securities that may be issued will be duly authenticated in accordance with the Indentures and any supplemental indenture. As to any facts relevant to the opinion stated herein that we did not independently establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Company and of public officials.
Our opinion set forth below is limited to the laws of the State of New York that are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Registration Statement and, to the extent that judicial or regulatory orders or decrees or consents, approvals, licenses, authorizations, validations, filings, recordings or registrations with governmental authorities are relevant, to those required under such laws (all of the foregoing being referred to as Opined on Law). We do not express any opinion with respect to the law of any jurisdiction other than Opined on Law or as to the effect of any such non-Opined on Law on the opinion herein stated. The Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the Rules and Regulations, as in effect on the date hereof.
Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that:
(a) with respect to the offered Debt Securities (the Offered Debt Securities), when (i) the Registration Statement, as finally amended (including all necessary post-effective amendments), has become effective under the Securities Act and the applicable Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the Trust Indenture Act); (ii) an appropriate prospectus supplement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been prepared, delivered and filed in compliance with the Securities Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations; (iii) if the Offered Debt Securities are to be sold pursuant to a firm commitment underwritten offering, the underwriting agreement with respect to the Offered Debt Securities has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto; (iv) all necessary corporate action (under the laws of Norway) to approve the issuance and terms of the Offered Debt Securities and related matters has been taken; (v) the terms of the Offered Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale have been duly established in conformity with the applicable Indenture and any supplemental indenture so as not to violate any applicable law or the Companys articles of association or result in a default under or breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (vi) the Offered Debt Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the applicable Indenture and any supplemental indenture and duly delivered to the purchasers thereof upon payment of the agreed-upon consideration therefor, the Offered Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly issued upon conversion, exchange or exercise of any Debt Securities, Warrants or Rights), when issued and sold in accordance with the applicable Indenture, any supplemental indenture and the applicable underwriting agreement, if any, or any other duly authorized, executed and delivered valid and binding purchase or agency agreement, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors rights generally, (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity), (c) public policy considerations which may limit the rights of parties to obtain remedies, (d) the waivers of any usury defense that may be contained in the Indentures or Offered Debt Securities which may be unenforceable, (e) requirements that a claim with respect to any Offered Debt Securities denominated in a currency, currency unit or composite currency other than United States dollars (or a judgment denominated other than in United States dollars in respect of such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law and (f) governmental authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments outside the United States or in foreign currencies, currency units or composite currencies.
In rendering the opinion set forth above, we have assumed that the execution and delivery by the Company of the Indentures or any supplemental indenture and the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder will not violate, conflict with or constitute a default under any agreement or instrument to which the Company or its subsidiaries is subject.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also hereby consent to the reference to our firm under the caption
Legal Matters in the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof unless otherwise expressly stated, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes of the facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in applicable law.
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Very truly yours, |
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/s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (UK) LLP |
Exhibit 12.1
STATEMENT OF COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
Under IFRS
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Nine Months |
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Year ended December 31, |
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2014 |
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2013 |
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2012 |
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2011 |
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2010 |
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2009 |
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(unaudited) |
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(audited) |
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(in NOK millions) |
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Earnings |
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Pre-tax income from continuing operations |
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1,113.2 |
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3,457.4 |
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830.3 |
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579.4 |
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4,666.0 |
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1,766.3 |
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Earning of equity-accounted investees |
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(94.2 |
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(221.8 |
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(83.6 |
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15.0 |
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(194.9 |
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(83.9 |
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Fixed charges |
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402.9 |
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651.5 |
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382.8 |
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405.8 |
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380.2 |
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424.7 |
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Distributed income from equity-accounted investees |
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71.6 |
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20.3 |
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31.8 |
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59.5 |
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48.5 |
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22.4 |
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Capitalized interest |
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(3.8 |
) |
(11.3 |
) |
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Earnings |
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1,489.6 |
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3,896.1 |
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1,161.3 |
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1,059.7 |
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4,899.8 |
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2,129.5 |
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Fixed charges |
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Interest expensed |
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296.2 |
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510.2 |
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307.0 |
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333.6 |
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309.8 |
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404.3 |
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Capitalized interest |
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3.8 |
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11.3 |
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Amortization of premiums, discounts and issue costs related to indebtedness |
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102.9 |
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130.1 |
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75.8 |
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72.2 |
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70.5 |
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20.4 |
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Fixed charges |
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402.9 |
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651.5 |
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382.8 |
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405.8 |
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380.2 |
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424.7 |
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Ratio of earnings to fixed charges |
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3.70 |
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5.98 |
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3.03 |
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2.61 |
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12.89 |
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5.01 |
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Exhibit 23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption Experts in this Registration Statement (Form F-3) and the related Prospectus of Marine Harvest ASA for the registration of ordinary shares in the form of ordinary shares or American Depositary Shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants and subscription rights and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated April 30, 2014, with respect to the consolidated financial statements included in its Annual Report (Form 20-F) for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ Ernst & Young AS |
|
Oslo, Norway |
February 2, 2015 |
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