As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 20, 2018
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
SMART GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Cayman Islands | 3674 | 98-1013909 |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited P.O. Box 309 Ugland House Grand Cayman KY1-1104 Cayman Islands |
||
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant’s Principal Executive Offices) |
____________________
Bruce Goldberg
Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Chief Compliance Officer
SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
c/o 39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, CA 94560
(510) 623-1231
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
____________________
Copy to: | ||
Alan F. Denenberg Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP 1600 El Camino Real Menlo Park, California 94025 (650) 752-2000 |
____________________
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. ☐
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ☒
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. ☐
If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer ☐ | Accelerated filer ☐ |
Non-accelerated filer ☒ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company ☐ |
Emerging growth company ☐ |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the Registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act. ☐
____________________
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title Of Each Class Of Securities To Be Registered | Amount to be Registered (1) | Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share (1)(2) | Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price (1)(2) | Amount of Registration Fee | |||
Primary Offering: | |||||||
Ordinary Shares, par value $0.03 per share | — | — | — | — | |||
Preferred Shares, par value $0.03 per share | — | — | — | — | |||
Debt Securities (3) | — | — | — | — | |||
Warrants (4) | — | — | — | — | |||
Purchase Contracts | — | — | — | — | |||
Units | — | — | — | — | |||
Total Primary Offering | $150,000,000 (5) | $18,675.00 (6) | |||||
Secondary Offering: | |||||||
Ordinary Shares, par value $0.03 per share | 9,256,755 | (7) | $275,527,312.58 (8) | — | |||
Total Secondary Offering | 9,256,755 | (7) | $275,527,312.58 (8) | — | |||
Total Primary and Secondary Offering | — | — | $425,527,312.58 | $52,978.15 (9) | |||
(1) | An indeterminate number and amount of the securities of each identified class to be offered at indeterminate prices is being registered pursuant to this registration statement with a maximum aggregate offering price not to exceed approximately $150,000,000. | ||||||
(2) | Includes such indeterminate amount of securities as may be issued upon exercise, conversion or exchange of, pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments, or pursuant to a stock dividend, stock split or similar transaction with respect to securities that provide for such issuance, exercise, conversion, exchange, adjustment, stock split or similar transaction. Separate consideration may or may not be received for any of these securities. | ||||||
(3) | Debt securities may be issued at an original issue discount or at a premium. If any debt securities are issued at an original issue discount, then the offering price of such debt securities shall be in such greater principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price not to exceed approximately $150,000,000, less the aggregate dollar amount of all securities previously issued hereunder | ||||||
(4) | The warrants covered by this registration statement may be debt warrants or equity warrants. | ||||||
(5) | The proposed maximum aggregate offering price has been estimated solely for purposes of determining the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. | ||||||
(6) | Pursuant to Rule 457(o), the registration fee is calculated based on the maximum aggregate offering price of all securities listed. | ||||||
(7) | With respect to the Secondary Offering, the proposed maximum offering price per ordinary share will be determined from time to time in connection with, and at the time of, sale by the holders of such securities named in the registration statement. | ||||||
(8) | Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the amount of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) under the Securities Act based on an average of the high and low reported sales prices of the Registrant’s ordinary shares, par value $0.03 per share, as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market on September 19, 2018, of $30.30 and $29.23. | ||||||
(9) | Calculated in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act. | ||||||
The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities, and we are not soliciting offers to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where such offer or sale is not permitted.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 20, 2018
PROSPECTUS
SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
$150,000,000
Ordinary Shares
Preferred Shares
Debt Securities
Warrants
Purchase Contracts
Units
and
9,256,755 Ordinary Shares Offered by the Selling Shareholders
We may offer and sell from time to time ordinary shares, preferred shares, debt securities, warrants, purchase contracts or units. We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. Specific amounts and terms of these securities will be provided in supplements to this prospectus. The aggregate initial offering price of all securities sold by us will not exceed $150,000,000.
In addition, the selling shareholders named in this prospectus (the “selling shareholders”) may from time to time offer and sell up to 9,256,755 of our ordinary shares. We are registering these ordinary shares pursuant to registration rights agreements that we entered into with the selling shareholders. The selling shareholders may offer and sell our ordinary shares in public or private transactions, or both. These sales may occur at fixed prices, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. See “Plan of Distribution” for more information on how the selling shareholders may conduct sales of our ordinary shares. We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of these ordinary shares by the selling shareholders.
Each time we or the selling shareholders offer and sell securities, we will provide a supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the offering and the amounts, prices and terms of the securities. The supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. You should carefully read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in any of our securities.
Investing in our securities involves risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 3 of this prospectus and any similar section contained in the applicable prospectus supplement concerning factors you should consider before investing in our securities.
Our ordinary shares are listed on The Nasdaq Global Select Market under the symbol “SGH.” On September 19, 2018, the last reported sale price of our ordinary shares on The Nasdaq Global Select Market was $29.77 per share.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is , 2018
table of contents
Page
SMART Global Holdings, Inc. | 1 |
About This Prospectus | 1 |
Forward-Looking Statements | 1 |
Where You Can Find More Information | 2 |
Incorporation By Reference | 2 |
Risk Factors | 4 |
Use of Proceeds | 4 |
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges | 4 |
Description of Share Capital | 5 |
Description of Debt Securities | 13 |
Description of Warrants | 13 |
Description of Purchase Contracts | 13 |
Description of Units | 14 |
Forms of Securities | 14 |
Plan of Distribution | 15 |
Legal Matters | 17 |
Experts | 18 |
Neither we nor the selling shareholders have authorized anyone to provide any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. Neither we nor the selling shareholders are making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates.
Unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “SMART Global Holdings” or the “Company,” “Registrant,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” or similar terms refer to SMART Global Holdings, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, and, where the context requires, our predecessor entities.
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SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
We are a global leader in specialty memory solutions, serving the electronics industry for over 25 years. As part of our global business, we have established a leading market position, as measured by market share, in Brazil as the largest in-country manufacturer of memory for desktops, notebooks and servers, as well as mobile memory for smartphones. We also have a leading market position worldwide, as measured by revenue, in specialty memory where we work closely with original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, customers to develop memory solutions, which incorporate customer-specific requirements. As a result of our acquisition of Penguin Computing, Inc. in June 2018, and the creation of a new business unit, SMART Specialty Compute & Storage Solutions (SCSS), SMART has expanded its serviceable markets into areas requiring specialized computing platforms in artificial intelligence and machine learning, advanced modeling and high performance computing serving broad base of enterprise and government customers. We believe our customers rely on us as a strategic supplier due to our customer-specific designs, product quality and technical support, our global footprint and, in Brazil, our ability to provide locally manufactured memory products. We also provide customized, integrated supply chain services to certain OEM customers to assist them in the management and execution of their procurement processes. Our global, diversified customer base includes over 250 end customers such as Cisco Systems, Inc., or Cisco, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., or together with its affiliates, Samsung, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company, or HPE, Dell Technologies Inc., or Dell, and LG Electronics Inc., or LG.
Our address in the Cayman Islands is c/o Maples Corporate Services Limited, P.O. Box 309, Ugland House, Grand Cayman, KY1-1104, Cayman Islands. Our U.S. principal executive offices are located at 39870 Eureka Drive, Newark, California 94560. Our telephone number at this address is (510) 623-1231. Our principal website is http://www.smartm.com. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus.
About This Prospectus
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process. By using a shelf registration statement, we may sell securities from time to time and in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of $150,000,000 as described in this prospectus. In addition, under this shelf registration statement, the selling shareholders named in this prospectus may sell, from time to time, up to 9,256,755 of our ordinary shares. Each time that we or the selling shareholders offer and sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement to this prospectus that contains specific information about the securities being offered and sold and the specific terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus with respect to that offering. If there is any inconsistency between the information in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, you should rely on the prospectus supplement. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find More Information” and “Incorporation by Reference.”
Forward-Looking Statements
This prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Such statements contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference herein or therein are based upon current expectations that involve risks and uncertainties. Any statements contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference herein or therein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. For example, the words “believes,” “anticipates,” “plans,” “expects,” “intends” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Our actual results and the timing of certain events may differ significantly from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that might cause such a discrepancy include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the “Risk Factors” section, in addition to the other information set forth in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference herein or therein. We claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for all forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference herein or therein are based on information available to us as of their respective dates and we assume no obligation to
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update any such forward-looking statements. Our actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of certain factors, including, but not limited to, those set forth under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 25, 2017 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended November 24, 2017, February 23, 2018 and May 25, 2018. You should carefully consider the risks described in the “Risk Factors” section, in addition to the other information set forth in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or incorporated by reference herein or therein, before making an investment decision.
Where You Can Find More Information
We are subject to the informational requirements of the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we are required to file reports and other information with the SEC, including annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K. You may inspect and copy reports and other information filed with the SEC at the Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet website that contains reports and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov. We also maintain a website at ir.smartm.com, at which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. The information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not a part of this prospectus. Investors should not rely on any such information in deciding whether to purchase our ordinary shares. We have included our website address in this prospectus solely as an inactive textual reference.
Incorporation By Reference
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and all documents subsequently filed with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, prior to the termination of the offering under this prospectus:
· | Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on September 21, 2017, October 23, 2017, November 9, 2017, January 22, 2018, January 30, 2018, February 2, 2018, March 14, 2018, April 9, 2018 and June 11, 2018 (as amended on August 24, 2018); |
· | Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended November 24, 2017, February 23, 2018 and May 25, 2018; |
· | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 25, 2017, including portions of our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on December 15, 2017, to the extent specifically incorporated by reference into such Annual Report on Form 10-K; and |
· | The description of our outstanding Ordinary Shares contained in our Registration Statement No. 000-38102 on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on May 23, 2017, pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including any amendment or report filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We are not, however, incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed above or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC, including any information furnished pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or certain exhibits furnished pursuant to Item 9.1 of Form 8-K.
You may request, and we will provide you with, a copy of these filings, at no cost, by calling us at (510) 623-1231 or by writing to us at the following address:
SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
c/o 39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, CA 94560
Attn: Investor Relations
Exhibits to the filings will not be sent,
however, unless those exhibits have specifically been incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus
supplement.
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Risk Factors
An investment in our securities involves significant risks. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully consider and evaluate all of the information included and incorporated by reference or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus or the applicable prospectus supplement, including the risk factors incorporated by reference herein from our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 25, 2017, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents we file with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and that are incorporated by reference herein or in the applicable prospectus supplement. Our business, results of operations or financial condition could be adversely affected by any of these risks or by additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently consider immaterial.
Use of Proceeds
Unless otherwise indicated in a prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities will be used for general corporate purposes, including working capital, acquisitions, retirement of debt and other business opportunities. We will not receive any proceeds from any shares sold by the selling shareholders.
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
The following table sets forth our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges:
Nine
Months |
Years Ended | |||||
May
25, |
August
25, |
August
26, |
August
28, |
August
29, |
August
30, | |
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges | 8.42x | 1.07x | 0.39x* | —* | 0.63x* | —* |
____________________
* | For fiscal years 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. |
In calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of net income (loss) from continuing operations before income tax expense and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense, including such portion of rental expense that was attributed to interest, and amortization of capitalized interest. The portion of rent expense that was attributed to interest represents a reasonable approximation of the interest factor. We have not included a ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred share dividends because we do not have any preferred shares outstanding as of the date of this prospectus.
Selling Shareholders
The ordinary shares being offered by the selling shareholders are those previously issued to the selling shareholders. We are registering the ordinary shares in order to permit the selling shareholders to offer the shares for resale from time to time. Except for the ownership of the ordinary shares, the selling shareholders have not had any material relationship with us within the past three years, unless otherwise indicated in “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions” in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on December 15, 2017 and in the footnotes to the table below.
The table below lists the selling shareholders and other information regarding the beneficial ownership of the ordinary shares held by each of the selling shareholders. The second column lists the number of ordinary shares beneficially owned by each selling shareholder, based on its ownership of ordinary shares as of August 31, 2018. The third column lists the shares of ordinary shares being registered in this prospectus by the selling shareholders.
In accordance with the terms of shareholder and registration rights agreements with the holders of the ordinary shares, this prospectus generally covers the resale of that number of ordinary shares equal to the number of ordinary shares previously issued to the selling shareholders in each case as of the trading day immediately preceding the date this registration statement was initially filed with the SEC. The fourth column assumes the sale of all of the shares included in this prospectus. The selling shareholders may sell all, some or none of their shares included in this prospectus. See “Plan of Distribution.”
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Name of Selling Shareholder | Ordinary Shares Beneficially Owned Prior to Offering | Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold Pursuant to this Prospectus | Number of Ordinary Shares Owned After Offering | Percentage of Ordinary Shares Owned After Offering |
Entities affiliated with Silver Lake Partners (1) | 6,171,171 | 6,171,171 | — | — |
Entities affiliated with Silver Lake Sumeru (2) | 3,085,584 | 3,085,584 | — | — |
(1) Consists of (i) 6,138,094 shares held of record by Silver Lake Partners III Cayman (AIV III), L.P. (“SLP III Cayman”), the general partner of which is Silver Lake Technology Associates III Cayman, L.P. (“SLTA III Cayman”), and (ii) 33,077 shares held of record by Silver Lake Technology Investors III Cayman, L.P. (together with SLP III Cayman and SLTA III Cayman, the “SLP III Cayman Entities”), the general partner of which is SLTA III Cayman. Silver Lake (Offshore) AIV GP III, Ltd. (“SL III Offshore Ltd”) is the general partner of SLTA III Cayman. As such, SL III Offshore Ltd may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities over which any of the SLP III Cayman Entities has voting or dispositive power. SL III Offshore Ltd is controlled by a board of seven directors that acts by majority approval and possesses sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by the SLP III Cayman Entities. The individual members of such board are Messrs. Ken Hao, Michael Bingle, Greg Mondre, Egon Durban, Joe Osnoss and Andrew Wagner, and Ms. Karen King. Excludes 193,132 shares held of record by Mr. Shah, our CEO, and his affiliated investment vehicles that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by entities affiliated with Silver Lake Partners and Silver Lake Sumeru by virtue of relationships and agreements among such persons. The address for each of the entities referenced above is c/o Silver Lake, 2775 Sand Hill Road, Suite 100, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
(2) Consists of (i) 3,048,465 shares held of record by Silver Lake Sumeru Fund Cayman, L.P. (“SLS Cayman”), the general partner of which is Silver Lake Technology Associates Sumeru Cayman, L.P. (“SLTA Sumeru Cayman”), the general partner of which is SLTA Sumeru (GP) Cayman, L.P. (“SLTA Sumeru GP Cayman”), and (ii) 37,119 shares held of record by Silver Lake Technology Investors Sumeru Cayman, L.P. (together with SLS Cayman, SLTA Sumeru Cayman and SLTA Sumeru GP Cayman, the “SLS Cayman Entities”), the general partner of which is SLTA Sumeru Cayman. Silver Lake Sumeru (Offshore) AIV GP, Ltd. (“SL Sumeru Offshore Ltd”) is the general partner of SLTA Sumeru GP Cayman. As such, SL Sumeru Offshore Ltd may be deemed to have beneficial ownership of the securities over which any of the SLS Cayman Entities has voting or dispositive power. SL Sumeru Offshore Ltd. is controlled by a board of eight directors that acts by majority approval and possesses sole voting and dispositive power with respect to the shares held by the SLS Cayman Entities. The individual members of such board are: Messrs. Ajay Shah, Paul Mercadante, Kyle Ryland, John Brennan, Egon Durban and Andrew Wagner and Mses. Hollie Moore-Haynes and Karen King. Excludes 193,132 shares held of record by Mr. Shah and his affiliated investment vehicles that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by entities affiliated with Silver Lake Partners and Silver Lake Sumeru by virtue of relationships and agreements among such persons. The address for each of the entities referenced above is c/o Silver Lake, 2775 Sand Hill Road, Suite 100, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Description of SHARE CAPITAL
The following summary of the terms of our share capital is not meant to be complete and is qualified by reference to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association are incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” above.
General
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association authorize the issuance of up to 200,000,000 ordinary shares and 30,000,000 preferred shares. As of May 25, 2018, 22,307,512 ordinary shares were issued and outstanding and held of record by 110 shareholders. In addition, 2,425,664 ordinary shares were subject to options outstanding as of May 25, 2018, with a weighted-average exercise price of approximately $27.20 per share, and 560,623 restricted stock units were outstanding as of May 25, 2018.
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We are incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability under Cayman Islands law and our affairs are governed by the provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, as amended and restated from time to time, and by the provisions of the Companies Law. A Cayman Islands company qualifies for exempted status if its operations will be conducted mainly outside of the Cayman Islands. Exempted companies are exempted from complying with certain provisions of the Companies Law. An exempted company is not required to obtain prior approval for registration or to hold an annual general meeting, and the annual return that must be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands is considerably more simple than for non-exempted Cayman Islands companies. Names of shareholders are not required to be filed with the Registrar of Companies in the Cayman Islands. While there are currently no forms of direct taxation, withholding or capital gains tax in the Cayman Islands, an exempted company is entitled to apply for a tax exemption certificate from the Governor in Cabinet, which provides written confirmation that, among other things, should the laws of the Cayman Islands change, the company will not be subject to taxes for the period during which the certificate is valid (usually 20 years). The following is a summary of some of the more important terms of our share capital. For a complete description, you should refer to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, which are filed as an exhibit to the registration statement filed on Form S-3 in connection with this offering, and the applicable provisions of the Companies Law.
Ordinary Shares
General
All of our issued and outstanding ordinary shares are fully paid and non-assessable. The ordinary shares are issued in registered form. Our ordinary shares are not entitled to any sinking fund or pre-emptive or redemption rights. Our shareholders may freely hold and vote their shares.
Dividends
The holders of our ordinary shares are entitled to such dividends as may be declared by our board of directors subject to the Companies Law. Dividends may be paid only out of profits, which include net earnings and retained earnings undistributed in prior years, and out of share premium, a concept analogous to paid-in surplus in the United States, subject to a statutory solvency test.
Voting Rights
Each shareholder is entitled to one vote for each ordinary share on all matters upon which the ordinary shares are entitled to vote, including the election of directors. Voting at any shareholders’ meeting is by way of a poll.
A quorum required for a general meeting of shareholders consists of one or more holders of shares present in person or by proxy (or, if a corporation or other non-natural person, by its duly authorized representative) together holding (or representing by proxy) not less than a majority of the total voting power of all shares outstanding and entitled to vote. General meetings of our shareholders are held annually and may be convened by our board of directors on its own initiative. Extraordinary meetings of our shareholders may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the board of directors or the chairman of the board of directors; however, so long as Silver Lake (defined to include investment funds affiliated with Silver Lake Partners and Silver Lake Sumeru) owns at least 40% of our outstanding ordinary shares, extraordinary meetings of our shareholders will also be called by the board of directors at the request of either Silver Lake Partners or Silver Lake Sumeru. Advance notice to shareholders of at least 14 calendar days is required for the convening of any annual general meeting or other shareholders’ meetings.
An ordinary resolution to be passed by the shareholders requires a simple majority of votes cast in a general meeting, while a special resolution requires no less than 75% of the votes cast. Under the Companies Law, certain matters must be approved by special resolution of the shareholders, including alteration of the memorandum or articles of association, reduction of share capital, change of name, or voluntary winding up the company.
If at any time, our issued share capital is divided into separate classes of shares, the rights attaching to any class may be varied, modified or abrogated with the sanction of a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at a separate meeting of the holders of the shares of that class at which a quorum is present. The quorum applicable to such separate meeting is at least one person holding or representing by proxy at least one-third of the par value of the issued shares of the class.
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Liquidation
On a return of capital on winding up or otherwise (other than on conversion, redemption or purchase of shares), assets available for distribution among the holders of ordinary shares shall be distributed among the holders of the ordinary shares in accordance with the Companies Law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association. If our assets available for distribution are insufficient to repay all of the paid-up capital, the assets will be distributed so that the losses are borne by our shareholders proportionately.
Inspection of Books and Records
Holders of our ordinary shares will have no general right under Cayman Islands law to inspect or obtain copies of our list of shareholders or our corporate records.
Register of Members
Under Cayman Islands law, we must keep a register of members and include the following items:
· | the names and addresses of the members, a statement of the shares held by each member and the amount paid or agreed to be considered as paid on the shares of each member; |
· | the date on which the name of any person was entered on the register as a member; and |
· | the date on which any person ceased to be a member. |
Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members is prima facie evidence of the matters set forth therein (i.e., the register will raise a presumption of fact on the matters referred to above unless rebutted), and a member registered in the register of members shall be deemed as a matter of Cayman Islands law to have legal title to the shares as set against its name in the register of members. Upon the closing of our IPO, the register of members was updated to reflect the shares issued in connection with our IPO. The shareholders recorded in the register of members were deemed to have legal title to the shares set against their names upon the update to the register of members. If the name of any person is incorrectly entered in or omitted from our register of members, or if there is any default or unnecessary delay in updating the register for any person that has ceased to be a member of our company, such aggrieved person or member (or any member of our company or our company itself) may apply to the Cayman Islands Grand Court for an order that the register be rectified, and the Court may either refuse such application or, if satisfied with the justice of the case, order the register be rectified.
Undesignated Preferred Shares
Pursuant to our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association, our board of directors has the authority, without further action by the shareholders, to issue up to 30,000,000 preferred shares in one or more series and to designate the price, rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of such preferred shares without any further vote or action by our shareholders, any or all of which may be greater than the rights of the ordinary shares.
Registration Rights Agreement
See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement” in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on December 15, 2017 for a description of the Registration Rights Agreement entered into with Silver Lake, certain entities affiliated with Mr. Ajay Shah, certain entities affiliated with Mr. Mukesh Patel, the Warrant Holders named therein and certain of our executive officers.
Sponsor Shareholder Agreement
Pursuant to our Sponsor Shareholder Agreement, we may not take certain actions specified in the Sponsor Shareholder Agreement without the consent of Silver Lake. Please see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Sponsor Shareholder Agreement” in our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on December 15, 2017.
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Anti-Takeover Provisions of our Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association
Some provisions of our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association may discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or management that shareholders might otherwise view as favorable and are intended to enhance the likelihood of continuity and stability in the composition of our board of directors and to discourage certain types of transactions that may involve an actual or threatened acquisition of our company. These provisions are intended to avoid costly takeover battles, reduce our vulnerability to a hostile change in control or other unsolicited acquisition proposal and enhance the ability of our board of directors to maximize shareholder value in connection with any unsolicited offer to acquire us. However, these provisions may have the effect of delaying, deterring or preventing a merger or acquisition of our company by means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or other takeover attempt that a shareholder might consider in its best interest, including attempts that might result in a premium over the prevailing market price for our ordinary shares.
Classified Board of Directors
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that our board of directors is classified into three classes of directors with staggered three year terms. A third party may be discouraged from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us as it is more difficult and time consuming for shareholders to replace a majority of the directors on a classified board of directors.
Breaches of Fiduciary Duty
To the maximum extent permitted under Cayman Islands law, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association indemnifies our directors against any personal liability of our directors for breaches of fiduciary duty.
Removal of Directors
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that directors may be removed with or without cause upon the affirmative vote of a majority of our outstanding ordinary shares, so long as Silver Lake collectively owns at least 40% of our outstanding ordinary shares; however, at any time when Silver Lake collectively owns less than 40% of our outstanding ordinary shares, directors may only be removed for cause, and only by the affirmative vote of holders of at least 75% of our outstanding ordinary shares.
Vacancies
In addition, our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association also provides that any newly created directorship on the board of directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancies on our board of directors will be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, by a sole remaining director or by the affirmative vote of a majority of our outstanding ordinary shares, so long as Silver Lake collectively owns at least 40% of our outstanding ordinary shares; however, at any time when Silver Lake collectively owns less than 40% of our outstanding ordinary shares, any newly created directorship on the board of directors that results from an increase in the number of directors and any vacancy occurring in the board of directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director (and not by the shareholders). Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that the board of directors may increase the number of directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors or, at any time when Silver Lake collectively owns at least 40% of our outstanding ordinary shares, by the affirmative vote of a majority of our outstanding ordinary shares.
Board Quorum
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides that at any meeting of the board of directors, a majority of the total number of directors then in office constitutes a quorum for all purposes; however, so long as there is at least one Silver Lake director on the board, a quorum shall also require at least one Silver Lake director for all purposes. If any such required Silver Lake director fails to appear at a meeting of the board of directors, and such meeting is adjourned with proper notice and postponed with no change to the agenda, and such Silver Lake director again fails to appear at such postponed meeting, a majority of the total number of directors then in office without such Silver Lake director constitutes a quorum for all purposes.
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Shareholder Action by Written Consent
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that any action required to be taken at any annual or extraordinary meeting of the shareholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote if, in the case of an ordinary resolution, a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding ordinary shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all of our outstanding ordinary shares were present and voted, or in the case of a special resolution by all holders of ordinary shares having the right to vote, unless our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provides otherwise, so long as Silver Lake collectively owns at least 40% of our outstanding ordinary shares. Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association will preclude shareholder action by written consent at any time when Silver Lake collectively owns less than 40% of our outstanding ordinary shares, provided that shareholders may always act by a unanimous written resolution.
Extraordinary Shareholder Meetings
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association limits the ability of shareholders to requisition and convene general meetings of shareholders and provides that extraordinary meetings of our shareholders may be called at any time only by or at the direction of the board of directors or the chairman of the board of directors; however, so long as Silver Lake collectively owns at least 40% of our outstanding ordinary shares, extraordinary meetings of our shareholders may also be called by the board of directors at the request of either Silver Lake Partners or Silver Lake Sumeru.
Supermajority Provisions
Cayman Islands law and our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that the affirmative vote of at least 75% of our outstanding ordinary shares attending and voting at a general meeting or a unanimous written resolution is required to amend our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association.
The combination of the foregoing provisions will make it more difficult for our existing shareholders to replace our board of directors as well as for another party to obtain control of us by replacing our board of directors. Because our board of directors has the power to retain and discharge our officers, these provisions could also make it more difficult for existing shareholders or another party to effect a change in management. However, under Cayman Islands law, our directors may only exercise the rights and powers granted to them under our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association for a proper purpose and for what they believe in good faith to be in the best interests of our company.
Comparison of Cayman Islands Corporate Law
Cayman Islands companies are governed by the Companies Law. The Companies Law is modeled on English Law but does not follow recent English Law statutory enactments, and differs from laws applicable to United States corporations and their shareholders. Set forth below is a summary of the material differences between the provisions of the Companies Law applicable to us and the laws applicable to companies incorporated in the United States and their shareholders.
Mergers and Similar Arrangements
In certain circumstances the Companies Law allows for mergers or consolidations between two or more Cayman Islands companies, or between one or more Cayman Islands companies and one or more companies incorporated in another jurisdiction (provided that is permitted or not prohibited by the laws of that other jurisdiction).
Where the merger or consolidation is between two Cayman Islands companies, the directors of each company must approve a written plan of merger or consolidation containing certain prescribed information. That plan or merger or consolidation must then be authorized by either (i) a special resolution of the shareholders of each company; or (ii) such other authorization, if any, as may be specified in such constituent company’s articles of
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association. A shareholder may have the right to vote on a merger or consolidation regardless of whether the shares that he holds otherwise give him voting rights. No shareholder resolution is required for a merger between a parent company (i.e., a company that owns at least 90% of the issued shares of each class in a subsidiary company) and its subsidiary company if a copy of the plan of merger is given to every member of such subsidiary company unless a member agrees otherwise. The consent of each holder of a fixed or floating security interest of a constituent company must be obtained, unless the court waives such requirement. If the Cayman Islands Registrar of Companies is satisfied that the requirements of the Companies Law (which includes certain other formalities) have been complied with, the Registrar of Companies will register the plan of merger or consolidation.
Where the merger or consolidation involves a foreign company, the procedure is similar, save that with respect to the foreign company, the director of the Cayman Islands company is required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, he is of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met:
(i) that the merger or consolidation is permitted or not prohibited by the constitutional documents of the foreign company and by the laws of the jurisdiction in which the foreign company is incorporated, and that those laws and any requirements of those constitutional documents have been or will be complied with; (ii) that no petition or other similar proceeding has been filed and remains outstanding or order made or resolution adopted to wind up or liquidate the foreign company in any jurisdictions; (iii) that no receiver, trustee, administrator or other similar person has been appointed in any jurisdiction and is acting in respect of the foreign company, its affairs or its property or any part thereof; (iv) that no scheme, order, compromise or other similar arrangement has been entered into or made in any jurisdiction whereby the rights of creditors of the foreign company are and continue to be suspended or restricted.
Where the surviving company is the Cayman Islands company, the director of the Cayman Islands company is further required to make a declaration to the effect that, having made due enquiry, he is of the opinion that the requirements set out below have been met: (i) that the foreign company is able to pay its debts as they fall due and that the merger or consolidated is bona fide and not intended to defraud unsecured creditors of the foreign company; (ii) that in respect of the transfer of any security interest granted by the foreign company to the surviving or consolidated company (a) consent or approval to the transfer has been obtained, released or waived; (b) the transfer is permitted by and has been approved in accordance with the constitutional documents of the foreign company; and (c) the laws of the jurisdiction of the foreign company with respect to the transfer have been or will be complied with; (iii) that the foreign company will, upon the merger or consolidation becoming effective, cease to be incorporated, registered or exist under the laws of the relevant foreign jurisdiction; and (iv) that there is no other reason why it would be against the public interest to permit the merger or consolidation.
Where the above procedures are adopted, the Companies Law provides for a right of dissenting shareholders to be paid a payment of the fair value of his shares upon their dissenting to the merger or consolidation if they follow a prescribed procedure. In essence, that procedure is as follows: (i) the shareholder must give his written objection to the merger or consolidation to the constituent company before the vote on the merger or consolidation, including a statement that the shareholder proposes to demand payment for his shares if the merger or consolidation is authorized by the vote; (ii) within 20 days following the date on which the merger or consolidation is approved by the shareholders, the constituent company must give written notice to each shareholder who made a written objection; (iii) a shareholder must within 20 days following receipt of such notice from the constituent company, give the constituent company a written notice of his intention to dissent including, among other details, a demand for payment of the fair value of his shares; (iv) within seven days following the date of the expiration of the period set out in paragraph (ii) above or seven days following the date on which the plan of merger or consolidation is filed, whichever is later, the constituent company, the surviving company or the consolidated company must make a written offer to each dissenting shareholder to purchase his shares at a price that the company determines is the fair value and if the company and the shareholder agree the price within 30 days following the date on which the offer was made, the company must pay the shareholder such amount; (v) if the company and the shareholder fail to agree a price within such 30-day period, within 20 days following the date on which such 30-day period expires, the company (and any dissenting shareholder) must file a petition with the Cayman Islands Grand Court to determine the fair value and such petition must be accompanied by a list of the names and addresses of the dissenting shareholders with whom agreements as to the fair value of their shares have not been reached by the company. At the hearing of that petition, the court has the power to determine the fair value of the shares together with a fair rate of interest, if any, to be paid by the company upon the amount determined to be the fair value. Any dissenting shareholder whose name appears on the list filed by the company may participate fully in all proceedings until the determination of fair value is reached. These rights of a dissenting shareholder are not available in certain
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circumstances, for example, to dissenters holding shares of any class in respect of which an open market exists on a recognized stock exchange or recognized interdealer quotation system at the relevant date or where the consideration for such shares to be contributed are shares of any company listed on a national securities exchange or shares of the surviving or consolidated company.
Moreover, Cayman Islands law also has separate statutory provisions that facilitate the reconstruction or amalgamation of companies in certain circumstances, schemes of arrangement will generally be more suited for complex mergers or other transactions involving widely held companies, commonly referred to in the Cayman Islands as a “scheme of arrangement” which may be tantamount to a merger. In the event that a merger was sought pursuant to a scheme of arrangement (the procedure of which are more rigorous and take longer to complete than the procedures typically required to consummate a merger in the United States), the arrangement in question must be approved by a majority in number of each class of shareholders and creditors with whom the arrangement is to be made and who must in addition represent three-fourths in value of each such class of shareholders or creditors, as the case may be, that are present and voting either in person or by proxy at a meeting, or meeting summoned for that purpose. The convening of the meetings and subsequently the terms of the arrangement must be sanctioned by the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands. While a dissenting shareholder would have the right to express to the court the view that the transaction should not be approved, the court can be expected to approve the arrangement if it satisfies itself that:
• | we are not proposing to act illegally or beyond the scope of our corporate authority and the statutory provisions as to majority vote have been complied with; |
• | the shareholders have been fairly represented at the meeting in question; |
• | the arrangement is such as a businessman would reasonably approve; and |
• | the arrangement is not one that would more properly be sanctioned under some other provision of the Companies Law or that would amount to a “fraud on the minority.” |
If a scheme of arrangement or takeover offer (as described below) is approved, any dissenting shareholder would have no rights comparable to appraisal rights, which would otherwise ordinarily be available to dissenting shareholders of United States corporations, providing rights to receive payment in cash for the judicially determined value of the shares.
Squeeze-out Provisions
When a takeover offer is made and accepted by holders of 90% of the shares to whom the offer is made within four months, the offeror may, within a two-month period, require the holders of the remaining shares to transfer such shares on the terms of the offer. An objection can be made to the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands but this is unlikely to succeed unless there is evidence of fraud, bad faith, collusion or inequitable treatment of the shareholders.
Further, transactions similar to a merger, reconstruction and/or an amalgamation may in some circumstances be achieved through other means to these statutory provisions, such as a share capital exchange, asset acquisition or control, through contractual arrangements, of an operating business.
Shareholders’ Suits
Our Cayman Islands counsel is not aware of any reported class action having been brought in a Cayman Islands court. Derivative actions have been brought in the Cayman Islands courts, and the Cayman Islands courts have confirmed the availability for such actions. In most cases, we will be the proper plaintiff in any claim based on a breach of duty owed to us, and a claim against (for example) our officers or directors usually may not be brought by a shareholder. However, based on English authorities, which would in all likelihood be of persuasive authority and be applied by a court in the Cayman Islands, exceptions to the foregoing principle apply in circumstances in which:
• | a company is acting, or proposing to act, illegally or beyond the scope of its authority; |
• | the act complained of, although not beyond the scope of the authority, could be effected if duly authorized by more than the number of votes which have actually been obtained; or |
• | those who control the company are perpetrating a “fraud on the minority.” |
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A shareholder may have a direct right of action against us where the individual rights of that shareholder have been infringed or are about to be infringed.
Enforcement of Civil Liabilities
The Cayman Islands has a different body of securities laws as compared to the United States and provides less protection to investors. Additionally, Cayman Islands companies may not have standing to sue before the federal courts of the United States. Although there is no statutory enforcement in the Cayman Islands of judgments obtained in the United States, the courts of the Cayman Islands will recognize a foreign judgment as the basis for a claim at common law in the Cayman Islands, provided such judgment:
• | is given by a competent foreign court; |
• | imposes on the judgment debtor a liability to pay a liquidated sum for which the judgment has been given; |
• | is final; |
• | is not in respect of taxes, a fine or a penalty; and |
• | was not obtained in a manner and is not of a kind the enforcement of which is contrary to the public policy of the Cayman Islands. |
Limitations on Liability and Indemnification Matters
As we are a Cayman Islands exempted company, the laws of the Cayman Islands will be relevant to the provisions relating to indemnification of our directors and officers. Although the Companies Law does not specifically restrict a Cayman Islands exempted company’s ability to indemnify its directors or officers, it does not expressly provide for such indemnification either. Certain Commonwealth case law (which is likely to be persuasive in the Cayman Islands), however, indicates that the indemnification is generally permissible, unless there had been actual fraud, willful default or reckless disregard on the part of the director or officer in question.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that each of our directors, agents or officers shall be indemnified out of our assets against any liability incurred by them as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out their functions other than such liability, if any, that they may incur by their own actual fraud, willful neglect or default. No such director, agent or officer shall be liable to us for any loss or damage in carrying out their functions unless that liability arises through the actual fraud, willful neglect or default of such director, agent or officer.
We have also entered into indemnification agreements with our directors, executive officers and certain other employees under which we have agreed to indemnify each such person and hold them harmless against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts payable under settlement agreements in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding to which they have been made a party or in which they became involved by reason of the fact that they are or were our director or officer. Except with respect to expenses to be reimbursed by us in the event that the indemnified person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of the action, suit or proceeding, our obligations under the indemnification agreements are subject to certain customary restrictions and exceptions.
In addition, we maintain standard policies of insurance under which coverage is provided to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach of duty or other wrongful act, and to us with respect to payments which may be made by us to such directors and officers pursuant to the above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.
Listing
Our ordinary shares are listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “SGH.”
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Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our ordinary shares is Computershare Trust Company, N.A. The transfer agent’s address is 250 Royall Street, Canton, Massachusetts 02021.
Description of Debt Securities
Any debt securities we may issue will constitute either senior or subordinated debt of SMART Global Holdings, Inc. Any debt securities that are sold may be exchangeable for and/or convertible into ordinary shares or any of the other securities that may be sold under this prospectus. Any debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee we will designate, or one or more separate indentures between us and a designated trustee. We will include in a prospectus supplement the specific terms of each series of senior or subordinated debt securities being offered, including the terms, if any, on which a series of senior or subordinated debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for other securities. In addition, the material terms of any indenture, which will govern the rights of the holders of our senior or subordinated debt securities, will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Description of Warrants
We may issue warrants to purchase our debt or equity securities or securities of third parties or other rights, including rights to receive payment in cash or securities based on the value, rate or price of one or more specified commodities, currencies, securities or indices, or any combination of the foregoing. 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 will be issued under a separate warrant agreement to be entered into between us and a warrant agent. 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.
Description of Purchase Contracts
We may issue purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of:
· | debt or equity securities issued by us or securities of third parties, a basket of such securities, an index or indices of such securities or any combination of the above as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement; |
· | currencies; or |
· | commodities. |
Each purchase contract will entitle the holder thereof to purchase or sell, and obligate us to sell or purchase, on specified dates, such securities, currencies or commodities at a specified purchase price, which may be based on a formula, all as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, however, satisfy our obligations, if any, with respect to any purchase contract by delivering the cash value of such purchase contract or the cash value of the property otherwise deliverable or, in the case of purchase contracts on underlying currencies, by delivering the underlying currencies, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable prospectus supplement will also specify the methods by which the holders may purchase or sell such securities, currencies or commodities and any acceleration, cancellation or termination provisions or other provisions relating to the settlement of a purchase contract.
Any purchase contracts we may issue may require us to make periodic payments to the holders thereof or vice versa, which payments may be deferred to the extent set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, and those payments may be unsecured or prefunded on some basis. The purchase contracts may require the holders thereof to secure their obligations in a specified manner to be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. Alternatively, purchase contracts may require holders to satisfy their obligations thereunder when the purchase contracts are issued. Our obligation to settle such pre-paid purchase contracts on the relevant settlement date may constitute indebtedness. Accordingly, pre-paid purchase contracts will be issued under an indenture.
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Description of Units
As specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may issue units consisting of one or more purchase contracts, warrants, debt securities, preferred shares, ordinary shares or any combination of such securities.
Forms of Securities
Each debt security, warrant and unit will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of securities. Certificated securities will be issued in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities, warrants or units represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.
Global Securities
Registered Global Securities. We may issue the registered debt securities, warrants and units in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its nominee identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.
If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.
So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, guaranteed trust preferred security or unit agreement. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, guaranteed trust preferred security or unit agreement. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, guaranteed trust preferred security or unit agreement. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to
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give or take under the applicable indenture, warrant agreement, guaranteed trust preferred security or unit agreement, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities, and any payments to holders with respect to warrants, guaranteed trust preferred securities or units, represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee, will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. None of SMART Global Holdings, the trustees, the warrant agents, the unit agents or any other agent of SMART Global Holdings, agent of the trustees or agent of the warrant agents or unit agents will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.
If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is not appointed by us within 120 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, warrant agent, unit agent or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.
Plan of Distribution
SMART Global Holdings and/or the selling shareholders, including their pledgees, donees, transferees, distributees, beneficiaries or other successors in interest, if applicable, may sell the securities in one or more of the following ways (or in any combination) from time to time:
· | to or through underwriters or dealers; |
· | in short or long transactions; |
· | in one or more block transactions; |
· | in ordinary brokerage transactions or transactions in which a broker solicits purchases; |
· | in a pledge of the securities for any loan or obligation, including pledges to brokers or dealers who may from time to time effect distributions of the securities, and, in the case of any collateral call or default on such loan or obligation, pledges or sales of the securities by such pledges or secured parties; |
· | through one or more exchanges or over the counter market transactions; |
· | through distribution by a selling shareholder or its successor in interest to its members, general or limited partners or shareholders (or their respective members, general or limited partners or shareholders); |
· | through the writing of options, whether the options are listed on an options exchange or otherwise; |
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· | through distributions to creditors and equityholders or the selling shareholders; |
· | directly to a limited number of purchasers or to a single purchaser; |
· | through agents; and/or |
· | through a combination of any of these methods of sale. |
To the extent necessary, the prospectus supplement will state the terms of the offering of the securities, including:
· | the name or names of any selling shareholders; |
· | the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents; |
· | the purchase price of such securities and the proceeds to be received by SMART Global Holdings, if any; |
· | any underwriting discounts or agency fees and other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; |
· | details regarding over-allotment options under which underwriters may purchase additional securities from us, if any; |
· | any public offering price; |
· | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
· | any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed. |
Any public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
If SMART Global Holdings and/or the selling shareholders, if applicable, use underwriters or broker-dealers in the sale, the securities will be acquired by the underwriters or broker-dealers, as applicable, for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including:
· | negotiated transactions; |
· | at a fixed public offering price or prices, which may be changed; |
· | “at the market offerings,” within the meaning of Rule 415(a)(4) of the Securities Act, to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise; |
· | at prices related to prevailing market prices; or |
· | at negotiated prices. |
Unless otherwise stated in a prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase any securities will be conditioned on customary closing conditions and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such series of securities, if any are purchased.
SMART Global Holdings and/or the selling shareholders, if applicable, may sell the securities through agents from time to time. The prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities and any commissions we pay to them. Generally, any agent will be acting on a best-efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
SMART Global Holdings and/or the selling shareholders, if applicable, may authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain purchasers to purchase the securities from SMART Global Holdings at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment
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and delivery on a specified date in the future. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement, and the prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts.
Underwriters and agents may be entitled under agreements entered into with SMART Global Holdings and/or the selling shareholders, if applicable, to indemnification by SMART Global Holdings and/or the selling shareholders, if applicable, against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the underwriters or agents may be required to make. Underwriters and agents may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for SMART Global Holdings and its affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
A selling shareholder may also resell all or a portion of its securities in open market transactions in reliance upon Rule 144 under the Securities Act, provided it meets the criteria and conforms to the requirements of Rule 144 and all applicable laws and regulations.
A selling shareholder that is an entity may elect to make a pro rata in-kind distribution of shares of our common stock to its members, partners or stockholders pursuant to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part by delivering a prospectus. To the extent that such members, partners or stockholders are not affiliates of such selling shareholder, such members, partners or stockholders would thereby receive freely tradeable shares of our common stock pursuant to the distribution through a registration statement.
The selling shareholders may enter into sale, forward sale and derivative transactions with third parties, or may sell securities not covered by this prospectus to third parties in privately negotiated transactions. In connection with those sale, forward sale or derivative transactions, the third parties may sell securities covered by this prospectus, including in short sale transactions and by issuing securities that are not covered by this prospectus but are exchangeable for or represent beneficial interests in our ordinary shares. The third parties also may use shares of the ordinary shares received under those sale, forward sale or derivative arrangements or shares of the ordinary shares pledged by the selling shareholder or borrowed from the selling shareholders or others to settle such third-party sales or to close out any related open borrowings of our ordinary shares. The third parties may deliver this prospectus in connection with any such transactions. Any third party in such sale transactions will be an underwriter and will be identified in a supplement or a post-effective amendment to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, as may be required.
In addition, the selling shareholders may engage in hedging transactions with broker-dealers in connection with distributions of the securities or otherwise. In those transactions, broker-dealers may engage in short sales of securities in the course of hedging the positions they assume with selling shareholders. The selling shareholders may also sell securities short and redeliver securities to close out such short positions. The selling shareholders may also enter into option or other transactions with broker-dealers which require the delivery of securities to the broker-dealer. The broker-dealer may then resell or otherwise transfer such securities pursuant to this prospectus. The selling shareholders also may loan or pledge the securities, and the borrower or pledgee may sell or otherwise transfer the securities so loaned or pledged pursuant to this prospectus. Such borrower or pledgee also may transfer those securities to investors in our securities or the selling shareholders’ securities or in connection with the offering of other securities not covered by this prospectus.
Each series of securities other than the ordinary shares, which is listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market, and any series of debt securities outstanding on the date hereof, will be a new issue of securities and will have no established trading market. Any underwriters to whom securities are sold for public offering and sale may make a market in the securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. The securities, other than the ordinary shares, may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange.
Legal Matters
The validity of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered and certain other matters of Cayman Island law will be passed upon for us by Maples and Calder, Cayman Islands or such other counsel as may be named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
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Experts
The consolidated financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Penguin Computing, Inc. as of December 31, 2017 and for the year then ended incorporated by reference in this prospectus from the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K/A filed on August 24, 2018 have been audited by Shea Labagh Dobberstein, Certified Public Accountants, Inc., independent auditors, as stated in their report which is incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in auditing and accounting.
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PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
Item 14. | Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution |
The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the sale of the securities being registered hereby.
Amount to Be Paid | ||
Registration fee | $ | 52,978.15 |
FINRA filing fee | * | |
Printing | * | |
Legal fees and expenses (including Blue Sky fees) | * | |
Transfer agent and trustee fees | * | |
Rating agency fees | * | |
Accounting fees and expenses | * | |
Miscellaneous |
* | |
Total | $ |
* |
____________________
* | Not presently known. |
Item 15. | Indemnification of Directors and Officers |
As we are a Cayman Islands exempted company, the laws of the Cayman Islands will be relevant to the provisions relating to indemnification of our directors and officers. Although the Companies Law does not specifically restrict a Cayman Islands exempted company’s ability to indemnify its directors or officers, it does not expressly provide for such indemnification either. Certain Commonwealth case law (which is likely to be persuasive in the Cayman Islands), however, indicates that the indemnification is generally permissible, unless there had been actual fraud, willful default or reckless disregard on the part of the director or officer in question.
Our amended and restated memorandum and articles of association provide that each of our directors, agents or officers shall be indemnified out of our assets against any liability incurred by him as a result of any act or failure to act in carrying out his functions other than such liability, if any, that he may incur by his own willful neglect or default. No such director, agent or officer shall be liable to us for any loss or damage in carrying out his functions unless that liability arises through the willful neglect or default of such director, agent or officer.
We have also entered into indemnification agreements with our directors and executive officers under which we have agreed to indemnify each such person and hold him harmless against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts payable under settlement agreements in connection with any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding to which he has been made a party or in which he became involved by reason of the fact that he is or was our director or officer. Except with respect to expenses to be reimbursed by us in the event that the indemnified person has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of the action, suit or proceeding, our obligations under the indemnification agreements are subject to certain customary restrictions and exceptions. The indemnification agreements are governed under Cayman Islands law or New York law.
In addition, we maintain standard policies
of insurance under which coverage is provided to our directors and officers against loss rising from claims made by reason of breach
of duty or other wrongful act, and to us with respect to payments which may be made by us to such directors and officers pursuant
to the above indemnification provision or otherwise as a matter of law.
In any underwriting agreement we enter into in connection with the sale of common stock being registered hereby, the underwriters will agree to indemnify, under certain conditions, us, our directors, our officers and persons who control us within the meaning of the Securities Act against certain liabilities.
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Item 16. | Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules |
(a) The following exhibits are filed as part of this Registration Statement:
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Incorporated by Reference |
|||||
Exhibit |
Exhibit Description |
Form |
Filing Date/Period End Date |
Exhibit |
Fixed Herewith |
23.1 | Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | X | |||
23.2 | Consent of Shea Labagh Dobberstein, Independent Certified Public Accounting Firm of Penguin Computing, Inc. | X | |||
23.3 | Consent of Maples and Calder (included in Exhibit 5.1) | X | |||
24.1 | Power of Attorney (included on signature page of Registration Statement) | X | |||
25.1** | Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of the trustee to be named in the indenture included as Exhibit 4.6 |
* | To be filed by amendment or by a report filed under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and incorporated herein by reference, if applicable. |
** | To be filed, if necessary, by amendment or by a Current Report on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. |
Item 17. | Undertakings |
(a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act;
(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 the 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 Securities and Exchange Commission 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 Securities and Exchange Commission 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 the 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 herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act to any purchaser:
(A) each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
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(B) 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 that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities:
the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:
(i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
(iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
(c) 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 4 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to 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.
(d) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
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(e) 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.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Newark, State of California, on September 20, 2018.
SMART Global Holdings, Inc. | ||||
By: | /s/ Jack Pacheco | |||
Name: | Jack Pacheco | |||
Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Ajay Shah, Jack Pacheco and Bruce Goldberg, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power to act separately and full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and all other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or either of them or his or her 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 by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
Signature | Title | Date |
/s/ Ajay Shah |
Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer and Director) |
September 20, 2018 |
Ajay Shah | ||
/s/ Jack Pacheco |
Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer) |
September 20, 2018 |
Jack Pacheco | ||
/s/ Randy Furr |
Director | September 20, 2018 |
Randy Furr | ||
/s/ Kenneth Hao |
Director | September 20, 2018 |
Kenneth Hao | ||
/s/ Iain MacKenzie | Director | September 20, 2018 |
Iain MacKenzie | ||
/s/ Paul Mercadante |
Director | September 20, 2018 |
Paul Mercadante | ||
/s/ Jason White |
Director | September 20, 2018 |
Jason White | ||
/s/ Mukesh Patel |
Director | September 20, 2018 |
Mukesh Patel | ||
/s/ Sandeep Nayyar |
Director | September 20, 2018 |
Sandeep Nayyar |
Exhibit 4.6
[FORM OF INDENTURE]
SMART GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC.
as the Company
and
as Trustee
____________________
INDENTURE
____________________
Dated as of , 20
TABLE OF CONTENTS
____________________
Page
ARTICLE 1 | ||
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE | 1 | |
Section 1.01. | Definitions. | 1 |
Section 1.02. | Other Definitions. | 4 |
Section 1.03. | Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act. | 4 |
Section 1.04. | Rules of Construction. | 4 |
ARTICLE 2 | ||
THE SECURITIES | 5 | |
Section 2.01. | Issuable in Series. | 5 |
Section 2.02. | Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities. | 5 |
Section 2.03. | Form and Dating. | 6 |
Section 2.04. | Execution and Authentication. | 6 |
Section 2.05. | Registrar and Paying Agent. | 7 |
Section 2.06. | Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust. | 7 |
Section 2.07. | Holder Lists. | 8 |
Section 2.08. | Transfer and Exchange. | 8 |
Section 2.09. | Replacement Securities. | 11 |
Section 2.10. | Outstanding Securities. | 11 |
Section 2.11. | Treasury Securities. | 12 |
Section 2.12. | Temporary Securities. | 12 |
Section 2.13. | Cancellation. | 12 |
Section 2.14. | Defaulted Interest. | 12 |
Section 2.15. | CUSIP Number. | 12 |
ARTICLE 3 | ||
REDEMPTION AND PREPAYMENT | 12 | |
Section 3.01. | Notices to the Trustee. | 12 |
Section 3.02. | Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed or Purchased. | 13 |
Section 3.03. | Notice of Redemption. | 13 |
Section 3.04. | Effect of Notice of Redemption. | 14 |
Section 3.05. | Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price. | 14 |
Section 3.06. | Securities Redeemed or Purchased in Part. | 14 |
ARTICLE 4 | ||
COVENANTS | 14 | |
Section 4.01. | Payment of Securities. | 14 |
Section 4.02. | Maintenance of Office or Agency. | 15 |
Section 4.03. | Reports to Holders. | 15 |
Section 4.04. | Compliance Certificate. | 16 |
Section 4.05. | Taxes. | 16 |
Section 4.06. | Stay, Extension and Usury Laws. | 16 |
ARTICLE 5 | [INTENTIONALLY OMITTED] | |
ARTICLE 6 | ||
DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES | 16 | |
Section 6.01. | Events of Default. | 16 |
Section 6.02. | Acceleration. | 17 |
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Section 6.03. | Other Remedies. | 18 |
Section 6.04. | Waiver of Past Defaults. | 18 |
Section 6.05. | Control by Majority. | 18 |
Section 6.06. | Limitation on Suits. | 18 |
Section 6.07. | Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment. | 19 |
Section 6.08. | Collection Suit by Trustee. | 19 |
Section 6.09. | Trustee May File Proofs of Claim. | 19 |
Section 6.10. | Priorities. | 20 |
Section 6.11. | Undertaking for Costs. | 20 |
ARTICLE 7 | ||
TRUSTEE | 20 | |
Section 7.01. | Duties of Trustee. | 20 |
Section 7.02. | Rights of Trustee. | 21 |
Section 7.03. | Individual Rights of Trustee. | 22 |
Section 7.04. | Trustee’s Disclaimer. | 22 |
Section 7.05. | Notice of Defaults. | 22 |
Section 7.06. | Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Securities. | 22 |
Section 7.07. | Compensation and Indemnity. | 22 |
Section 7.08. | Replacement of Trustee. | 23 |
Section 7.09. | Successor Trustee by Merger, etc. | 24 |
Section 7.10. | Eligibility; Disqualification. | 24 |
Section 7.11. | Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company. | 24 |
ARTICLE 8 | ||
LEGAL DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE | 24 | |
Section 8.01. | Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance. | 24 |
Section 8.02. | Legal Defeasance and Discharge. | 24 |
Section 8.03. | Covenant Defeasance. | 25 |
Section 8.04. | Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance. | 25 |
Section 8.05. | Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions. | 26 |
Section 8.06. | Repayment to the Company. | 26 |
Section 8.07. | Reinstatement. | 27 |
ARTICLE 9 | ||
AMENDMENT, SUPPLEMENT AND WAIVER | 27 | |
Section 9.01. | Without Consent of Holders of Securities. | 27 |
Section 9.02. | With Consent of Holders of Securities. | 28 |
Section 9.03. | Compliance with Trust Indenture Act. | 29 |
Section 9.04. | Revocation and Effect of Consents. | 29 |
Section 9.05. | Notation on or Exchange of Securities. | 29 |
Section 9.06. | Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc. | 29 |
ARTICLE 10 | ||
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE | 29 | |
Section 10.01. | Satisfaction and Discharge. | 29 |
Section 10.02. | Application of Trust Money. | 30 |
ARTICLE 11 | ||
MISCELLANEOUS | 30 | |
Section 11.01. | Trust Indenture Act Controls. | 30 |
Section 11.02. | Notices. | 30 |
Section 11.03. | Communication by Holders of Securities with Other Holders of Securities. | 31 |
Section 11.04. | Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent. | 31 |
Section 11.05. | Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion. | 32 |
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Section 11.06. | Rules by Trustee and Agents. | 32 |
Section 11.07. | No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholder Members. | 32 |
Section 11.08. | Governing Law. | 32 |
Section 11.09. | No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements. | 32 |
Section 11.10. | Successors. | 33 |
Section 11.11. | Severability. | 33 |
Section 11.12. | Counterpart Originals. | 33 |
Section 11.13. | Table of Contents, Headings, etc. | 33 |
Section 11.14. | Waiver of Trial by Jury. | 33 |
Section 11.15. | Calculations. . | 33 |
Section 11.16. | Force Majeure. | 33 |
Section 11.17. | U.S.A. Patriot Act. | 33 |
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This Indenture, dated as of , 20 , is by and between SMART Global Holdings, Inc., a Cayman Islands exempted company (the “Company”) and as trustee (the “Trustee”).
The Company and the Trustee agree as follows for the benefit of each other and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities issued under this Indenture.
ARTICLE 1
Definitions and Incorporation by Reference
Section 1.01. Definitions.
“Affiliate” means, with respect to any specified Person, any other Person who directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such specified Person. The term “control” means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms “controlling” and “controlled” have meanings correlative of the foregoing.
“Agent” means any Registrar, co-registrar, Paying Agent or additional paying agent.
“Applicable Procedures” means, with respect to any transfer or exchange of or for beneficial interests in any Global Security, the rules and procedures of the Depositary that apply to such transfer or exchange.
“Bankruptcy Law” means Title 11, U.S. Code or any similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.
“Beneficial Owner” has the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 13d-3 and Rule 13d-5 under the Exchange Act, except that in calculating the beneficial ownership of any particular “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), such “person” will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such “person” has the right to acquire by conversion or exercise of other securities, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only after the passage of time. The terms “Beneficially Owns,” “Beneficially Owned” and “Beneficial Ownership,” have a corresponding meaning.
“Board of Directors” means, as to any Person, the board of directors (or similar governing body) of such Person or any duly authorized committee thereof.
“Board Resolution” means, with respect to any Person, a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person to have been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of such Person and to be in full force and effect on the date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.
“Business Day” means any day other than a Legal Holiday.
”Capital Stock” means:
(1) with respect to any Person that is a corporation, any and all shares, interests, participations or other equivalents (however designated and whether or not voting) of corporate stock, including each class of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of such Person, and all options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing; and
(2) with respect to any Person that is not a corporation, any and all partnership, membership or other equity interests of such Person, and all options, warrants or other rights to purchase or acquire any of the foregoing.
“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
“Commission” means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Common Stock” of any Person means any and all shares, interests or other participations in, and other equivalents (however designated and whether voting or non-voting) of such Person’s common stock and includes, without limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.
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“Company Order” means a written order signed in the name of the Company by an Officer.
“Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee” will be at the address of the Trustee specified in Section 11.02 hereof or such other address as to which the Trustee may give notice to the Company.
“Custodian” means the Trustee, as custodian with respect to the Securities in global form, or any successor entity thereto.
“Default” means an event or condition the occurrence of which is, or with the lapse of time or the giving of notice or both would be, an Event of Default.
“Definitive Security” means a certificated Security in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons in the name of the Holder thereof and issued in accordance with Section 2.04 hereof.
“Depositary” means, with respect to the Securities issuable or issued in whole or in part in global form, the Person specified in Section 2.05 hereof as the Depositary with respect to the Securities, and any and all successors thereto appointed as depositary hereunder and having become such pursuant to the applicable provision of this Indenture.
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
“GAAP” means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States at the date of any computation.
“Global Security Legend” means the legend set forth in Section 2.08(f) hereof, which is required to be placed on all Global Securities issued under this Indenture.
“Global Securities” means a Security or Securities, as the case may be, in the form established pursuant to Section 2.03 hereof evidencing all or part of a Series of Securities, issued to the Depositary for such Series or its nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or nominee.
“Government Securities” means direct obligations of, or obligations guaranteed by, the United States of America, and the payment for which the United States of America pledges its full faith and credit.
“Holder” means the registered holder of any Security with respect to registered securities and the bearer of any unregistered Security or any coupon appertaining to it, as the case may be.
“Indebtedness” means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):
(1) | the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of indebtedness of such Person for borrowed money; and |
(2) | the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of obligations of such Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments. |
For avoidance of doubt, (a) obligations in respect of hedging transactions and cash management obligations, (b) accrued payables and trade credit and (c) obligations in respect of taxes shall not be Indebtedness.
“Indenture” means this Indenture, as amended, supplemented or restated from time to time in accordance with the terms hereof and shall include the form and terms of particular Series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.
“Indirect Participant” means a Person who holds a beneficial interest in a Global Security through a Participant.
“Legal Holiday” means a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee are authorized or required by law to close. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue on such payment for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.
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“Lien” means any lien, mortgage, deed of trust, pledge, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in the nature thereof and any agreement to give any security interest).
“Officer” means the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, the President, any Vice President, the Treasurer or Secretary of the Company.
“Officers’ Certificate” means a certificate signed by two Officers, at least one of whom shall be the principal executive officer or principal financial officer of the Company.
“Opinion of Counsel” means an opinion from legal counsel who is reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. The counsel may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.
“Participant” means, with respect to the Depositary, a Person who has an account with the Depositary.
“Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, unincorporated organization, trust or joint venture, or a governmental agency or political subdivision thereof.
“Preferred Stock” of any Person means any Capital Stock of such Person that has preferential rights to any other Capital Stock of such Person with respect to dividends or redemptions or upon liquidation.
“Responsible Officer” means, when used with respect to the Trustee, an officer assigned to the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, including any vice president, assistant vice president, assistant treasurer, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and having direct responsibility for the administration of this Indenture, and also, with respect to this Indenture, any other officer to whom such matter with respect to this Indenture is referred because of such officers’ knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.
“Securities Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time, and any successor statute.
“Security” or “Securities” means the debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Section 2.01 and Section 2.02 hereof.
“Series” or “Series of Securities” means each series of debentures, notes or other debt instruments of the Company created pursuant to Section 2.01 and Section 2.02 hereof.
“Stated Maturity” means, with respect to any installment of interest or principal on any Series of Securities, the date on which the payment of interest or principal was scheduled to be paid in the original documentation governing such Series of Securities, and will not include any contingent obligations to repay, redeem or repurchase any such interest or principal prior to the date originally scheduled for the payment thereof.
“Subsidiary” with respect to any Person, means:
(1) | any corporation of which the outstanding Capital Stock having at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors under ordinary circumstances shall at the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by such Person; or |
(2) | any other Person of which at least a majority of the voting interest under ordinary circumstances is at the time, directly or indirectly, owned by such Person. |
“TIA” means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (15 U.S.C. §§ 77aaa-77bbbb).
“Trustee” means until a successor replaces it in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Indenture and thereafter means the successor serving hereunder.
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Section 1.02. Other Definitions.
Term |
Defined in Section |
Authentication Order | 2.04 |
Covenant Defeasance | 8.03 |
DTC | 2.05 |
Event of Default | 6.01 |
Legal Defeasance | 8.02 |
Paying Agent | 2.05 |
Registrar | 2.05 |
Surviving Entity | 5.01 |
Section 1.03. Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture.
The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:
“indenture securities” means the Securities;
“indenture security Holder” means a Holder;
“indenture to be qualified” means this Indenture;
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee; and
“obligor” on the Securities means the Company and any successor obligor upon the Securities.
All other terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by Commission rule under the TIA have the meanings so assigned to them.
Section 1.04. Rules of Construction.
Unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) a term has the meaning assigned to it;
(b) an accounting term not otherwise defined has the meaning assigned to it in accordance with GAAP;
(c) “or” is not exclusive;
(d) words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural include the singular;
(e) “will” shall be interpreted to express a command;
(f) provisions apply to successive events and transactions;
(g) references to sections of or rules under the Securities Act will be deemed to include substitute, replacement of successor sections or rules adopted by the Commission from time to time;
(h) “including” means including without limitation; and
(i) Section references are to Sections of this Indenture unless the context otherwise requires.
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ARTICLE 2
The Securities
Section 2.01. Issuable in Series.
(a) 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. All Securities of a Series shall be identical except as may be set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution. In the case of Securities of a Series to be issued from time to time, the Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto detailing the adoption of the terms thereof pursuant to authority granted under a Board Resolution may provide for the method by which specified terms (such as interest rate, maturity date, record date or date from which interest shall accrue) are to be determined. Securities may differ between Series in respect of any matters, provided that all Series of Securities shall be equally and ratably entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
Section 2.02. Establishment of Terms of Series of Securities.
At or prior to the issuance of any Securities within a Series, the following shall be established (as to the Series generally, in the case of Section 2.02(1) and either as to such Securities within the Series or as to the Series generally in the case of Section 2.02(2) through Section 2.02(17)) by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, and set forth or determined in the manner provided in a Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate:
(1) the title (which shall distinguish the Securities of that particular Series from the Securities of any other Series) and ranking (including the terms of any subordination provisions) of the Series;
(2) whether the Securities are entitled to the benefit of any guarantee by any guarantor;
(3) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of the Series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the Series);
(4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Securities of the Series is payable;
(5) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) per annum or, if applicable, the method used to determine such rate or rates (including, but not limited to, any commodity, commodity index, stock exchange index or financial index) at which the Securities of the Series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such interest, if any, shall accrue, the date or dates on which such interest, if any, shall commence and be payable and any regular record date for the interest payable on any interest payment date;
(6) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods or defer the payment of interest and the duration of such extension or deferral;
(7) the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities of the Series shall be payable, where the 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 of such Series and this Indenture may be delivered, and the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means;
(8) the dates, if any, on which and the price or prices at which the Securities of the Series will be repurchased by the Company at the option of the Holders thereof and other detailed terms and provisions of such repurchase obligations;
(9) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase the Securities of the Series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the Series shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
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(10) if applicable, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which the Securities of the Series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
(11) if other than minimum denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple in excess thereof, the minimum denominations in which the Securities of the Series shall be issuable;
(12) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Securities of the Series that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof;
(13) any addition to, deletion of or change in the covenants which apply to the Securities of the Series;
(14) any special tax implications of the Securities;
(15) any trustees, authenticating agents or paying agents with respect to such Series, if different from those set forth in, or designated pursuant to, this Indenture;
(16) the provisions, if any, relating to conversion or exchange of any Securities of such Series, including if applicable, the conversion or exchange price, the conversion or exchange period, provisions as to whether conversion or exchange will be mandatory, at the option of the Holders thereof or at the option of the Company, the events requiring an adjustment of the conversion price or exchange price and provisions affecting conversion or exchange if such Series of Securities are redeemed; and
(17) any other terms of the Series (which may amend, supplement, modify or delete any provision of this Indenture insofar as it applies to such Series), including any terms that may be required under applicable law or regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Securities of that Series.
All Securities of any one Series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate referred to above.
Section 2.03. Form and Dating.
(a) General. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule or usage. Each Security will be dated the date of its authentication. Unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, the Securities will be in minimum denominations of $2,000 with integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.
The terms and provisions contained in the Securities will constitute, and are hereby expressly made, a part of this Indenture, and 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.
(b) Global Securities. A Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate shall establish whether the Securities of a Series shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and the Depositary for such Global Security or Securities. Any Global Security issued hereunder shall bear the Global Security Legend. Each Global Security will represent such of the outstanding Securities of any Series as will be specified therein and each will provide that it will represent the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities of any Series from time to time endorsed thereon and that the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities of any Series represented thereby may from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges and redemptions. Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount of any increase or decrease in the aggregate principal amount of outstanding Securities of any Series represented thereby will be made by the Trustee or the Custodian, at the direction of the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by the Holder thereof as required by Section 2.08 hereof.
Section 2.04. Execution and Authentication.
At least one Officer must sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature.
If an Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the time a Security is authenticated, the Security will nevertheless be valid.
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A Security will not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent. The signature will be conclusive evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.
At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities executed by the Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities (an “Authentication Order”), and the Trustee in accordance with the Authentication Order will authenticate and deliver such Securities. In authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) will be fully protected in conclusively relying upon, (a) the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate establishing the form of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series and the terms of the Securities of that Series or of Securities within that Series, (b) an Officers’ Certificate complying with Section 11.04 and 11.05 and (c) an Opinion of Counsel stating:
(a) that such form of the Securities has been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(b) that such terms of the Securities have been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;
(c) that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, or other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and by general principles of equity; and
(d) that all conditions precedent and covenants to the issuance of the Securities have been satisfied.
The aggregate principal amount of Securities of any Series outstanding at any time may not exceed any limit upon the maximum principal amount for such Series set forth in the Board Resolution, supplemental indenture hereto or Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02, except as provided in Section 2.09.
The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the Company to authenticate Securities. An authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as an Agent to deal with Holders or an Affiliate of the Company.
Section 2.05. Registrar and Paying Agent.
The Company will maintain, with respect to each Series of Securities, an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (“Registrar”) and an office or agency where such Securities may be presented for payment (“Paying Agent”). The Registrar will keep a register with respect to each Series of Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may appoint one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term “Registrar” includes any co-registrar and the term “Paying Agent” includes any additional paying agent. The Company may change any Paying Agent or Registrar without notice to any Holder. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this Indenture. If the Company fails to appoint or maintain another entity as Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such. The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent or Registrar.
The Company initially appoints The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to act as Depositary with respect to the Global Securities. The Company initially appoints the Trustee to act as the Registrar and Paying Agent and to act as Custodian with respect to each Series of Securities.
Section 2.06. Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.
The Company will require each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust, for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Securities, or the Trustee, all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest on the Series of Securities, and will notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. While any such default continues, the Trustee may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. The Company at any time may require a
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Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. Upon payment over to the Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Company or a Subsidiary) will have no further liability for the money. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it will segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of Holders of any Series of Securities all money held by it as Paying Agent. Upon any bankruptcy or reorganization proceedings relating to the Company, the Trustee will automatically become the Paying Agent for the Securities.
Section 2.07. Holder Lists.
The Trustee will preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of all Holders and shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a). If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company will furnish to the Trustee at least two Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the Holders of each Series of Securities and the Company shall otherwise comply with TIA § 312(a).
Section 2.08. Transfer and Exchange.
(a) Transfer and Exchange of Global Securities. A Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary, by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or to another nominee of the Depositary, or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary. All Global Securities will be exchanged by the Company for Definitive Securities if:
(1) the Company delivers to the Trustee notice from the Depositary that it is unwilling or unable to continue to act as Depositary or that it is no longer a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within 120 days after the date of such notice from the Depositary;
(2) the Company in its sole discretion determines that the Global Securities (in whole but not in part) should be exchanged for Definitive Securities and delivers a written notice to such effect to the Trustee; or
(3) there has occurred and is continuing a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of which an officer of the Trustee has received actual notice and the Registrar has received a request from any Beneficial Owner of an interest in the Global Securities to issue such Definitive Securities.
Upon the occurrence of either of the events in (1) or (2) above, Definitive Securities shall be issued in such names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee. Global Securities also may be exchanged or replaced, in whole or in part, as provided in Section 2.09 and Section 2.12 hereof. Every Security authenticated and delivered in exchange for, or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion thereof, pursuant to this Section 2.08 or Section 2.09 or Section 2.12 hereof, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a Global Security. A Global Security may not be exchanged for another Security other than as provided in this (a) hereof, provided, however, that beneficial interests in a Global Security may be transferred and exchanged as provided in (b) or (c) hereof.
(b) Transfer and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in the Global Securities. The transfer and exchange of beneficial interests in the Global Securities will be effected through the Depositary, in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and the Applicable Procedures. Transfers of beneficial interests in the Global Securities will require compliance with paragraph (1) or (2) below, as applicable, as well as one or more of the other following subparagraphs, as applicable:
(1) Transfer of Beneficial Interests in the Same Global Security. Beneficial interests in any Global Security may be transferred to Persons who take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in the same Global Security. No written orders or instructions shall be required to be delivered to the Registrar to effect the transfers described in this Section 2.08(b)(1).
(2) All Other Transfers and Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities. In connection with all transfers or exchanges of beneficial interests in Global Securities that are not subject to Section 2.08(b)(1) above, the transferor of such beneficial interest must deliver to the Registrar either:
(A) both:
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(i) written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to credit or cause to be credited a beneficial interest in another Global Security in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(ii) instructions given in accordance with the Applicable Procedures containing information regarding the Participant account to be credited with such increase; or
(B) both:
(i) a written order from a Participant or an Indirect Participant given to the Depositary in accordance with the Applicable Procedures directing the Depositary to cause to be issued a Definitive Security in an amount equal to the beneficial interest to be transferred or exchanged; and
(ii) instructions given by the Depositary to the Registrar containing information regarding the Person in whose name such Definitive Security shall be registered to effect the transfer or exchange referred to in Section 2.08(b)(2)(B)(i) above.
Upon satisfaction of all of the requirements for transfer or exchange of beneficial interests in Global Securities contained in this Indenture and the Securities or otherwise applicable under the Securities Act, the Trustee shall adjust the principal amount of the relevant Global Securities pursuant to (g) hereof.
(c) Transfer or Exchange of Beneficial Interests in Global Securities for Definitive Securities. If any holder of a beneficial interest in an Global Security proposes to exchange such beneficial interest for a Definitive Security or to transfer such beneficial interest to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Security, then, upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 2.08(b)(2) hereof, the Trustee shall cause the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Global Security to be reduced accordingly pursuant to (g) hereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Security in the appropriate principal amount. Any Definitive Security issued in exchange for a beneficial interest pursuant to this (c) shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denomination or denominations as the holder of such beneficial interest requests through instructions to the Registrar from or through the Depositary and the Participant or Indirect Participant. The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities are so registered.
(d) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Beneficial Interests. A Holder of a Definitive Security may exchange such Security for a beneficial interest in a Global Security or transfer such Definitive Securities to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in a Global Security at any time. Upon receipt of a request for such an exchange or transfer, the Trustee will cancel the applicable Definitive Security and increase or cause to be increased the aggregate principal amount of one of the Global Securities pursuant to (g) hereof.
If any such exchange or transfer from a Definitive Security to a beneficial interest is effected pursuant to the previous paragraph at a time when a Global Security has not yet been issued, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of the Company Order, the Trustee will authenticate one or more Global Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of Definitive Securities so transferred.
A Holder of Definitive Securities may transfer such Securities to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Security.
(e) Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Securities for Definitive Securities. Upon request by a Holder of Definitive Securities and such Holder’s compliance with the provisions of this (e), the Registrar will register the transfer or exchange of Definitive Securities. Prior to such registration of transfer or exchange, the requesting Holder must present or surrender to the Registrar the Definitive Securities duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Registrar duly executed by such Holder or by its attorney, duly authorized in writing. A Holder of Definitive Securities may transfer such Securities to a Person who takes delivery thereof in the form of a Definitive Security. Upon receipt of a request to register such a transfer, the Registrar shall register the Definitive Securities pursuant to the instructions from the Holder thereof, and the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to the Person designated in the instructions a Definitive Security in the appropriate principal amount.
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(f) Global Securities Legends. The following legends will appear on the face of all Global Securities issued under this Indenture unless specifically stated otherwise in the applicable provisions of this Indenture:
“THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS HELD BY THE DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE GOVERNING THIS SECURITY) OR ITS NOMINEE IN CUSTODY FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE BENEFICIAL OWNERS HEREOF, AND IS NOT TRANSFERABLE TO ANY PERSON UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES EXCEPT THAT (1) THE TRUSTEE MAY MAKE SUCH NOTATIONS HEREON AS MAY BE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.08 OF THE INDENTURE, (2) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.08(a) OF THE INDENTURE, (3) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE DELIVERED TO THE TRUSTEE FOR CANCELLATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 2.13 OF THE INDENTURE AND (4) THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY BE TRANSFERRED TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN CONSENT OF THE COMPANY.
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK) (“DTC”) TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY GLOBAL SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS MAY BE REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS MAY BE 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 INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.”
(g) Cancellation and/or Adjustment of Global Securities. At such time as all beneficial interests in a particular Global Security have been exchanged for Definitive Securities or a particular Global Security has been redeemed, repurchased or canceled in whole and not in part, each such Global Security will be returned to or retained and canceled by the Trustee in accordance with Section 2.13 hereof. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of Definitive Securities, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security will be reduced accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such reduction; and if the beneficial interest is being exchanged for or transferred to a Person who will take delivery thereof in the form of a beneficial interest in another Global Security, such other Global Security will be increased accordingly and an endorsement will be made on such Global Security by the Trustee or by the Depositary at the direction of the Trustee to reflect such increase.
(h) General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
(1) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company will execute and the Trustee will authenticate Global Securities and Definitive Securities upon receipt of an Authentication Order in accordance with Section 2.04 hereof or at the Registrar’s request.
(2) No service charge will be made to a Holder of a beneficial interest in a Global Security or to a Holder of a Definitive Security for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Section 2.12, Section 3.06 and Section 9.05 hereof).
(3) Neither the Registrar nor the Company will be required to register the transfer of or exchange of any Securities selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.
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(4) All Global Securities and Definitive Securities issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Global Securities or Definitive Securities will be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the Global Securities or Definitive Securities surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.
(5) Neither the Registrar nor the Company will be required:
(A) to issue, to register the transfer of or to exchange any Securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the day of any selection of Securities for redemption under Section 3.02 hereof and ending at the close of business on the day of selection;
(B) to register the transfer of or to exchange any Security selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part; or
(C) to register the transfer of or to exchange a Security between a record date and the next succeeding interest payment date for the Security.
(6) Prior to due presentment for the registration of a transfer of any Security, the Trustee, any Agent and the Company may deem and treat the Person in whose name any Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Securities and for all other purposes, and none of the Trustee, any Agent or the Company shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
(7) The Trustee will authenticate Global Securities and Definitive Securities in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.04 hereof.
(8) All certifications, certificates and Opinions of Counsel required to be submitted to the Registrar pursuant to this Section 2.08 to effect a registration of transfer or exchange may be submitted by facsimile.
Section 2.09. Replacement Securities.
If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee or the Company and the Trustee receives evidence to its satisfaction of the ownership and destruction, loss or theft of any Security, the Company will issue and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate a replacement Security if the Trustee’s requirements are met. If required by the Trustee or the Company, an indemnity bond must be supplied by the Holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to protect the Company, the Trustee, any Agent and any authenticating agent from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company may charge for its expenses in replacing a Security.
Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company and will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with all other Securities duly issued hereunder.
Section 2.10. Outstanding Securities.
The Securities outstanding at any time are all the Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation, those reductions in the interest in a Global Security effected by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions hereof, and those described in this Section 2.10 as not outstanding. Except as set forth in Section 2.11 hereof, a Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds such Security.
If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.09 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee receives proof satisfactory to it that the replaced Security is held by a protected purchaser.
If the principal amount of any Security is considered paid under Section 4.01 hereof, it ceases to be outstanding and interest on it ceases to accrue.
If the Paying Agent (other than the Company or an Affiliate thereof) holds, on a redemption date or maturity date, money sufficient to pay Securities payable on that date, then on and after that date such Securities will be deemed to be no longer outstanding and will cease to accrue interest.
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Section 2.11. Treasury Securities.
In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company, will be considered as though not outstanding, except that for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee will be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities that the Trustee knows are so owned will be so disregarded.
Section 2.12. Temporary Securities.
Until certificates representing Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, will authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities will be substantially in the form of certificated Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities and as may be reasonably acceptable to the Trustee. Without unreasonable delay, the Company will prepare and the Trustee will authenticate definitive Securities in exchange for temporary Securities.
Holders of temporary Securities will be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture.
Section 2.13. Cancellation.
The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and Paying Agent will forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else will cancel all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or cancellation and will destroy canceled Securities (subject to the record retention requirement of the Exchange Act). Upon written request of the Company, certification of the destruction of all canceled Securities will be delivered to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.
Section 2.14. Defaulted Interest.
If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities, it will pay the defaulted interest in any lawful manner plus, to the extent lawful, interest payable on the defaulted interest, to the Persons who are Holders on a subsequent special record date, in each case at the rate provided in the Securities and in Section 4.01 hereof. The Company will notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of defaulted interest proposed to be paid on each Security and the date of the proposed payment. The Company will fix or cause to be fixed each such special record date and payment date; provided that no such special record date may be less than 10 days prior to the related payment date for such defaulted interest. At least 15 days before the special record date, the Company (or, upon the written request of the Company, the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Company) will deliver or cause to be delivered to Holders a notice that states the special record date, the related payment date and the amount of such interest to be paid.
Section 2.15. CUSIP Number.
The Company in issuing the Securities may use “CUSIP” numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee shall use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or the omission of such numbers. The Company shall promptly notify the Trustee in writing of any change in the CUSIP numbers.
ARTICLE 3
Redemption and Prepayment
Section 3.01. Notices to the Trustee.
The Company may, with respect to any Series of Securities, reserve the right to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or may covenant to redeem and pay the Series of Securities or any part thereof prior to the Stated Maturity
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thereof at such time and on such terms as provided for in such Securities. If a Series of Securities is redeemable and the Company wants or is obligated to redeem prior to the Stated Maturity thereof all or part of the Series of Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, it must furnish to the Trustee, at least 35 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, an Officers’ Certificate setting forth:
(a) the clause of this Indenture pursuant to which the redemption shall occur;
(b) the redemption date;
(c) the principal amount of the Securities of such Series to be redeemed; and
(d) the redemption price.
Section 3.02. Selection of Securities to Be Redeemed or Purchased.
If less than all of the Securities are to be redeemed or purchased in an offer to purchase at any time, the Trustee will select Securities for redemption or purchase on a pro rata basis or to the extent that selection on a pro rata basis is not practicable, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate; unless otherwise required by law or applicable stock exchange requirements, subject in each case to the applicable procedures of the Depositary. In the event of such partial redemption or purchase, the particular Securities to be redeemed or purchased will be selected, unless otherwise provided herein, not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the redemption or purchase date by the Trustee from the outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption or purchase.
The Trustee will promptly notify the Company in writing of the Securities selected for redemption or purchase and, in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption or purchase, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed or purchased. Securities and portions of Securities selected will be in multiples of $1,000; provided that if all of the Securities of a Holder are to be redeemed or purchased, the entire outstanding amount of Securities held by such Holder, even if not a multiple of $1,000, shall be redeemed or purchased; and provided further that any unredeemed portion of a Security shall be equal to $2,000 or a multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Except as provided in the preceding sentence, provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption or purchase also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption or purchase.
Section 3.03. Notice of Redemption.
Unless otherwise indicated for a particular Series by Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a redemption date, the Company will deliver a notice of redemption to each Holder whose Securities are to be redeemed at its registered address, except that redemption notices may be delivered more than 60 days prior to a redemption date if the notice is issued in connection with a defeasance of the Securities or a satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture pursuant to Articles 8 or 10 hereof.
The notice will identify the Securities to be redeemed and will state:
(a) the redemption date;
(b) the redemption price;
(c) if any Security is being redeemed in part, the portion of the principal amount of such Security to be redeemed and that, after the redemption date upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion will be issued upon cancellation of the original Security;
(d) the name and address of the Paying Agent;
(e) that Securities of the Series called for redemption must be surrendered to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;
(f) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment, interest on Securities of the Series called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;
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(g) the paragraph of the Securities and/or Section of this Indenture pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed;
(h) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities; and
(i) any condition to such redemption.
At the Company’s request, the Trustee will give the notice of redemption in the Company’s name and at its expense; provided, however, that the Company has delivered to the Trustee, at least two Business Days before notice of redemption is required to be delivered to Holders pursuant to this Section 3.03 (unless a shorter notice shall be agreed to by the Trustee), an Officers’ Certificate requesting that the Trustee give such notice and setting forth the information to be stated in such notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.
Section 3.04. Effect of Notice of Redemption.
Once notice of redemption is delivered in accordance with Section 3.03 hereof, Securities of the Series called for redemption become irrevocably due and payable on the redemption date at the redemption price. Any redemption and notice of redemption may, at the Company’s option and discretion, be subject to one or more conditions precedent. The notice, if delivered in a manner provided herein, shall be conclusively presumed to have been given, whether or not the Holder receives such notice. In any case, failure to give such notice by mail or any defect in the notice to the Holder of any Security designated for redemption in whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security.
Section 3.05. Deposit of Redemption or Purchase Price.
Prior to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the redemption or purchase date, the Company will deposit with the Trustee or with the Paying Agent money in immediately available funds sufficient to pay the redemption or purchase price of and accrued and unpaid interest on all Securities of a Series to be redeemed or purchased on that date. The Trustee or the Paying Agent will promptly return to the Company any money deposited with the Trustee or the Paying Agent by the Company in excess of the amounts necessary to pay the redemption or purchase price of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, all Securities of a Series to be redeemed or purchased.
If the Company complies with the provisions of the preceding paragraph, on and after the redemption or purchase date, interest will cease to accrue on the Securities or the portions of Securities called for redemption or purchase. If a Security is redeemed or purchased on or after an interest record date but on or prior to the related interest payment date, then any accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption or purchase date shall be paid to the Person in whose name such Security was registered at the close of business on such record date. If any Security called for redemption or purchase is not so paid upon surrender for redemption or purchase because of the failure of the Company to comply with the preceding paragraph, interest shall be paid on the unpaid principal, from the redemption or purchase date until such principal is paid, and to the extent lawful on any interest not paid on such unpaid principal, in each case at the rate provided in the Securities and in Section 4.01 hereof.
Section 3.06. Securities Redeemed or Purchased in Part.
Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed or purchased in part, the Company will issue and, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, the Trustee will authenticate for the Holder at the expense of the Company a new Security equal in principal amount to the unredeemed or unpurchased portion of the Security surrendered; provided that such unredeemed or unpurchased portion is equal to $2,000 or a multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof. Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture to the contrary, neither an Opinion of Counsel nor an Officers’ Certificate is required for the Trustee to authenticate such new Security.
ARTICLE 4
Covenants
Section 4.01. Payment of Securities.
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The Company will, for the benefit of the Holders of each Series of Securities, pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, the Securities of that Series on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities. Principal, premium, if any, and interest will be considered paid on the date due if the Paying Agent, if other than the Company or a Subsidiary, holds as of noon Eastern Time on the due date money deposited by the Company in immediately available funds and designated for and sufficient to pay all principal, premium, if any, and interest then due.
Section 4.02. Maintenance of Office or Agency.
For so long as any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company will maintain an office or agency (which may be an office of the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee, Registrar or co-registrar) where Securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and this Indenture may be served. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company fails to maintain any such required office or agency or fails 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. Notwithstanding anything else contained herein to the contrary, no service of legal process on the Company may be made at any office of the Trustee.
The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies where the Securities may be presented or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other office or agency.
With respect to each Series of Securities, the Company hereby designates the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee as one such office or agency of the Company in accordance with Section 2.05 hereof.
Section 4.03. Reports to Holders.
Whether or not the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company must provide the Trustee and, upon request, to any Holder of the Securities within fifteen (15) Business Days after filing, or in the event no such filing is required, within fifteen (15) Business Days after the end of the time periods specified in those sections with:
(1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be required to be contained in a filing with the Commission on Forms 10-Q and 10--K if the Company were required to file such forms, including a “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and, with respect to the annual financial statements only, a report thereon by the Company’s certified independent accountants, and
(2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the Commission on Form 8-K if the Company were required to file such reports;
provided that the foregoing delivery requirements shall be deemed satisfied if the foregoing materials are available on the Commission’s EDGAR system or on the Company’s website within the applicable time period.
In addition, whether or not required by the Commission, the Company will, if the Commission will accept the filing, file a copy of all of the information and reports referred to in clauses (1) and (2) with the Commission for public availability within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and regulations. In addition, the Company will make the information and reports available to securities analysts and prospective investors upon request.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, the Company will not be deemed to have failed to comply with any of its obligations under this Section 4.03 for purposes of Section 6.01(c) hereof until 90 days after the date any report under this Section 4.03 is due to be delivered to the Trustee.
Delivery of the reports and documents described in subsection (1) above to the Trustee is for informational purposes only, and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained
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therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to conclusively rely on an Officers’ Certificate).
Section 4.04. Compliance Certificate.
(a) For so long as any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company and each guarantor of any Series of Securities (to the extent that such guarantor is so required under the TIA) shall deliver to the Trustee, within 90 days after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers’ Certificate stating that a review of the activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries during the preceding fiscal year has been made under the supervision of the signing Officer with a view to determining whether each has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its obligations under this Indenture, and further stating, as to such Officer signing such certificate, that to the best of his or her knowledge, each entity has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled each and every covenant contained in this Indenture and is not in default in the performance or observance of any of the terms, provisions and conditions of this Indenture (or, if a Default or Event of Default has occurred, describing all such Defaults or Events of Default of which he or she may have knowledge and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto).
(b) So long as any of the Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company will deliver to the Trustee, within five Business Days of any Officer becoming aware of any Default or Event of Default, an Officers’ Certificate specifying such Default or Event of Default and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.
Section 4.05. Taxes.
For so long as any Securities of a Series are outstanding, the Company will pay, and shall cause each of its Subsidiaries to pay, prior to delinquency, all material taxes, assessments, and governmental levies, except such as are contested in good faith and by appropriate negotiations or proceedings or where the failure to effect such payment is not adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Securities of a Series.
Section 4.06. Stay, Extension and Usury Laws.
The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) that it will not, and each guarantor of any Series of Securities will not, at any time insist upon, plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay, extension or usury law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, that may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company and each of such guarantors (to the extent that they may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waive all benefit or advantage of any such law, and covenant that they will not, by resort to any such law, hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law has been enacted.
ARTICLE 5
[Intentionally Omitted]
ARTICLE 6
Defaults and Remedies
Section 6.01. Events of Default.
“Event of Default,” wherever used herein with respect to Securities of any Series, means, unless otherwise provided by Board Resolution, Officers’ Certificate or supplemental indenture hereto for a particular Series, the:
(a) the failure to pay interest on any Security of that Series when the same becomes due and payable and the default continues for a period of 30 days;
(b) the failure to pay the principal on any Security of that Series, when such principal becomes due and payable, at maturity, upon redemption or otherwise on the date specified for such payment in the applicable offer to purchase;
(c) a default in the observance or performance of any other covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture (other than defaults in Section 6.01(a) and (b) above or pursuant to a covenant or warranty that has been included in
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this Indenture solely for the benefit of Series of Securities other than that Series) which default continues for a period of 60 days after the Company receives written notice specifying the default (and demanding that such default be remedied) from the Trustee or the Holders (with a copy to the Trustee) of at least 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Securities of that Series;
(d) the Company:
(1) commences a voluntary case in bankruptcy,
(2) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary bankruptcy case,
(3) consents to the appointment of a custodian for it or for all or substantially all of its property,
(4) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors, or
(5) makes an admission by the Company in writing of its inability to pay its debts as they become due; or
(e) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that:
(1) is for relief against the Company;
(2) appoints a custodian of the Company for all or substantially all of the property of the Company; or
(3) orders the liquidation of the Company;
and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 consecutive days.
(f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of that Series, which is specified in a Board Resolution, a supplemental indenture hereto or an Officers’ Certificate, in accordance with Section 2.02.
Section 6.02. Acceleration.
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clause (d) or (e) of Section 6.01 hereof) shall occur with respect to the Securities of any Series at the time outstanding and be continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that Series may declare the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on all the Securities of that Series to be due and payable by notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders) specifying the respective Event of Default and that it is a “notice of acceleration”, and the same shall become immediately due and payable. Upon declaration of acceleration, the aggregate principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on the outstanding Securities of that Series shall immediately become due and payable.
If an Event of Default specified in clause (d) or (e) of Section 6.01 hereof occurs and is continuing, then all unpaid principal of, and premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest on all of the outstanding Securities shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder.
At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to the Securities of any Series as described in this Section 6.02 hereof, the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of such Series then outstanding by written notice to the Trustee may, on behalf of all of the Holders of such Series, rescind and cancel such acceleration or waive any existing Default or Event of Default (except a default in the payment of the principal of or interest) and its consequences:
(a) if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree;
(b) if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of the acceleration;
(c) to the extent the payment of such interest is lawful, interest on overdue installments of interest and overdue principal which has become due otherwise than by such declaration of acceleration, has been paid;
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(d) if the Company has paid the Trustee its reasonable compensation and reimbursed the Trustee for its expenses, disbursements and advances; and
(e) in the event of the cure or waiver of an Event of Default of the type described in clause (d) or (e) of Section 6.01 hereof with respect to the Company, the Trustee shall have received an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such Event of Default has been cured or waived.
No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.
No Holder of any Security will have any right to institute any proceeding with respect to this Indenture or for any remedy hereunder, unless such Holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default and unless also the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of that Series shall have made written request, and offered indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee, to the Trustee to institute such proceeding as Trustee, and the Trustee shall not have received from the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount the outstanding Securities of that Series a direction inconsistent with such request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days. Such limitations do not apply, however, to a suit instituted by a Holder of Securities for enforcement of payment of principal of and accrued and unpaid interest on such Securities on or after the respective due dates expressed in such Securities.
Section 6.03. Other Remedies.
If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of any Series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of such Securities or this Indenture.
The Trustee may maintain a proceeding even if it does not possess any of the Securities of a Series or does not produce any of them in the proceeding. A delay or omission by the Trustee or any Holder in exercising any right or remedy accruing upon an Event of Default shall not impair the right or remedy or constitute a waiver of or acquiescence in the Event of Default. All remedies are cumulative to the extent permitted by law.
Section 6.04. Waiver of Past Defaults.
Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series by written notice to the Trustee may on behalf of the Holders of all the Securities of such Series waive any existing Default or Event of Default and its consequences hereunder, except a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of such Series (including in connection with an offer to purchase); provided, however, that the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series may rescind an acceleration and its consequences, including any related payment default that resulted from such acceleration. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Section 6.05. Control by Majority.
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for exercising any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on it. However, (i) the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or that the Trustee determines may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Securities or that may involve the Trustee in personal liability, and (ii) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee which is not inconsistent with such direction. Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary in this Indenture, the Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under this Indenture at the direction or request of any Holder, unless such Holder shall offer to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
Section 6.06. Limitation on Suits.
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A Holder of any Security of any Series may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or its Securities only if:
(a) such Holder gives to the Trustee written notice that an Event of Default with respect to Securities of that Series is continuing or the Trustee receives such notice from the Company;
(b) Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that Series make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(c) such Holder or Holders offer and, if requested, provide to the Trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee against any loss, liability or expense;
(d) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of such security or indemnity; and
(e) during such 60-day period, Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of that Series do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with such request.
A Holder may not use this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of another Holder or to obtain or seek to obtain a preference or priority over another Holder.
Section 6.07. Rights of Holders of Securities to Receive Payment.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Security, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Security (including in connection with an offer to purchase), or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.
Section 6.08. Collection Suit by Trustee.
If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(a) or (b) hereof occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series at the time outstanding, the Trustee is authorized to recover judgment in its own name and as Trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount of principal of, premium, if any, and interest remaining unpaid on, such Securities and interest on overdue principal and, to the extent lawful, interest and such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel.
Section 6.09. Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.
The Trustee is authorized to file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel) and the Holders of the Securities of such Series allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company (or any other obligor upon the Series), its creditors or its property and shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other securities or property payable or deliverable upon the exchange of the Securities of such Series or on any such claims and any custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof. To the extent that the payment of any such compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under Section 7.07 hereof out of the estate in any such proceeding, shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be secured by a Lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions, dividends, money, securities and other properties that the Holders may be entitled to receive in such proceeding whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or otherwise. Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Securities or the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.
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Section 6.10. Priorities.
If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money and property in the following order:
First: to the Trustee, its agents (including, without limitation, the Agents) and attorneys for amounts due under Section 7.07 hereof, including payment of all reasonable compensation, expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and the costs and expenses of collection;
Second: to Holders of Securities of any Series for amounts due and unpaid on such Securities for principal, premium, if any, and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal, premium, if any and interest, respectively; and
Third: to the Company or to such party as a court of competent jurisdiction shall direct.
The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Holders of Securities pursuant to this Section 6.10.
Section 6.11. Undertaking for Costs.
In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as a Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section 6.11 does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder of a Security pursuant to Section 6.07 hereof, or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series.
ARTICLE 7
Trustee
Section 7.01. Duties of Trustee.
(a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and subject to any direction received by the requisite Holders, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such person’s own affairs.
(b) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:
(1) the duties of the Trustee shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this Indenture or the TIA and the Trustee need perform only those duties that are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no others, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and
(2) In the absence of bad faith on its part, the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon Officers’ Certificates or Opinions of Counsel furnished to the Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Indenture.
However, the Trustee will examine the Officers’ Certificates and Opinions of Counsel to determine whether or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture.
(c) The Trustee may not be relieved from liabilities for its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:
(1) this paragraph does not limit the effect of paragraph (b) of this Section 7.01;
(2) the Trustee shall not be liable for any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer, unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent facts; and
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(3) the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in accordance with a direction received by it pursuant to Section 6.05 hereof.
(d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture that in any way relates to the Trustee is subject to paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) of this Section 7.01.
(e) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or incur any liability if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or indemnity satisfactory to it against such risk or liability is not assured to it. The Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights and powers under this Indenture at the request of any Holders, unless such Holder has offered to the Trustee security and indemnity satisfactory to it against any loss, liability or expense.
(f) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company. Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
(g) The Paying Agent, the Registrar and any authenticating agent shall be entitled to the protections, immunities and standard of care as are set forth in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (e) of this Section 7.01 with respect to the Trustee.
Section 7.02. Rights of Trustee.
(a) The Trustee may conclusively rely upon and shall be protected in acting or refraining from acting any document (whether in its original or facsimile form) believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.
(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers’ Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both. The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on such Officers’ Certificate or Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel will be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon.
(c) The Trustee may act through its attorneys and agents and shall not be responsible for the misconduct or negligence of any agent appointed with due care. No Depositary shall be deemed an agent of the Trustee and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any act or omission by any Depositary.
(d) The Trustee will not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith that it believes to be authorized or within the rights or powers conferred upon it by this Indenture.
(e) Unless otherwise specifically provided in this Indenture, any demand, request, direction or notice from the Company shall be sufficient if signed by an Officer of the Company.
(f) The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction of any of the Holders unless such Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity or security satisfactory to the Trustee against the losses, liabilities and expenses that might be incurred by it in compliance with such request or direction.
(g) The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of a Default or Event of Default unless a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has actual knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a Default or Event of Default is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office specified in Section 11.02 hereof.
(h) The Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.
(i) The Trustee shall not be required to provide any bond or surety with respect to the execution of these trusts and powers.
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(j) In no event shall the Trustee be liable to any person for special, punitive, indirect, consequential or incidental loss or damage of any kind whatsoever (including but not limited to lost profits), even if the Trustee has been advised of the likelihood of such loss or damage.
(k) The permissive right of the Trustee to take the actions permitted by this Indenture shall not be construed as an obligation or duty to do so.
(l) The Trustee may request that the Company deliver a certificate setting forth the names of individuals and/or titles of Officers authorized at such time to take specified actions pursuant to this Indenture.
Section 7.03. Individual Rights of Trustee.
The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or any Affiliate of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. However, in the event that the Trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict within 90 days, apply to the Commission for permission to continue as Trustee (if this Indenture has been qualified under the TIA) or resign. Any Agent may do the same with like rights and duties. The Trustee is also subject to Section 7.10 and Section 7.11 hereof.
Section 7.04. Trustee’s Disclaimer.
The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or any Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company’s use of the proceeds from any Securities or any money paid to the Company or upon the Company’s direction under any provision of this Indenture, it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any money received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee, and it will not be responsible for any statement or recital herein or any statement in any Securities or any other document in connection with the sale of any Securities or pursuant to this Indenture other than its certificate of authentication.
Section 7.05. Notice
of Defaults.
If a Default or Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to the Securities of any Series and if it is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Trustee, the Trustee will deliver to Holders of Securities of that Series a notice of the Default or Event of Default within 90 days after it occurs, or, if later, after a Responsible Officer of the Trustee has knowledge of such Default or Event of Default. Except in the case of a Default or Event of Default in payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security of any Series, the Trustee may withhold the notice from the Holders of such Securities if and so long as the Trustee in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of the Holders of such Securities.
Section 7.06. Reports by Trustee to Holders of the Securities.
(a) Within 60 days after each May 15 beginning with the May 15 following the date of this Indenture, and for so long as Securities remain outstanding, the Trustee will deliver to the Holders of the Securities of any Series a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies with TIA § 313(a) (but if no event described in TIA § 313(a) has occurred within the twelve months preceding the reporting date, no report need be transmitted). The Trustee also will comply with TIA § 313(b)(2). The Trustee will also deliver all reports as required by TIA § 313(c).
(b) A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to the Holders of Securities of any Series will be mailed by the Trustee to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the Commission and each stock exchange on which the Securities of any Series are listed in accordance with TIA § 313(d). The Company will promptly notify the Trustee when the Securities of any Series are listed on any stock exchange.
Section 7.07. Compensation and Indemnity.
(a) The Company will pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its acceptance of this Indenture and services hereunder as the parties shall agree in writing from time to time. The Trustee’s compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable disbursements, advances and expenses incurred or
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made by it in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation, disbursements and expenses of the Trustee’s agents and counsel.
(b) The Company will indemnify the Trustee against any and all losses, liabilities or expenses incurred by it arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of its duties under this Indenture, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture against the Company (including this Section 7.07), and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by the Company, any Holder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent any such loss, liability or expense may be 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. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee will cooperate in the defense. The Trustee may have separate counsel 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 will not be unreasonably withheld. This indemnification shall apply to officers, directors, employees, shareholders and agents of the Trustee.
(c) The obligations of the Company under this Section 7.07 shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the resignation or removal of the Trustee.
(d) To secure the Company’s payment obligations in this Section 7.07, the Trustee shall have a Lien prior to the Securities of any Series on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee. Such Lien shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
(e) When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(d) or Section 6.01(e) hereof occurs, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any Bankruptcy Law.
(f) The Trustee shall comply with the provisions of TIA § 313(b)(2) to the extent applicable.
Section 7.08. Replacement of Trustee.
(a) A resignation or removal of the Trustee and appointment of a successor Trustee shall become effective only upon the successor Trustee’s acceptance of appointment as provided in this Section 7.08.
(b) The Trustee may resign in writing at any time and be discharged from the trust hereby created by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of any Series may remove the Trustee with respect to that Series by so notifying the Trustee and the Company in writing. The Company may remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of one or more Series if:
(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof;
(2) the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent or an order for relief is entered with respect to the Trustee under any Bankruptcy Law;
(3) a custodian or public officer takes charge of the Trustee or its property; or
(4) the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.
(c) If the Trustee resigns or is removed or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason, the Company will promptly appoint a successor Trustee. Within one year after the successor Trustee takes office, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities may appoint a successor Trustee to replace the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.
(d) If a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any one or more Series does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company, or the Holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Securities of the applicable Series may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.
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(e) If the Trustee, after written request by any Holder who has been a Holder for at least six months, fails to comply with Section 7.10 hereof, such Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.
(f) A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon, the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee will become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall deliver a notice of its succession to Holders. The retiring Trustee will promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee; provided all sums owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the Lien provided for in Section 7.07 hereof. Notwithstanding replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section 7.08, the Company’s obligations under Section 7.07 hereof shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.
Section 7.09. Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.
If the Trustee consolidates, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all of its corporate trust business to, another corporation, the successor corporation without any further act will be the successor Trustee.
Section 7.10. Eligibility; Disqualification.
(a) There will at all times be a Trustee hereunder that is a national banking association or other corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state thereof that is authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trustee power, that is subject to supervision or examination by federal or state authorities and that has a combined capital and surplus of at least $100.0 million as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition.
(b) This Indenture shall always have a Trustee who satisfies the requirements of TIA § 310(a)(1), (2) and (5). The Trustee is subject to TIA § 310(b).
Section 7.11. Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Company.
The Trustee is subject to TIA § 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA § 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA § 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.
ARTICLE 8
Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance
Section 8.01. Option to Effect Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
The Company may, at its option and at any time, elect to have either Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof be applied to all outstanding Securities upon compliance with the conditions set forth below in this Article 8.
Section 8.02. Legal Defeasance and Discharge.
Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.02, the Company will, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with respect to all outstanding Securities (including the related guarantees, if any) on the date the conditions set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, “Legal Defeasance”). For this purpose, Legal Defeasance means that the Company will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire Indebtedness represented by the outstanding Securities (including the related guarantees, if any), which will thereafter be deemed to be “outstanding” only for the purposes of Section 8.05 hereof and the other Sections of this Indenture referred to in clauses (a) and (b) below, and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities, such guarantees, if any, and this Indenture (and the Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except for the following provisions which will survive until otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder:
(a) the rights of Holders of outstanding Securities of such Series to receive payments in respect of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on, such Securities of such Series when such payments are due from the trust referred to in Section 8.04 hereof;
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(b) the Company’s obligations with respect to such Securities of such Series under Article 2 and Sections 4.01 and 4.02 hereof;
(c) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the Trustee and the Company’s obligations in connection therewith; and
(d) this Article 8.
Subject to compliance with this Article 8, the Company may exercise its option under this Section 8.02 notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option under Section 8.03 hereof.
Section 8.03. Covenant Defeasance.
Upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, the Company and each of the guarantors, if any, shall, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, be released from their obligations under the covenants contained in Section 4.03, 4.05 and Section 5.01 hereof as well as any additional covenants specified in a supplemental indenture for such Series of Securities or a Board Resolution or an Officers’ Certificate delivered pursuant to Section 2.02 with respect to the outstanding Securities of any Series on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof are satisfied (hereinafter, “Covenant Defeasance”), and the outstanding Securities of such Series will thereafter be deemed not “outstanding” for the purposes of any direction, waiver, consent or declaration or act of Holders (and the consequences of any thereof) in connection with such covenants, but shall continue to be deemed “outstanding” for all other purposes hereunder (it being understood that such Securities shall not be deemed outstanding for accounting purposes). For this purpose, Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to the outstanding Securities of such Series, the Company or any of its Subsidiaries may omit to comply with and will have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in any such covenant, whether directly or indirectly, by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default or an Event of Default under Section 6.01 hereof with respect to such Series of Securities, but, except as specified above, the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities will be unaffected thereby. In addition, upon the Company’s exercise under Section 8.01 hereof of the option applicable to this Section 8.03, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 8.04 hereof, Section 6.01(c) hereof will not constitute an Event of Default with respect to such Securities.
Section 8.04. Conditions to Legal or Covenant Defeasance.
The following shall be the conditions to the applicability of either Section 8.02 or 8.03 hereof to the outstanding Notes:
(a) the Company must irrevocably deposit with the Trustee, in trust, for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities on the stated date for payment thereof or on the applicable redemption date, as the case may be;
(b) in the case of an election under Section 8.02 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that:
(1) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling; or
(2) since the date of this Indenture, there has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law,
in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the beneficial owners of the outstanding Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Legal Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Legal Defeasance had not occurred;
(c) in the case of an election under Section 8.03 hereof, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in the United States reasonably acceptable to the Trustee confirming that the beneficial owners
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of the outstanding Securities of such Series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such Covenant Defeasance and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such Covenant Defeasance had not occurred;
(d) no Default or Event of Default with respect to the outstanding Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit (other than a Default or an Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposit and the grant of any Lien securing such borrowings);
(e) such Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under this Indenture (other than a Default or Event of Default resulting from the borrowing of funds to be applied to such deposits and the grant of any Lien securing such borrowings) or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound;
(f) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate stating that the deposit was not made by the Company with the intent of preferring the Holders over any other creditors of the Company or with the intent of defeating, hindering, delaying or defrauding any other creditors of the Company or others;
(g) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent provided for or relating to the Legal Defeasance or the Covenant Defeasance have been complied with; and
(h) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel, stating that assuming no intervening bankruptcy of the Company between the date of deposit and the 124th day following the date of deposit and that no Holder is an insider of the Company, after the 124th day following the date of deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Opinion of Counsel required by clause Section 8.04(b) above with respect to a Legal Defeasance need not be delivered if all outstanding Securities of such Series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (x) have become due and payable or (y) will become due and payable on the maturity date or a redemption date within one year under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.
Section 8.05. Deposited Money and Government Securities to Be Held in Trust; Other Miscellaneous Provisions.
Subject to Section 8.06 hereof, all money and non-callable Government Securities (including the proceeds thereof) deposited with the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee, collectively for purposes of this Section 8.05, the “Trustee”) pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof in respect of the outstanding Securities of any Series shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company or any Subsidiary acting as Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal, premium, if any, and interest but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against the cash or non-callable Government Securities deposited pursuant to Section 8.04 hereof or the principal and interest received in respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for the account of the Holders of the outstanding Securities of any Series.
Notwithstanding anything in this Article 8 to the contrary, the Trustee shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon the request of the Company any money or non-callable Government Securities held by it as provided in Section 8.04 hereof which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may be the opinion delivered under Section 8.04(a) hereof), are in excess of the amount thereof that would then be required to be deposited to effect an equivalent Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.
Section 8.06. Repayment to the Company.
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Subject to applicable abandoned property law, any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any Security and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium, if any, or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on its request or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter be permitted to look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, will thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal (national edition), notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which will not be less than 30 days from the date of such notification or publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.
Section 8.07. Reinstatement.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any U.S. dollars or non-callable Government Securities with respect to Securities of any Series in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof, as the case may be, by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, then, with respect to such Securities, the Company’s and any applicable guarantors’ obligations under this Indenture and the applicable Securities and guarantees will be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money in accordance with Section 8.02 or Section 8.03 hereof, as the case may be; provided, however, that, if the Company makes any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any such Securities following the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company will be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 9
Amendment, Supplement and Waiver
Section 9.01. Without Consent of Holders of Securities.
Notwithstanding Section 9.02 of this Indenture, the Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement this Indenture or the Securities of one or more Series without the consent of any Holder of Securities of any Series in order to:
(a) cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency;
(b) provide for the assumption by a Surviving Entity of the obligations of the Company under this Indenture;
(c) provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities (provided that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of Section 163(f) of the Code, or in a manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code);
(d) add guarantees with respect to the Securities of any Series or confirm and evidence the release, termination or discharge of any security or guarantee when such release, termination or discharge is permitted by this Indenture;
(e) secure the Securities of any Series, add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of any Series or surrender any right or power conferred upon the Company;
(f) make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Holder of the Securities;
(g) comply with any requirement of the Commission in connection with the qualification of this Indenture under the TIA;
(h) evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor Trustee;
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(i) conform the text of this Indenture or the Securities to any provision of the “Description of Notes” of any prospectus, prospectus supplement, offering memorandum, offering circular or any other document pursuant to which the Securities of such Series were offered; or
(j) make any amendment to the provisions of this Indenture relating to the transfer and legending of the Securities as permitted by this Indenture, including, without limitation to facilitate the issuance and administration of the Securities; provided that (i) compliance with this Indenture as so amended would not result in the Securities being transferred in violation of the Securities Act or any applicable securities law and (ii) such amendment does not materially and adversely affect the rights of Holders to transfer the Securities.
Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of any amended or supplemental indenture authorized or permitted by the terms of this Indenture and to make any further appropriate agreements and stipulations that may be therein contained, but the Trustee will not be obligated to enter into such amended or supplemental indenture that affects its own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.
Section 9.02. With Consent of Holders of Securities.
(a) The Company and the Trustee may enter into a supplemental indenture with the written consent of the Holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by such supplemental indenture (voting as one class) for the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or Officers’ Certificate or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of each such Series, and the Company’s compliance with any provision of this Indenture with respect to the Securities of any Series may be waived by written notice to the Trustee by the Holders of a majority of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Securities of such Series affected by the waiver (voting as one class). However, no modification, amendment or waiver under this Section 9.02 may, without the consent of the Holder of the outstanding Securities affected:
(1) reduce the principal amount, or extend the fixed maturity, of the Securities, alter or waive the redemption provisions of the Securities;
(2) change the currency in which principal, any premium or interest is paid;
(3) reduce the percentage in principal amount outstanding of the Securities which must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver or consent to take any action;
(4) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the Securities;
(5) waive a payment default with respect to the Securities or any guarantor;
(6) reduce the interest rate or extend the time for payment of interest on the Securities; or
(7) adversely affect the ranking of the Securities.
It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Holders of Securities of any Series under this Section 9.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. Upon the request of the Company accompanied by a Board Resolution authorizing the execution of any such amended or supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of evidence satisfactory to the Trustee of the consent of the Holders of Securities of any Series as aforesaid, and upon receipt by the Trustee of the documents described in Section 7.02 hereof, the Trustee will join with the Company in the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture unless such amended or supplemental indenture directly affects the Trustee’s own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in its discretion, but will not be obligated to, enter into such amended or supplemental Indenture.
After a supplemental indenture or waiver under this section becomes effective, the Company shall promptly mail to the Holders of Securities of any Series affected thereby a notice briefly describing the supplemental
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indenture or waiver. Any failure by 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 or waiver.
Section 9.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act.
Every amendment or supplement to this Indenture or the Securities of any Series will be set forth in an amended or supplemental indenture that complies with the TIA as then in effect.
Section 9.04. Revocation and Effect of Consents.
(a) Until an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective, a consent to it by a Holder of a Security is a continuing consent by the Holder of a Security and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security, even if notation of the consent is not made on any Security. However, any such Holder of a Security or subsequent Holder of a Security may revoke the consent as to its Security if the Trustee receives written notice of revocation before the date the amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective. An amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective in accordance with its terms and thereafter binds every Holder.
(b) Any amendment or waiver once effective shall bind every Holder of each Series affected by such amendment or waiver unless it is of the type described in any of clauses (1) through (7) of Section 9.02. In that case, the amendment or waiver shall bind each Holder of a Security who has consented to it and every subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder’s Security.
Section 9.05. Notation on or Exchange of Securities.
The Trustee may place an appropriate notation about an amendment, supplement or waiver on any Security of any Series thereafter authenticated. The Company in exchange for all Securities of that Series may issue and the Trustee shall, upon receipt of an Authentication Order, authenticate new Securities of that Series that reflect the amendment, supplement or waiver.
Failure to make the appropriate notation or issue a new Security will not affect the validity and effect of such amendment, supplement or waiver.
Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc.
The Trustee will sign any amended or supplemental indenture authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment or supplement does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. The Company may not sign an amended or supplemental indenture until its Board of Directors approves it. In executing any amended or supplemental indenture or Securities, the Trustee will be entitled to receive and (subject to Section 7.01 hereof) will be fully protected in relying upon, in addition to the documents required by Section 11.04 hereof, an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such amended or supplemental indenture or Securities is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.
ARTICLE 10
Satisfaction and Discharge
Section 10.01. Satisfaction and Discharge.
This Indenture will be discharged and will cease to be of further effect (except as to surviving rights or registration of transfer or exchange of Securities of any Series, as expressly provided for in this Indenture) as to all outstanding Securities issued hereunder, when:
(a) either:
(1) all such Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (except lost, stolen or destroyed Securities that have been replaced or paid and 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) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or
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(2) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation (A) have become due and payable or (B) will become due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year, under arrangements reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company, and the Company has irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust solely for the benefit of the Holders, cash in U.S. dollars, non-callable Government Securities, or a combination thereof, in such amounts as will be sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment of interest, to pay and discharge the entire Indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation for principal of, premium, if any, and interest on such Securities to the date of maturity or redemption, as the case may be, together with irrevocable instructions from the Company directing the Trustee to apply such funds to the payment thereof at maturity or redemption, as the case may be;
(b) the Company or any guarantor of such Securities has paid or caused to be paid all sums payable by it under this Indenture; and
(c) the Company has delivered an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel to the Trustee (which opinion may be subject to customary assumptions and exclusions), each stating that all conditions precedent under this Indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture have been complied with.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, if money has been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (2) of clause (a) of this Section 10.01, the provisions of Section 10.02 and Section 8.06 hereof will survive. In addition, nothing in this Section 10.01 will be deemed to discharge those provisions of Section 7.07 hereof, that, by their terms, survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.
Section 10.02. Application of Trust Money.
Subject to the provisions of Section 8.06 hereof, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.01 hereof shall be held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities with respect to which such deposit was made and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.
If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or Government Securities in accordance with Section 10.01 hereof by reason of any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company’s and any applicable guarantor’s obligations under this Indenture and the applicable Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to Section 10.01 hereof; provided that if the Company has made any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any such Securities of any Series because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or Government Securities held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.
ARTICLE 11
Miscellaneous
Section 11.01. Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by TIA §318(c), the imposed duties shall control.
Section 11.02. Notices.
Any notice or communication by the Company or the Trustee to the others or by a Holder to the Company or the Trustee is duly given if in writing and delivered in Person or by first class mail (registered or certified, return receipt requested), facsimile transmission, delivered electronically (in .pdf or similar format) if, in case of electronic notices, receipt is confirmed, or overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery, to the others’ address:
If to the Company:
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SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
c/o SMART Modular Technologies, Inc.
39870 Eureka Drive
Newark, CA 94560
Attention: Bruce Goldberg
Email: Bruce.Goldberg@smartm.com
With a copy to:
Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
1600 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
Attention: Alan F. Denenberg
Facsimile No.: (650) 752-3604
E-mail: alan.denenberg@davispolk.com
If to the Trustee:
The Company or the Trustee, by notice to the others, may designate additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.
All notices and communications (other than those sent to Holders) shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt acknowledged, if transmitted by facsimile or email; and the next Business Day after timely delivery to the courier, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next Business Day delivery.
Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be delivered by electronic transmission, first class mail, certified or registered, return receipt requested, or by overnight air courier guaranteeing next Business Day delivery to its address shown on the register kept by the Registrar. Any notice or communication shall also be so delivered to any Person described in TIA § 313(c), to the extent required by the TIA. Failure to deliver a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it will not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.
If a notice or communication is delivered in the manner provided above within the time prescribed, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.
If the Company delivers a notice or communication to Holders, it will deliver a copy to the Trustee and each Agent at the same time.
Where the Indenture provides for notice of any event to a Holder of a Global Security, such notice shall be sufficiently given if given to the Depositary for such Global Security (or its designee), pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depositary, not later than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.
Section 11.03. Communication by Holders of Securities with Other Holders of Securities.
Holders may communicate pursuant to TIA § 312(b) with other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the applicable Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA § 312(c).
Section 11.04. Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent.
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Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:
(a) an Officers’ Certificate in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent and covenants, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been satisfied; and
(b) an Opinion of Counsel in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee (which must include the statements set forth in Section 11.05 hereof) stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent and covenants have been satisfied.
Section 11.05. Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion.
Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Indenture (other than a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.04 hereof or TIA § 314(a)(4)) must comply with the provisions of TIA § 314(e) and must include:
(a) a statement that the Person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition;
(b) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based;
(c) a statement that, in the opinion of such Person, he or she has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable him or her to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has been satisfied (and, in the case of an Opinion of Counsel, may be limited to reliance on an Officers’ Certificate as to matters of fact); and
(d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of such Person, such condition or covenant has been satisfied.
Section 11.06. Rules by Trustee and Agents.
The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or at a meeting of Holders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules and set reasonable requirements for its functions.
Section 11.07. No Personal Liability of Directors, Officers, Employees and Stockholder Members.
No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, agent, stockholder or Affiliate of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under any Securities of any Series or under this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. No past, present or future director, officer, employee, incorporator, agent, stockholder or Affiliate of the Company, as such, shall have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities, this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of, or by reason of, such obligations or their creation. Each Holder of Securities by accepting a Security waives and releases all such liabilities. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the execution of this Indenture and the issuance of the Securities.
Section 11.08. Governing Law.
THE INTERNAL LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WILL GOVERN AND BE USED TO CONSTRUE THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES AND THE GUARANTEES WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY.
Section 11.09. No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
This Indenture may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.
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Section 11.10. Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind their respective successors and assigns. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture will bind its successors.
Section 11.11. Severability.
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 11.12. Counterpart Originals.
This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, and by the different parties on separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of copies of this Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
Section 11.13. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.
The Table of Contents, Cross-Reference Table and Headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not to be considered a part of this Indenture and will in no way modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 11.14. Waiver of Trial by Jury.
EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS INDENTURE, THE SECURITIES OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
Section 11.15. Calculations. The Company will be responsible for making all calculations called for under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company will make all such calculations in good faith and, absent manifest error, its calculations will be final and binding on Holders. The Company will provide a schedule of its calculations to the Trustee and the Trustee is entitled to rely conclusively upon the accuracy of such calculations without independent verification. The Trustee will deliver a copy of such schedule to any Holder upon the written request of such Holder.
Section 11.16. Force Majeure. In no event shall the Trustee be responsible or liable for any failure or delay in the performance of its obligations hereunder arising out of or caused by, directly or indirectly, forces beyond its control, including, without limitation, strikes, work stoppages, accidents, acts of war or terrorism, civil or military disturbances, nuclear or natural catastrophes or acts of God, and interruptions, loss or malfunctions of utilities, communications or computer (software or hardware) services; it being understood that the Trustee shall use reasonable efforts which are consistent with accepted practices in the banking industry to resume performance as soon as practicable under the circumstances.
Section 11.17. U.S.A. Patriot Act. The parties hereto acknowledge that in accordance with Section 326 of the U.S.A. Patriot Act, the Trustee, like all financial institutions and in order to help fight the funding of terrorism and money laundering, is required to obtain, verify, and record information that identifies each person or legal entity that establishes a relationship or opens an account with the Trustee. The parties to this Indenture agree that they will provide the Trustee with such information as it may request in order for the Trustee to satisfy the requirements of the U.S.A. Patriot Act.
[Signatures on following page]
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Dated as of , 20
SMART GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
, as Trustee | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
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Exhibit 5.1
Our ref SUS/693334-000001/56571244v2
SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
PO Box 309
Ugland House
South Church Street
Grand Cayman KY1-1104
Cayman Islands
20 September 2018
Dear Sirs
SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
We have acted as counsel as to Cayman Islands law to SMART Global Holdings, Inc., an exempted company incorporated in the Cayman Islands with limited liability (the "Company"), in connection with the filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of the Company's registration statement on Form S-3 dated 20 September 2018 (the "Registration Statement") relating to (A) securities to be issued and sold by the Company from time to time; and (B) up to 9,256,755 Ordinary Shares which have been issued to, and which may be offered by, the selling shareholders identified in the Registration Statement (together, the "Selling Shareholders"). Such securities to be issued and sold by the Company include (a) ordinary shares of the Company of par value US$0.03 per share (the "Ordinary Shares"), (b) preferred shares of the Company of par value US$0.03 per share (the "Preferred Shares" and together with the Ordinary Shares, the "Shares"), (c) debt securities, including senior debt securities and subordinated debt securities of the Company (collectively the "Debt Securities"), each series of Debt Securities to be issued under indentures to be entered into by the Company and the trustee for such Debt Securities, to be filed either as exhibits to an amendment to the Registration Statement or as an exhibit to a report under the Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Indenture"), as each such Indenture may be supplemented, in connection with the issuance of each such series, by a supplemental indenture, officers’ certificate or other writing thereunder establishing the form and terms of such series, (e) contractual warrants to subscribe for Shares in the Company (the "Warrants") to be issued under warrant agreements to be entered into between the Company and the financial institution designated as warrant agent thereunder (the "Warrant Agreement"), (f) purchase contracts for the purchase or sale of any of the debt or equity securities issued by the Company to be entered into by the Company (the "Purchase Contracts"), and (g) units consisting of one or more
Purchase Contracts, Warrants, Debt Securities, Preferred Shares, Ordinary Shares or any combination thereof (the "Units") to be issued under unit agreements to be entered into by the Company (the "Unit Agreement").
1 | Documents Reviewed |
We have reviewed originals, copies, drafts or conformed copies of the following documents:
1.1 | The Certificate of Incorporation dated 21 April 2011, the Certificate of Incorporation upon Change of Name dated 29 August 2014 and the Amended and Restated Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company as adopted on 18 May 2017 (the "Memorandum and Articles"). |
1.2 | The written resolutions of the board of directors of the Company dated 20 September 2018 (the "Resolutions") and the corporate records of the Company maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands. |
1.3 | A certificate from a director of the Company, a copy of which is attached to this opinion letter (the "Director's Certificate"). |
1.4 | A copy of the register of members of the Company dated 31 August 2018 (the "Register of Members"). |
1.5 | The Registration Statement. |
2 | Assumptions |
The following opinions are given only as to, and based on, circumstances and matters of fact existing and known to us on the date of this opinion letter. These opinions only relate to the laws of the Cayman Islands which are in force on the date of this opinion letter. In giving the following opinions, we have relied (without further verification) upon the completeness and accuracy of the Director's Certificate. We have also relied upon the following assumptions, which we have not independently verified:
2.1 | The Indentures, the Debt Securities issuable under the Indentures, the Warrants, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contracts, the Units and the Unit Agreements have been, or will be, authorised and duly executed and unconditionally delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties in accordance with all relevant laws. |
2.2 | The Indentures, the Debt Securities issuable under the Indentures, the Warrants, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contracts, the Units and the Unit Agreements are, or will be, legal, valid, binding and enforceable against all relevant parties in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of New York and all other relevant laws. |
2.3 | Copies of documents, conformed copies or drafts of documents provided to us are true and complete copies of, or in the final forms of, the originals, and translations of documents provided to us are complete and accurate. |
2.4 | The choice of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law of the Indenture, the Debt Securities issuable under the Indenture, the Warrants, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contracts, the Units and the Unit Agreements has, or will have, been made in good faith and would be regarded as a valid and binding selection which will be upheld by the courts of the State of New York and any other relevant jurisdiction (other than the Cayman Islands) as a matter of |
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the laws of the State of New York and all other relevant laws (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands).
2.5 | All signatures, initials and seals are genuine. |
2.6 | The capacity, power, authority and legal right of all parties under all relevant laws and regulations (other than, with respect to the Company, the laws of the Cayman Islands) to enter into, execute, unconditionally deliver and perform their respective obligations under the Indentures, the Debt Securities issuable under the Indentures, the Warrants, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contracts, the Units and the Unit Agreements. |
2.7 | The Debt Securities will be issued and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of a duly authorised, executed and delivered Indenture. |
2.8 | The Indentures, the Warrants, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contracts, the certificates evidencing a Unit and the Unit Agreements will be, or have been, duly executed and delivered by an authorised person of the parties thereto. |
2.9 | The Company will receive money or money's worth in consideration for the issue of the Ordinary Shares and the Preferred Shares, and none of the Ordinary Shares or the Preferred Shares will be issued for less than their par value. |
2.10 | There will be sufficient Ordinary Shares and Preferred Shares authorised for issue under the Company's Memorandum and Articles. |
2.11 | There is no contractual or other prohibition or restriction (other than as arising under Cayman Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting or restricting it from entering into and performing its obligations under a duly authorised, executed and delivered Indenture, the Debt Securities issuable under the respective Indenture, the Warrants, the Warrant Agreement, the Purchase Contracts, or Unit Agreement. |
2.12 | There is nothing under any law (other than the laws of the Cayman Islands) which would or might affect the opinions set out below. Specifically, we have made no independent investigation of the laws of the State of New York. |
2.13 | The issue of (i) the Debt Securities under the Indentures, (ii) the Warrants under the Warrant Agreements, (iii) the Units under the Unit Agreements and (iv) the Shares will be of commercial benefit to the Company. |
2.14 | The entry into the Purchase Contracts will be of commercial benefit to the Company. |
2.15 | The completeness and accuracy of the Register of Members |
2.16 | No invitation has been or will be made by or on behalf of the Company to the public in the Cayman Islands to subscribe for any of the Debt Securities, the Warrants, the Units or the Shares. |
Save as aforesaid we have not been instructed to undertake and have not undertaken any further enquiry or due diligence in relation to the transaction the subject of this opinion.
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3 | Opinions |
Based upon, and subject to, the foregoing assumptions and the qualifications set out below, and having regard to such legal considerations as we deem relevant, we are of the opinion that:
3.1 | The Company has been duly incorporated as an exempted company with limited liability and is validly existing. |
3.2 | Based solely of our inspection of the Register of Members, the Selling Shareholders have valid title to their respective Ordinary Shares and such Ordinary Shares have been duly authorised, legally issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and there are no entries or notations indicating any third party interests, including any security interest as at the date hereof. |
3.3 | The Company has all the requisite power and authority under the Memorandum and Articles to enter into, execute and perform its obligations under: |
(a) | the Indenture to which it will be a party and the Debt Securities issuable under each such Indenture to which it is, or will be, a party; |
(b) | each Warrant Agreement to which it will be a party and the Warrants issuable under each such Warrant Agreement to which will be a party; |
(c) | each Purchase Contract to which it will be a party; |
(d) | each Unit Agreement to which it will be a party and the Units issuable under each such Unit Agreement to which will be a party; |
3.4 | With respect to the Shares, when (i) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) the issue of such Shares has been recorded in the Company's register of members (shareholders); and (iii) the subscription price of such Shares (being not less than the par value of the Shares) has been fully paid in cash or other consideration approved by the board of directors of the Company, the Shares will be duly authorised, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. |
3.5 | With respect to each issue of Debt Securities pursuant to an Indenture, when (i) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; and (ii) when such Debt Securities issued thereunder have been duly executed and delivered on behalf of the Company and authenticated in the manner set forth in the Indenture relating to such issue of Debt Securities and delivered against due payment therefor pursuant to, and in accordance with, the terms of the Registration Statement and any relevant prospectus supplement, such Debt Securities issued pursuant to the Indenture will have been duly executed, issued and delivered. |
3.6 | With respect to the Warrant Agreements and the Warrants, when (i) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation and terms of the Warrants and to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; (ii) a Warrant Agreement relating to the Warrants shall have been duly authorised and validly executed and delivered by the Company and the financial institution designated as warrant agent thereunder; and (iii) the certificates representing the Warrants have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the Warrant Agreement relating to the |
4
Warrants and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors of the Company upon payment of the consideration therefor provided therein, the Warrant Agreements and the Warrants issued thereunder will be duly authorised, legal and binding obligations of the Company.
3.7 | With respect to the Purchase Contracts, when a Purchase Contract shall have been duly authorised and validly executed and delivered by the Company and other parties thereto, such Purchase Contract will be duly authorised, legal and binding obligations of the Company. |
3.8 | With respect to the Unit Agreements and the Units, when (i) the board of directors of the Company has taken all necessary corporate action to approve the creation and terms of the Units and to approve the issue thereof, the terms of the offering thereof and related matters; and (ii) a Unit Agreement relating to the Units shall have been duly authorised and validly executed and delivered by the Company and other parties thereto; and (iii) the certificates representing the Units have been duly executed, countersigned, registered and delivered in accordance with the Unit Agreement relating to the Units and the applicable definitive purchase, underwriting or similar agreement approved by the board of directors of the Company upon payment of the consideration therefor provided therein, the Unit Agreements and the Units issued thereunder will be duly authorised, legal and binding obligations of the Company. |
4 | Qualifications |
The opinions expressed above are subject to the following qualifications:
4.1 | To maintain the Company in good standing under the laws of the Cayman Islands, annual filing fees must be paid and returns made to the Registrar of Companies within the time frame prescribed by law. |
4.2 | The obligations assumed by the Company under the Indentures, the Warrant Agreements, the Purchase Contracts, the Unit Agreements or the Debt Securities, Warrants, Right and Units issuable thereunder will not necessarily be enforceable in all circumstances in accordance with their terms. In particular: |
(a) | enforcement may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, reorganisation, readjustment of debts or moratorium or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the rights of creditors; |
(b) | enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity. For example, equitable remedies such as specific performance may not be available, inter alia, where damages are considered to be an adequate remedy; |
(c) | some claims may become barred under relevant statutes of limitation or may be or become subject to defences of set off, counterclaim, estoppel and similar defences; |
(d) | where obligations are to be performed in a jurisdiction outside the Cayman Islands, they may not be enforceable in the Cayman Islands to the extent that performance would be illegal under the laws of that jurisdiction; |
(e) | the courts of the Cayman Islands have jurisdiction to give judgment in the currency of the relevant obligation and statutory rates of interest payable upon judgments will vary according to the currency of the judgment. If the Company becomes insolvent and is |
5
made subject to a liquidation proceeding, the courts of the Cayman Islands will require all debts to be proved in a common currency, which is likely to be the "functional currency" of the Company determined in accordance with applicable accounting principles. Currency indemnity provisions have not been tested, so far as we are aware, in the courts of the Cayman Islands;
(f) | arrangements that constitute penalties will not be enforceable; |
(g) | enforcement may be prevented by reason of fraud, coercion, duress, undue influence, misrepresentation, public policy or mistake or limited by the doctrine of frustration of contracts; |
(h) | provisions imposing confidentiality obligations may be overridden by compulsion of applicable law or the requirements of legal and/or regulatory process; |
(i) | the courts of the Cayman Islands may decline to exercise jurisdiction in relation to substantive proceedings brought under or in relation to the Indentures in matters where they determine that such proceedings may be tried in a more appropriate forum; |
(j) | we reserve our opinion as to the enforceability of the relevant provisions of the Indentures to the extent that they purport to grant exclusive jurisdiction as there may be circumstances in which the courts of the Cayman Islands would accept jurisdiction notwithstanding such provisions; and |
(k) | a company cannot, by agreement or in its articles of association, restrict the exercise of a statutory power and there is doubt as to the enforceability of any provision in the Indentures whereby the Company covenants to restrict the exercise of powers specifically given to it under the Companies Law (2018 Revision) of the Cayman Islands, including, without limitation, the power to increase its authorised share capital, amend its memorandum and articles of association or present a petition to a Cayman Islands court for an order to wind up the Company. |
4.3 | We express no opinion as to the meaning, validity or effect of any references to foreign (i.e. non-Cayman Islands) statutes, rules, regulations, codes, judicial authority or any other promulgations and any references to them in the Indentures, the Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreements, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts, the Unit Agreements or the Units. |
4.4 | We have not reviewed the final form of the Indentures, the Debt Securities to be issued thereunder, the Warrant Agreements, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts, the Unit Agreements and the Units and our opinions are qualified accordingly. |
4.5 | We reserve our opinion as to the extent to which the courts of the Cayman Islands would, in the event of any relevant illegality or invalidity, sever the relevant provisions of the Indentures, the Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts, the Units or the Unit Agreements and enforce the remainder of the Indentures, the Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts, the Units or the Unit Agreements or the transaction of which such provisions form a part, notwithstanding any express provisions in the Indentures in this regard. |
4.6 | Under Cayman Islands law, the register of members (shareholders) is prima facie evidence of title to shares and this register would not record a third party interest in such shares. However, there |
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are certain limited circumstances where an application may be made to a Cayman Islands court for a determination on whether the register of members reflects the correct legal position. Further, the Cayman Islands court has the power to order that the register of members maintained by a company should be rectified where it considers that the register of members does not reflect the correct legal position. As far as we are aware, such applications are rarely made in the Cayman Islands, but if this were to occur in respect of the Company's Shares, then the validity of such shares may be subject to re-examination by a Cayman Islands court.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. In providing our consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
We express no view as to the commercial terms of the Indentures, the Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts, the Units or the Unit Agreements or whether such terms represent the intentions of the parties and make no comment with regard to warranties or representations that may be made by the Company.
The opinions in this opinion letter are strictly limited to the matters contained in the opinions section above and do not extend to any other matters. We have not been asked to review and we therefore have not reviewed any of the ancillary documents relating to the Indentures, the Debt Securities, the Warrant Agreement, the Warrants, the Purchase Contracts, the Units or the Unit Agreements and express no opinion or observation upon the terms of any such document. This opinion letter may be relied upon by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP for the purposes solely of any legal opinion that they may be required to give with respect to the Registration Statement.
Yours faithfully
/s/ Maples and Calder
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SMART Global Holdings, Inc.
PO Box 309, Ugland House
Grand Cayman
KY1-1104
Cayman Islands
20 September 2018
To: | Maples and Calder |
PO Box 309, Ugland House
Grand Cayman
KY1-1104
Cayman Islands
Dear Sirs
SMART Global Holdings, Inc. (the "Company")
I, being a director of the Company, am aware that you are being asked to provide a legal opinion (the "Opinion") in relation to certain aspects of Cayman Islands law. Capitalised terms used in this certificate have the meaning given to them in the Opinion. I hereby certify that:
1 | The Memorandum and Articles remain in full force and effect and are unamended. |
2 | The Company has not entered into any mortgages or charges over its property or assets other than those entered in the register of mortgages and charges of the Company. |
3 | The Resolutions were duly passed in the manner prescribed in the Memorandum and Articles (including, without limitation, with respect to the disclosure of interests (if any) by directors of the Company) and have not been amended, varied or revoked in any respect. |
4 | The authorised share capital of the Company is US$6,900,000 divided into 200,000,000 Ordinary Shares of a par value of US$0.03 each and 30,000,000 Preferred Shares of a par value of US$0.03 each. |
5 | The shareholders of the Company (the "Shareholders") have not restricted the powers of the directors of the Company in any way. There is no contractual or other prohibition or restriction (other than as arising under Cayman Islands law) binding on the Company prohibiting or restricting it from entering into and performing its obligations under the Registration Statement and any documents in connection therewith. |
6 | The directors of the Company at the date of the Resolutions and at the date of this certificate were and are as follows: Kenneth Y. Hao, Iain MacKenzie, Paul Mercadante, Ajay Bhupendra Shah, Jason White, Mukesh Patel, Sandeep Nayyar, and Randy Furr. |
7 | The minute book and corporate records of the Company as maintained at its registered office in the Cayman Islands and made available to you are complete and accurate in all material respects, and all minutes and resolutions filed therein represent a complete and accurate record of all meetings of the Shareholders and directors (or any committee thereof) of the Company (duly convened in accordance with the Memorandum and Articles) and all resolutions passed at the meetings or passed by written resolution or consent, as the case may be. |
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8 | Prior to, at the time of, and immediately following the approval of the transactions the subject of the Registration Statement the Company was, or will be, able to pay its debts as they fell, or fall, due and has entered, or will enter, into the transactions the subject of the Registration Statement for proper value and not with an intention to defraud or wilfully defeat an obligation owed to any creditor or with a view to giving a creditor a preference. |
9 | Each director of the Company considers the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement to be of commercial benefit to the Company and has acted in good faith in the best interests of the Company, and for a proper purpose of the Company, in relation to the transactions which are the subject of the Opinion. |
10 | To the best of my knowledge and belief, having made due inquiry, the Company is not the subject of legal, arbitral, administrative or other proceedings in any jurisdiction. |
11 | To the best of my knowledge and belief, having made due inquiry, there are no circumstances or matters of fact existing which may properly form the basis for an application for an order for rectification of the register of members of the Company. |
12 | The Registration Statement has been, or will be, authorised and duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of all relevant parties in accordance with all relevant laws. |
13 | The Shares to be issued pursuant to the Registration Statement have been, or will be, duly registered, and will continue to be registered, in the Company's register of members (shareholders). |
9
I confirm that you may continue to rely on this certificate as being true and correct on the day that you issue the Opinion unless I shall have previously notified you in writing personally to the contrary.
Signature: | /s/ Ajah Shah |
Name: | Ajah Shah |
Title: | Director |
10
Exhibit 12.1
CALCULATION OF CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDENDS
For the 9 Months Ended | Fiscal Year Ended | |||||||||||||||||||||||
5/25/2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | |||||||||||||||||||
(in thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fixed Charges | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Interest Expense | $ | 12,189 | $ | 22,343 | $ | 22,702 | $ | 23,825 | $ | 23,387 | $ | 23,465 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of debt expenses and discounts | 1,450 | 8,190 | 4,696 | 5,021 | 4,785 | 4,201 | ||||||||||||||||||
Portion of rental expense which represents interest factor | 511 | 815 | 1,118 | 1,475 | 1,603 | 1,451 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Fixed charges | $ | 14,150 | $ | 31,347 | $ | 28,516 | $ | 30,321 | $ | 29,775 | $ | 29,117 | ||||||||||||
Earnings available for fixed charges | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pre-tax income (loss) | $ | 105,001 | $ | 2,119 | $ | (17,516 | ) | $ | (39,802 | ) | $ | (11,028 | ) | $ | (46,843 | ) | ||||||||
Add: Fixed charges | 14,150 | 31,347 | 28,516 | 30,321 | 29,775 | 29,117 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total Earnings available for fixed charges | $ | 119,151 | $ | 33,466 | $ | 11,000 | $ | (9,481 | ) | $ | 18,747 | $ | (17,726 | ) | ||||||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges | 8.42 | 1.07 | 0.39 | * | — | * | 0.63 | * | — | * |
* | For fiscal years 2016, 2015, 2014 and 2013, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges. |
Exhibit 23.1
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of our report dated October 13, 2017 relating to the financial statements of SMART Global Holdings, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”), appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended August 25, 2017, and to the reference to us under the heading “Experts” in the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.
/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
San Jose, California
September 20, 2018
Exhibit 23.2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement on Form S-3 of SMART Global Holdings, Inc. of our report dated April 6, 2018 with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Penguin Computing Inc., as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, appearing in SMART Global Holdings, Inc.’s Form 8-K/A filed on August 24, 2018, and to the use of our name as it appears under the caption “Experts” in the aforementioned Registration Statement.
/s/ SHEA LABAGH DOBBERSTEIN
Certified Public Accountants, Inc.
San Francisco, California
September 20, 2018
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